Bolton Wanderers Football Club will be showing their support for Mind, the EFL's Charity Partner for the 2018/19 season, at Tuesday evening's clash with Sheffield Wednesday.
And below is a round-up of what will be happening surrounding the clash to mark the occasion...
What’s happening at March 12 match day?
Mind, the official charity partner of the EFL, join Bolton Wanderers to celebrate mental health on Tuesday 12 March. This will include:
- A bucket collection before the match for the club’s local Mind branch – Salford Mind
- A halftime ‘Mind Games’ fan challenge on the pitch. This will involve pairs of volunteers teaming up in double-headed football shirts to attempt to dribble a football through a set of cones. The idea symbolises working together, being on each other’s side and the support we all need when things get tough.
- Information posters about mental health and Mind throughout the ground and in the match day programme alongside an article from Mind about mental health
- An awareness-raising video being played on the big screen (link here)
- Announcements about the day over the tannoy
What is Mind’s partnership with EFL clubs?
- Mind are the leading mental health charity. They provide support and advice for anyone experiencing a mental health problem, whether that’s anxiety, bipolar disorder, OCD or anything else.
- Mind was chosen to become the EFL’s Official Charity Partner from the start of the 2018/19 season for two years and will be working with all 72 EFL clubs, including Bolton throughout that time.
- With one in four people experiencing a mental health problem, whether players, club staff or fans, we hope our On Your Side partnership with the EFL will be game-changing.
- Over the next two years Mind will raise awareness of mental health problems among millions of football fans, clubs and staff. Mind will be working together in a variety of ways including launching an exciting sports programme that will support thousands of people with mental health problems to get active. They will also provide mental health information, training and support to players, managers and staff across the 72 EFL Clubs.
- With support from teams like Wanderers, Mind and the EFL aims to:
- raise awareness about mental health with fans, clubs and staff
- raise funds to deliver life-changing support
- help improve the approach to mental health in football working with other partners in the game.
What’s the squiggle on the back of Wanderers’ shirts?
- You’ll have seen that Mind’s squiggle appears on the backs of Wanderers players as well as all other EFL club shirts.
- This is the first time that a charity logo has been incorporated into the player name on the shirt, and we are thrilled to be part of this ground-breaking design. Including an iconic part of the Mind logo – the squiggle.
- We hope the shirt will be just the start of achieving real change by raising awareness and understanding of mental health in football, sport and society as a whole.
What is the impact of footballers speaking out about their mental health?
- Mind believes sport can play a huge role to play in reducing stigma and encouraging positive conversation around mental health, from grass roots all the way to elite level.
- It’s really positive that more and more players and managers have been vocal about the importance of talking about mental health. We know that high-profile people speaking out helps break down the stigma around mental health.
- Mind’s research found that a quarter of people said hearing a celebrity talk openly about their own mental health had directly inspired them to seek help for themselves.
Where can people get more information about the Partnership?
- Visit org.uk/football for more information
- If you or someone you know needs support visit org.uk or call the Mind Infoline on 0300 123 3393