The Hull FC Community Foundation are pleased to announce the ‘Empower’ project, a new initiative designed to support individuals who may have faced challenges with their wellbeing over the recent lockdown period to re-engage in sport and receive expert support around their physical and mental health.
‘Empower’ will form part of the Foundation’s longstanding ‘Teaming Up for Health’ partnership with NHS Hull Clinical Commissioning Group which for the current delivery year involves a focus on delivering programmes that seek to reduce loneliness and isolation within targeted groups.
In developing ‘Empower’ to ensure it offers an evidence based, need led approach, the Foundation has teamed up with both Hull and East Yorkshire Mind and the Humber, Coast and Vale Health and Care Partnership to shape an innovative project that reaches those most in need at this difficult time.
James Price, Head of Community at the Hull FC Community Foundation commented: “We are acutely aware of the impact that Covid-19 continues to have in Hull, and how certain groups have been disproportionally affected.
“Having spoken to many during the lockdown period, we recognise that feelings of loneliness and social isolation are having a significant impact on overall wellbeing and are therefore pleased to be working alongside a range of partners to provide engaging opportunities that fuse physical sport participation with expert advice on wellbeing.
“‘Empower’ will launch a new weekly programme of activity based from the Foundation’s Bonus Youth Performance Centre on Pickering Road week commencing 5th October.
As well as expanding the Foundation’s Touch Rugby programme, sessions will also be offered for both children and adults with disabilities, veterans, older people, families and individuals with mental health conditions.
As part of ‘Empower’, participants will be able to access support around their mental health in partnership with Hull and East Yorkshire Mind.
Dan Warren, Mind’s Director of Development’ commented: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Hull FC on their exciting new programme. By working in partnership with other local organisations that share similar values, we believe it gives us an opportunity to really promote the importance of good mental health.
“It allows us to engage in conversations with people that will support breaking down the stigma still attached to mental health and create opportunities for people to be referred effectively to the most appropriate and suitable support. We will look to bring a cross-section of experience to the sessions we’ll be working on and delivering meaningful and relevant workshops that will help to make the programme a success.’
Jo Kent, Suicide Prevention Programme Lead, Humber, Coast and Vale Sustainable Transformation Partnership, said: ‘‘It’s great to be working alongside the community arms of all of our local professional sports clubs.
“Humber, Coast and Vale Health and Care Partnership are working collaboratively with a number of organisations, including local businesses and charities, to prevent suicides from happening in our communities.
“We are pleased to be supporting the work of Hull FC Community Foundation through their ‘Empower’ project, as it seeks to create positive engagement opportunities for vulnerable groups in society – this being that it allows them to create new social connections and become physically active.
“It’s great that the project will support participants to improve their physical and mental health, as well as giving them the opportunity to receive specialist support from Hull and East Yorkshire Mind’.”
For more information, please email richard.tate@hullfc.com
Full Empower Timetable:
Monday
- Touch Rugby League – Sirius Academy West 3G / 7pm – 9pm
Tuesday
- Learning Disability Rugby League – Sirius Academy West 3G / 5pm – 6pm
Wednesday
- ‘Old Faithful’ Reminiscence – Hull FC Centre of Excellence / 5pm – 6pm
- Hull FC Women’s Training – Hull FC Centre of Excellence / 6pm – 7pm
Thursday
- Walking Rugby – Hull FC Centre of Excellence / 5pm – 6pm
- Fit4FC Session One – Hull FC Centre of Excellence / 6pm – 7pm
- Fit4FC Session Two – Hull FC Centre of Excellence / 7pm – 8pm
Friday
- CLLD Employability Session – Hull FC Centre of Excellence / 10am – 12pm
Saturday
- Tots Rugby Session One – Hull FC Centre of Excellence / 9am – 9.45pm
- Tots Rugby Session Two – Hull FC Centre of Excellence / 10.15am – 11am
- Veterans Rugby – Hull FC Centre of Excellence / 11am – 12pm
Sunday
- FC Dance (Ages 7-10) – Hull FC Centre of Excellence / 4pm – 5pm
- FC Dance (Ages 11-13) – Hull FC Centre of Excellence / 5pm – 6pm
- FC Dance (Ages 14-15) – Hull FC Centre of Excellence / 6pm – 7pm
- FC Dance (Ages 15+) – Hull FC Centre of Excellence / 7pm – 8pm
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