i-5 player care and services


Mental & Emotional Wellbeing Action Plan


We want all our players, whatever their age or stage of their journey, to be ambassadors for i-5 Football Academy.


To achieve this, we provide a varied programme of life skills, learning and additional support beyond the technical and tactical demands of football – this forms the basis of our mental and emotional health wellbeing and player care programme.

Each year the Academy Management Team review its approach to mental and emotional health alongside player-care and our life skills program. We identify workshops and seminars that will be delivered to the players, parents and staff from U8s to U16s and beyond.

The sessions are aimed at ensuring the holistic development of all members at the club.


We will endeavour to deliver sessions on Social Media, Mental Health, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Anti-Doping, Nutrition and Cookery, and Psychology.


We hope that players, parents, carers, and staff will find the information contained in this section of the website to be a valuable source of information.


Should you wish to make a referral regarding player mental and emotional wellbeing please contact:

alistair@i-5footballacademy.co.uk (Player care and welfare officer)


Good mental health is vital for peak performance in sport. Mental health problems affect one in six of the population at any one time. Depression alone affects up to half of us during our lifetimes and affects every family at some stage.

Despite this, many people are unaware of the symptoms of mental health problems.

Unsurprisingly, players known for physical fitness rarely talk about mental distress. Indeed many may not recognise what it is or know how to seek help for stress, anxiety or depression when it strikes.

The FA

The FA, along with other bodies in both football and sport, has signed the Mental Health Charter for Sport and Recreation, which is a framework setting out how sport can use its collective power to tackle mental ill-health and the stigma that surrounds it.

 

The charter aims to tackle stigma using the power of sport and recreation, emphasise the benefits to mental health and well-being of an active lifestyle and to encourage the wider sector to showcase best practice and to make real progress in tackling issues around mental health. The FA continues to work collaboratively with a number of organisations in this field.

One in four people experience a mental health problem in any year, which mean there are millions of people involved in grassroots football experiencing a form of it in some way. It is important football clubs at all levels appreciate this and know how to include people with mental health issues. The FA, along with its partners across the game, is encouraging players, coaches and officials to be confident and comfortable talking about mental health in the same way that people discuss physical injuries.

FA Mental Health & Well-being

Crisis Support

Crisis Support

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or are concerned for someone else:

  • Call 999
  • Contact Local NHS Crisis Team for mental health (24/7).
  • Call the Samaritans on 116 123
  • For a list of International Emergency Numbers and Suicide Helpline’s visit: www.suicidestop.com


Crisis Support