Inside Right – Football and Service charities working united for veterans
The Football Foundation has been supporting young service veterans to improve their mental health and wellbeing in a unique football initiative, working closely with The Royal British Legion and Combat Stress.
The Inside Right programme uses the hook of football and the appeal of professional clubs to reach isolated young service veterans, aged between 20-50, to improve the individual's mental health and wellbeing, and provide access to on-going support and services.
The project is currently running at five professional clubs - Chelsea, Portsmouth, Colchester United, Lincoln City and Everton - and is managed centrally by the Football Foundation, who fund the programme in partnership with: The Royal British Legion, the Ministry of Defence, ABF The Soldiers' Charity, the RAF Benevolent Fund and Comic Relief.
Former England Manager and patron of Lincoln City FC, Graham Taylor OBE, who earlier this year officially opened the Lincoln project, said: "Inside Right is an extremely worthwhile initiative and one that I am firmly behind. It is fantastic to see the nation's game playing its part in helping our servicemen and women return to civilian life. They have risked their lives serving our country and we are rightly proud of them. Inside Right can be football's way of recognising all of our military personnel for the sacrifices that they make on our behalf."
The feedback received so far has been very encouraging. One ex-serviceman who has noticed a significant improvement to his mental health as a result of the project, said: "I can now see some light at the end of the tunnel instead of a train careering towards me. The light might only be a small candle flickering but it's something and its giving me hope.
"I've had nothing for so long and now I'm getting all this help and support its caught me off guard. It's making me change my opinion on humanity.
"I've had nothing, absolutely nothing going on in my life, that now football has come along I really look forward to Thursday's. It's the highlight of my week.
"It's amazing that after only three weeks I'm already noticing my hand-to-eye coordination skills coming back to me and my competitive edge. I'm remembering why I love the game so much."
Johnnie Garside, who runs the Inside Right programme at Everton, said: "The impact Inside Right has had on the veterans we work with has been really pleasing, by using football in this innovative way to engage and breakdown barriers it has reaped some really positive rewards. We have seen our veterans flourish with benefits being noted beyond the physical, to encompass mental wellbeing, confidence and social skills, it is our aim that this will make a lasting impact on their lives."
Kevin Cahill, Chief Executive of Comic Relief, said:"Mental health problems affect one in four people at some point in their lives and Comic Relief are committed to funding projects that will help make a difference to young people dealing with these problems and give them the chance to access services tailored to their needs. The Football Foundation's Inside Right programme is a wonderful example of this and we are delighted to be supporting them.
To find out more about the Inside Right programme visit www.footballfoundation.org.uk.
If you are a Health professional or welfare officers you can refer people from all services to the football clubs, using a referral form, which can be found on the Football Foundation website.
http://www.footballfoundation.org.uk/our-schemes/inside-right/
For more information contact:
Richard Faulkner on 0845 345 4555 ext 4274 or richard.faulkner@footballfoundation.org.uk
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