CACT Delivers Movember Ahead of the Game Programme

Charlton Athletic Community Trust (CACT) staff recently visited Leigh Academy Wilmington in Dartford to deliver Ahead of the Game workshops as part of CACT’s partnership with Movember.

Ahead of the Game is a programme designed by Movember which uses sport to teach young players, parents, coaches and volunteers how to talk about mental health. The programme explores how to recognise mental health challenges facing young people, what to do, and when to seek help. Participants learn how to build resilience and overcome challenges in sport and life.

To deliver the programme, a number of CACT staff received specialist training from Movember, enabling them to facilitate workshops across a range of the Trust's education and football programmes.

Staff recently put their training into practice with students at Leigh Academy Wilmington, using the power of sport to encourage positive conversations around mental health. Through the workshops, participants acquired the skills and knowledge to recognise and respond to mental health challenges in themselves and others.

Olalekan Ishola, CACT Community Outreach Officer, said: “We've delivered these workshops to our Post-16 students and in schools across our communities. The sessions help young people understand mental health, challenge some of the stigma that still exists, and recognise that mental health and mental illness aren't the same thing. The biggest takeaway for me is giving young people the knowledge and confidence to support a friend who may be struggling, so they don't suffer in silence. It’s important what Movember are doing and there’s a sense of pride delivering their project.”