To mark Mental Health Awareness Week from 11-17 May, Brentford Football Club and Brentford Community Sports Trust are continuing to support fans and the local community with a range of wellbeing events and programmes.

As part of the club’s ongoing Talking is the Best Tactic initiative, the Trust will host its second free expert-led session for the community.

On 19 May, Professor Ben Hine from club partner University of West London will explore the expectations surrounding masculinity, how they shape the experiences and mental health of men and boys, and what we can all do to support positive change.

An Evening with Professor Ben Hine will take place at the Trust’s Clubhouse Café in Gunnersbury Park from 6.45pm to 8.15pm. Sign up for a free ticket to attend.

The session comes as men continue to account for 75 per cent of suicides in England and Wales. To help men and other groups engage in open conversation, the Trust continues to deliver a range of wellbeing sessions throughout the week. The first session saw the club’s welfare psychologist, Michael Caulfield, exploring connection, community, and the courage to talk, which was joined by more than 70 people.

Supporting the community’s wellbeing

The Trust holds a range of free activities all focused on supporting the wellbeing of the local community. Every Friday, the Trust’s Walking for Wellbeing group brings people from the local area together to connect while enjoying a walk through Gunnersbury Park. Sign up to take part. The Clubhouse Café also hosts a monthly Coffee Morning on the last Friday of the month, giving individuals the opportunity to enjoy a tea or coffee while spending time with others in the community. If you are interested in finding out more or attending the next one, please contact: [email protected]

For those who prefer more creative activities, the Trust runs its Singing for Thought course, where members of the community come together to sing as part of a choir. The group will have their first performance ahead of kick-off at Sunday’s match against Crystal Palace.

The Trust also hosts Comedy for Thought, a six-week stand-up comedy course designed to help participants develop skills, including leadership, listening and personal empowerment.

Last Friday, the club brought together Jordan Henderson, Roman Kemp and Michael Caulfield for an honest conversation about mental health, pressure, vulnerability and the importance of talking.

Additionally, this season, Brentford installed a collection of benches in west London to encourage the local community to open up about mental health.

Each bench, delivered in partnership with the London Borough of Hounslow, includes information signposting to professional mental health support services, as well as crisis support for those experiencing a mental health emergency.

If you need urgent support:

Call 999 - if you are in immediate danger

Call 111 (option 2) - for NHS urgent mental health support

Call Samaritans on 116 123 - free and available 24/7

Local support in west London

West London Mental Health Single Point of Access - speak to a trained advisor, available 24/7 on 0800 328 444

HFEH Mind Safe Space - Hounslow Helpline: open 11am-11pm every day. Call 020 3475 5185 for urgent mental health support