On Sunday 10th October, World Mental Health Day, Falkirk Foundation and Falkirk Football Club are proud to announce a joint signing of the SAMH Mental Health for Physical Activity and Sport Charter. SAMH is Scotland’s national mental health charity.
The Charter contains an action plan that sets out how each organisation will work both individually and together to address the issues and stigma around mental wellbeing both in our workplaces and in our community.
For over ten years SAMH has actively engaged and championed the positive impact that physical activity and sport can have on mental health and wellbeing. They have worked in partnership with key organisations to develop leading projects and programmes aimed at demonstrating the power that regular physical activity can have on mental health and wellbeing.
The Charter seeks to help remove barriers and support people to increase their confidence and self-esteem. That is why both organisations are delighted to support Scotland’s Mental Health Charter for Physical Activity and Sport.
By coming together to tackle the issues around poor mental wellbeing, both Falkirk Foundation and Falkirk Football Club, are committing to ensuring a united front to address the issues faced by our staff, our community, our supporters and our wider Falkirk Family.
Falkirk Foundation CEO Derek Allison said.
“At Falkirk Foundation we aim to embed good mental wellbeing at the very heart of our Charity. We engage with around 1100 people across the Falkirk and the Forth Valley area each week and we wanted to ensure that across our programmes, we have the right structures in place to tackle poor mental wellbeing. We are committed to improving equality, reducing discrimination and ensuring mental health is not a barrier to those that engage and participate. It is great that the club are also committing to the charter and together we will work closely to ensure we deliver on our plans to improve the mental wellbeing of all.”
Jamie Swinney, Chief Executive, Falkirk Football Club
“Falkirk Football Club is proud to have served its community since 1876. The club wishes to use its unique position within the community, to play its part in raising awareness about mental health, and supporting people through challenges they may face. We will use the power of the football and the FFC brand to promote positive mental health, and work collaboratively with our partner The Falkirk Foundation, to help create a positive legacy for our supporters and our town”.
Sports Minister Maree Todd said:
“Being active isn’t just good for our physical health, it’s also proven to have a positive effect on our mental health and wellbeing. “Yet we know that people experiencing a mental health problem can find it difficult to participate in physical activity and sport.
“To coincide with World Mental Health Day I am pleased that Falkirk Foundation and Falkirk Football Club have signed up to the SAMH Mental Health Charter for Physical Activity and Sport to support people in their community to enjoy physical, mental and social health.”
Robert Nesbitt, Head of Physical Activity and Sport at SAMH said,
“At SAMH, we know how powerful both football and communities can be in bringing people together, providing them with the opportunity to be active and improve their wellbeing in doing so.
“We’re delighted to see both the Falkirk Foundation and Falkirk Football Club are signing up to Scotland’s Mental Health Charter for Physical Activity and Sport. We look forward to working with them both to help break down the barriers to sport and physical activity for people with mental health problems.”
