Mental Health Awareness Training Helps All to Play For Participants Build Confidence
Looking after the wellbeing of participants is a big part of what All to Play For is all about.
Active Norfolk recently teamed up with 12th Man Charity to offer Mental Health First Aid Awareness training to participants across the All To Play For programme. The course was delivered free of charge and gave attendees the chance to develop new skills, increase their confidence and learn more about how to support others experiencing mental health challenges.
Throughout the session, participants explored some of the common signs that someone may be struggling with their mental health. They learned how to start conversations, listen without judgement, and help people access the right support when needed. While nobody is expected to become an expert overnight, the training equipped attendees with practical knowledge that they can use in everyday life.
Stepping Up as Community Role Models
The training was particularly beneficial for participants who have started taking on more responsibility within All to Play For. Whether helping to welcome new members, supporting session delivery or simply being a friendly face around the group, many participants are becoming positive role models within their communities. Providing opportunities for personal development is an important part of the project, so it was great to see people from both the Norwich and Wymondham groups getting involved.
Sam Watts, Senior Partnership Officer commented:
“Partnerships play a huge role in the success of All to Play For, helping us create opportunities that go beyond regular sessions. We’re grateful to 12th Man Charity for sharing their expertise and helping participants gain a better understanding of mental health and wellbeing”.
Training That Makes a Difference
The course was hosted at the Football Development Centre in Bowthorpe and also welcomed colleagues from Norfolk FA. Bringing different organisations and individuals together created a valuable opportunity to learn from one another and share experiences.
Feedback from those who attended was overwhelmingly positive. Participants spoke about how useful they found the training and many left feeling more confident about supporting friends, family members and fellow participants who may be struggling. Several also discussed how they could put what they had learned into practice straight away.
Following the success of the session, we hope to offer similar training opportunities in the future so that even more participants across the All to Play For project can benefit.
Find out more
If you would like to find out more about joining an All To Play for activity session, take a look at our web page or get in touch with Sam Watts, our Senior Partnerships Officer: