Kick start FC are a charitable organisation based in Ludgershall, created with the purpose of tackling the mind.
Approximately 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem but only 1 in 8 will seek advice or medical help. Kick start FC aim to raise awareness and create a better understanding of mental health and continue the drive surrounding the stigma that mental health is a weakness and cannot be spoken about.
Kick start FC are using the power football to help with their mission by hosting weekly football sessions where both men and women over the age of 16 can come and play football. The football sessions are designed to help improve peoples mental health, their physical health, their social lives, their self-esteem and their overall outlook on mental health.
Kick Start’s Michael Cunningham said “As someone who battles with Bi-Polar disorder, football has always been my main outlet. It allows me to engage in conversation with others despite my anxieties, it allows me to get active in a comfortable environment and has allowed me to develop a positive mental attitude.
“Football is the ‘common ground’ amongst men and I wanted to use that platform to encourage others to use football to help manage their symptoms of mental health, improve their social inclusion and actively talk about their mental health. Mental health is nothing to be ashamed of neither is talking about it”.
Along with football sessions, Kick start FC also hold group sessions where those affected by mental health are able to come and discuss their mental health with like minded people, learn more about mental health issues and how to manage it and get involved in other activities.
All sessions hosted by Kick Start FC are free of charge. For more information please visit www.kickstartfc.org
