Toolstation Western League

Bath Mind are delighted to have recently worked with the Toolstation Western League to pilot a mental health partnership supporting the wellbeing of footballers.

What is the Toolstation Western League?

Formed in 1892, the Toolstation Western League is a football league with 40 member Clubs covering Bath and North East Somerset, as well as Cornwall, Devon and Dorset. Research conducted by the League in 2021 highlighted that around a quarter of its players had considered seeking help with their mental health.

How did Bath Mind Mind and the Toolstation Western League work together?

To encourage players to reach out for support with their mental health, Bath Mind created custom posters promoting its mental health services available for young people, and the six Western League sides located in Bath and North East Somerset displayed these in their home and away changing rooms.

Chairman of the Western League, John Pool, explained:

Many people are still working through the loneliness and anxiety caused by lockdown, but we must not forget that our players are no different. They are as important to us as any members of our football family and this important partnership with Bath Mind is our way of supporting them.

In addition to the changing room posters, Bath Mind provided leaflets and programme adverts for fans, highlighting the variety of support services available.

Hannah Roper, Director of Business Development at Bath Mind, said:

“We at Bath Mind are thrilled to be working in partnership with the Toolstation Western League, to support and promote positive mental health for the football community…Through this pilot we hope to encourage everyone to talk about their mental health, seek help at an early stage and reduce the stigma associated with mental ill-health.”

As well as regular bucket collections at matches over the past few months, Western League held a successful charity day at Odd Down in April which raised over £500 for Bath Mind!

Ian Nocklands, Communications Officer for the Toolstation Western League added:

Non-League pride ourselves on being a football family, which is why the support services offered by organisations like Bath Mind are such an important part of keeping that family safe and well.

What comes next?

Following on from this successful pilot partnership, the Western League plan to extend this campaign across all of its 40 member Clubs, stretching from Wiltshire to Cornwall.

Bath Mind are so grateful to the Toolstation Western League for their incredible fundraising efforts over the past few months, and hope that our partnership will help to encourage young people and footballers to reach out should they need to.