Bristol Rovers Community Trust program providing mental health support through football

Talking may seem to many as something quite simple and routine, but its power is often neglected and underestimated, especially when talking about how you feel.

The stigma surrounding mental health has certainly reduced in recent years, but it is still very much present in today’s society and therefore any charities, groups or initiatives created with a focus on assisting people with their mental struggles must be taken seriously and given the necessary support.

In Bristol, one of those initiatives available to the local community is the ‘Rebound With Rovers’ sessions run by Bristol Rovers Community Trust on Wednesday mornings and afternoons at Pen Park Sports Ground in Southmead. Participants begin the session with a “check-in” where participants are encouraged to share how they feel and rate their mood out of 10 before playing soccer on the facility’s astroturf pitch. The two-hour session then ends with a ‘check-out’ to see how much the play and physical activity boosted how people feel overall.

As part of their celebration of Mental Health Awareness Week, the Community Trust invited Bristol Live to a session earlier this week to attend and see the power of effectiveness in having a safe space and group to talk about your feelings of play football

The morning session tends to be smaller than the second one held on Wednesday afternoon, but there was immediate evidence of the camaraderie and friendship that has built over time, regardless of how the participants continued to share how they felt

Some revealed that they were in good places as part of the check-in, some were mixed and some not as positive, but the integration of a small-sided football game that lasted the better part of an hour and a half in the session. obviously made everyone’s check outs more positive as a result.

“I was brought in to be a leader in that role and that’s when I started the Trust and that was three years ago,” Costa Chard, the Community Trust’s mental health first aid assistant, told Bristol Live, who was an integral part of Rebound With Rovers. ‘success. “It was a joint venture between the GFA (Gloucestershire FA) and Bristol Rovers Community Trust. I do other projects, but this was essentially the main project.

“They were wonderful at the Trust, they really were. They helped make this project happen and helped it grow, and our afternoon session, which is the main adult session, got so big that we had 30 participants and that was kind of crushed in that yard.

“We came up with this idea and we could see it working, especially in the local community, by having an extra session for adults. What is very interesting is that they are two very different sessions and yet both are uniquely supportive of each participant who attends. so a big thank you to the Trust for that as we wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for that.

“It’s vital,” Chard added about the importance of having access to other people or groups to talk to and share how you’re feeling. “Rebound’s strength is our check-ins and check-outs where you can share how you feel, and there aren’t many opportunities to do that.

“You’ll find it’s a gradual process. Someone might want to talk about football, someone might not want to delve into how they feel at the moment, but over time, that trust and that confidential space, which is built and which gives you But what is essential is to talk to somebody and that’s what we’re expressing because some people show up and, it’s not about how you feel about whether you feel down this week, it’s about you participating and being here every week and that helps everybody . There is such a connection, but essentially being able to talk to someone is difficult and never easy.

One of the project’s biggest success stories has been that of Helen Cox, who was the first participant in Rebound for Rovers in 2021 and is now a volunteer assistant coach. From taking the time to jump into action to now being a key element of the operation, Cox’s story underscores the power that speaking up can have and how vital these types of groups are.

That’s not to say he’s completely overcome any mental struggles, or anyone else has, but, the assistant coach told Bristol Live, Rebound for Rovers has helped “a lot”.

Recalling his personal story with the program, Cox said: “Around October or November 2021 I was offered a flyer. I was seeing a therapist and she knew that I like football and stuff like that and for me, I’m more of a physical person than that attention and stuff like that. I can’t sit there and meditate or anything like that. It has to be a physical thing.

“So I umm and aah about it but I went in and I just parked in the car park and I could only see two people which was Costa and Richard, he was from GFA. They couldn’t wait for the people to come and that’s how it all happened.

“I think I’m glad because I actually said ‘oh, wrong place, wrong time’, but I’m glad I took that step to get on the field and, as they say, the rest is history.

“First of all it was just an afternoon session and it took a long time for people to start coming but it is a family and where it has grown so much we were lucky that the GFA wanted to do a session Morning. also this started last year. That just goes to show how much it takes.

