Northumberland County FA is delighted to announce its partnership with The Football Mental Health Alliance (FMHA), furthering its mission to embed mental health support into the grassroots football family. 

As part of our strategy ‘100% Inclusive’, we committed to partnering with 5 organisations who work in the space of mental health – The Football Mental Health Alliance will become the 5th and final partner organisation, joining Kooth, ManHealth, Tyneside Women’s Health and Everyturn Mental Health in providing support, education and guidance to participants in grassroots football.

Northumberland FA’s Head of Compliance and Inclusion, Dean Buckle, said;

‘We are completely committed to supporting everyone in grassroots football to ensure that we promote positive mental health and help to raise awareness of services that are there to support them as and when needed.  Football Mental Health Alliance provides education, training and support, across the whole grassroots family. We share their vision to ingrain the understanding of mental health into the fabric of football and I’m delighted to be working together to help achieve this.

Danny Matharu, founder of The Football Mental Health Alliance said:

”We are elated to welcome Northumberland County FA. Our partnership is an acknowledgement of football's unique position to enhance mental health in our game and communities. From the very start of our conversations, I knew that this organisation was putting mental health at the forefront of its support strategies.

"The Vault will serve as a free, always accessible, continually growing resource, ensuring a wide-reaching, tangible impact on mental health within grassroots football across England. There is a clear and urgent need for a comprehensive, digital mental health support system that provides resources, education and guidance, especially within the grassroots community, a space which has long faced a dearth of such solutions.”

The Vault contains expert-led, football-themed content in the form of interactive webinars, access to personal stories from current and ex-professional footballers, articles and infographics, a podcast, journals, mental health plans for Clubs to utilise, mental health first aid training and an upcoming conference, all designed to support mental well-being within the grassroots football community. 

Statistics show that one in four people experience mental health difficulties each year and at any given time, one in six working-age adults have symptoms associated with mental ill-health. Mental health conditions often develop early, with 75% of cases starting by age 18. Alarmingly, men aged 40-49 have the highest suicide rates in the UK. 

The Vault was conceived in response to these pressing statistics and the increased demand for digital mental health solutions across the grassroots football spectrum. This always accessible, ever-evolving platform provides support anytime for all age ranges. It allows for anonymous sign-up, ensuring confidentiality and comfort to those seeking information or assistance with their own or someone else’s mental health. 

The Vault is ready for pre-launch registration. Details can be found at www.vault.thefmha.com where 'grassrooters’ can sign up for free and be alerted when the Vault opens.