Since 2022, Fulham FC Foundation has been working in partnership with Movember, the world-leading men’s health charity.
In late 2024, Movember further cemented this relationship by becoming one of Fulham FC Foundation’s Community Patrons.
Together, we deliver the renowned Ahead of the Game programme, designed to support young people, coaches, and parents in understanding and improving mental wellbeing.
The workshops aim to equip participants with the knowledge and tools needed to recognise signs of mental health issues and take action to support themselves and others.
Ahead of the Game is a comprehensive series of workshops that educates young people, their coaches, and parents about mental health awareness. These sessions focus on recognising common mental health challenges, learning coping strategies, and fostering a supportive community for those who may be struggling.
As part of our ongoing commitment to mental health awareness, we recently invited participants from the Premier League Inspires programme to a special workshop at Motspur Park in late January.
To enhance the experience, Fulham FC players Timothy Castagne, Steven Benda and Sander Berge joined the sessions to share their personal experiences with mental health and the pressures of performing at the highest level of football. Their insights provided valuable perspectives on resilience, managing expectations, and seeking support when needed.
Athina Papailiou, Mental Wellbeing Executive, said: “We were very excited that we had the opportunity to deliver Movember's Ahead of the Game programme to Premier League Inspires participants. Our partnership with Movember has allowed us to teach young people how to start conversations about mental health with their mates.
“The Premier League Inspires group from Raynes Park High School were very engaged with the workshop and were able to reflect on how to spot the signs of poor mental health in their friends, and how to support them during a difficult time.”
Premier League Inspires is a personal development initiative funded by the Premier League and the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) through the Premier League Charitable Fund. This programme harnesses the power of football to inspire young people aged 11 to 18, helping them build essential personal skills and a positive mindset for future success.
To learn more about Fulham’s Premier League Inspires programme, please contact us at schools@fulhamfc.com.
The Ahead of the Game programme is supported by the Premier League and Professional Footballers’ Association Community Fund supports clubs to develop partnerships to tackle inequality and respond to local challenges. Projects supported by the Premier League and PFA have engaged more than 230,000 unique participants in more than 330,000 sessions across England and Wales. Projects are supported by current and former professional football players, as well as scholars, to enhance the impact on participants. To support delivery, more than £46m of funding from the Premier League and PFA has been distributed to club community organisations by the Premier League Charitable Fund over the last 14 years.
