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Brand New Wellness Kick Around Session in Whitehaven

The ‘Clear Your Head Kick About’ sessions are every Wednesday 7-8pm at Copeland Stadium Astroturf.

Following the success of the Workington Mental Health Football Sessions, Cumberland FA are delighted to be supporting a brand-new project in Whitehaven delivered by Copeland Wellness Centre in partnership with Active Cumbria & Every Life Matters and Cumbria Community Foundation. 

The ‘Clear Your Head Kick About’ sessions are every Wednesday 7-8pm at Copeland Stadium Astroturf. 

These relaxed sessions are free and open to anyone aged 18+ who feel like they may benefit from this session regardless of ability or fitness. 

We want this to be an inclusive space for people to have fun and find a safe space to talk and share their worries - if they would like to. 

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The Clear Your Head Kick About session in Whitehaven has been introduced to mirror similar sessions in Carlisle and Whitehaven which have proved popular. 

These sessions have provided people with regular, fun exercise that has been beneficial for their physical health and, perhaps more importantly, provided a place to come and socialise with others and form a support group.

Football Development Officer Ray Sempill said: “The sessions are designed to be relaxed kick arounds once a week. 

"We will be developing the sessions based on the needs and wants of the participants but to start with the sessions are a relaxed social kick around for anyone who feels they might benefit. They will be a great way for people to get moving again after the festive period.

"We recognise the pressures that have been put on people over the last few years and the difficulties that society are currently facing. We want these sessions to be safe and inclusive environments, where people can feel comfortable sharing their worries and can access support as well as having a kick around.”

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY HAS HUGE POTENTIAL TO ENHANCE OUR WELLBEING. EVEN A SHORT BURST OF ACTIVITY INCREASES OUR MENTAL ALERTNESS, ENERGY AND POSITIVE MOOD. 

Ian Alcock, the Suicide Safer Community Co-ordinator Allerdale and Copeland commented on the importance of these types of sessions: “In order to look after our mental health we also need to be spending time looking after out physical health as well that’s why we are really excited to be developing regular mental health football sessions with Cumberland FA and Active Cumbria. 

"There are a number of brilliant mental health services and we want to use these sessions as a way of signposting people to the other help that may be available locally.” 

Sadly, we know that around 75% of all suicides are men so we want to encourage people in any way we can to be open and talk about the way they are feeling, there is always someone who will listen. 
If you are worried about a friend or family member then simply be brave enough to ask them, you can find out more information on how to support someone with thoughts of suicide at every-life-matters.org.uk

Cameron Wilson commented on the programme: "Active Cumbria are pleased to be involved in this project. The sessions will be very much based on having a kick around, not too much structure just facilitating play, very much based on the needs of those attending with plenty of social opportunities before, during and after the sessions. We are looking forward to supporting the development of the session and engaging new audiences in physical activity."

Clear your head kick about

If you are interested in coming along to the session, or know someone who would benefit from coming along or would like a general chat about the sessions, please call Robyn Jewell on 01946 599998 or email cuccg.copelandsp@nhs.net

Sessions take place on Wednesdays between 7 – 8pm at Copeland Sports Academy