“It helped a lot. I mean, I have my good days and my bad days and I used to hide it from here. I used to mask it and say everything was fine and stuff like that. Me and Costa had a conversation and I I could see where he was coming from if I mask it but we ask others to share their mental health issues then I have to come out and say and I think that has helped as well because we are all in same boat, as hard as it is because I’m not one to talk about stuff like that, I’d rather help others, but for me to talk is to help others and it’s a good session . “

Afternoon sessions regularly host around 30 people, while morning sessions are considerably smaller, generally no more than 10 at present, although there is no set limit. However, the small size of the group created its own kind of bond between the regulars, while making it easier to play a game of football with small sides.

A big part of the initiative is its affiliation with Bristol Rovers, with many big Gasheads involved. There is no dress code, but some opted to wear Rovers kit, although most had specific Rebound With Rovers kit, made with the program’s official logo as a badge.

Blue and white, the kit is clearly associated with gas, while being unique and adding to the family feel of the environment. Although a team, the focus is on fun and enjoyment of the game without the pressures of competitiveness.

For the regular attendee, who wished to remain anonymous, as well as being a regular at Rovers games, these sessions are the only time he gets out of the house after struggling mentally with ill health.

“I met Costa at a Rovers mental health night last March,” they said. “It was organized by the club and it was hosted by Geoff Twentyman and they had a few players there and Helen spoke a bit about it. A question and answer session with the players followed and James Belshaw spoke very well about Stick players taking to social media if Rovers lose and how to deal with it.

“I’ve tried different things. Being a Rovers fan for 51 years I’ve tried other men’s groups but it’s nice to come here because it’s the connection with Rovers. It’s hard to explain but the connection brings me here. We play on the ground every year and there is a connection.

“We feel like we represent the team every week and I go to games every week and it gives you a bit of pride. I live in Yatton which isn’t a million miles away but it’s an effort come here but if I didn’t make the effort I wouldn’t be doing anything anyway.

“I’ve been sick with two heart attacks and I’m not supposed to exercise because of my heart, but coming here, it’s not tiring. I just go left, right, up, down, but it gets me out there and that’s a good thing for my mental and physical health.

“It’s the connection with the club. I’ve tried shared men and all kinds of stuff, but there’s no connection, so when I heard about it, I thought I’d give it a shot. I’m still up and down, but every time I’m here, it’s absolutely great. It’s something I thought I wouldn’t be able to do or have a chance to do, but it’s really good and it puts me in the mood to come here and do it.”

Another participant, Ollie, highlighted the purpose of the program to allow them to play soccer on a team when that wasn’t possible before, saying, “I’ve been here a little over a year now and it’s allowed me to do what am” I wanted to do for a long time, which was to get involved in playing football and enjoying it. It’s just brilliant.

“When you get to know people, there’s a bit of competitiveness because you know you can laugh with people and enjoy a bit of competitiveness. But if I was chasing the ball with someone else chasing and they went down, I’d be the first who picks them up and checks that they are okay.

“They also helped us learn how to play as a team. I was already able to play football, but not in a team. The kit just means we are part of a team. When I go out, sometimes I wear my kit and that’s enough funny because people see it’s a Bristol Rovers kit but if it looks good it’s actually the Rebound kit.

“It’s absolutely fantastic for your mental and physical health and you get the opportunity at the start of the session to talk about how you’re feeling and by the end of it people will usually feel a lot better than they did at the start of it. .”

In addition, the aspect of playing football also helps with physical health with another regular, Adrian Millar, discussing how Rebound With Rovers helped him lose over a stone, saying: “I went to a Rebound for Rovers at Gloucestershire Cricket Club and found out about it from Helen and Costa about a year ago. It’s helped me a lot, I’ve lost 15 kilos when I played Bristol Rovers Disability a few years ago, but I’m really enjoying that.”

For anyone interested in attending a Rebound With Rovers session, sessions are free on Wednesday mornings and afternoons and open to over 16s. Email [email protected]