We can confirm that Saturday’s home game against Accrington Stanley will be a Mental Health Awareness Matchday.
Building on our partnership with NAViGO, North East Lincolnshire’s leading mental health services provider, the aim of this awareness matchday is to, once again, encourage positive conversations about mental health among our supporters and improve knowledge around the subject.
Speaking ahead of this weekend’s game, our Chair Jason Stockwood said, “Grimsby Town Football Club is one of the most important institutions within our community, so it’s really important that we work with organisations like NAViGO to continue to raise awareness of mental health and try and break the taboo surrounding it – particularly with men of a certain age.
“Last season we dedicated a matchday to mental health and it was great to see so many of our fans speaking to members of the NAViGO teams and, no doubt, to friends and family about the topic, too.
“These sorts of initiatives are part of our on-going commitment to our values and the hope is if people in our community need this kind of support, they know where they can find it.”
NAViGO Chief Executive Simon Beeton said, “Grimsby Town and NAViGO are two local organisations proudly embedded in the community.
“We know that football can have a positive impact on both mental and physical health as well as tackle social isolation.
“We’re using our partnership to change perception and break stigma around mental health while encouraging people to get talking to each other and to reach out for support when they need it.”
Ahead of Saturday’s game, NAViGO have also just announced ‘Tees House’ as the name of their new older people’s mental health complex. Matt Tees famously suffered from dementia, a disorder of the brain that can cause memory loss and communication difficulties, and ‘Tees House’ will offer enhanced nursing and specialist residential care and support to individuals with complex needs including dementia and memory problems.
On the naming, fan-elected board member Kristine Green said, “It’s a really nice gesture by NAViGO to name their new complex after a Club legend like Matt Tees. Most Town fans will be aware of his goalscoring exploits for the Mariners, but in recent years his struggles with dementia were well known. It’s an honour for Matt, his family and the Club that he’ll now have somewhere in the town named after him that’s going to benefit the community.”
To spread the word on Saturday, the players will warm-up in NAViGO t-shirts, the big screen will be utilised to showcase key messages and wallet-sized cards with signposting information will be distributed on the turnstiles before the game. Over 200 complimentary tickets have also been distributed to mental health organisations from around the town for this fixture thanks to the generosity of the Community Partnership Fund.
If you would like to find out more about the services NAViGO provides, CLICK HERE.
Let’s support Town. Let’s support ourselves. Let’s support each other.
