Watford FC and the club’s Community Sports & Education Trust were proud to celebrate International Men’s Day earlier this month (Sunday November 19).
International Men’s Day recognises the positive value men bring to the world, their families and communities, highlighting positive role models and raising awareness of men’s wellbeing.
Founded in 1999, IMD provides an opportunity for people everywhere of goodwill to appreciate and celebrate the men in their lives and the contribution they make to society for the greater good of all. Its objectives are:
• To promote positive male role models; not just movie stars and sports men but every day, working class men who are living decent, honest lives.
• To celebrate men’s positive contributions to society, community, family, marriage, child care, and to the environment.
• To focus on men’s health and wellbeing; social, emotional, physical and spiritual.
• To highlight discrimination against men; in areas of social services, social attitudes and expectations, and law.
• To improve gender relations and promote gender equality.
• To create a safer, better world; where people can be safe and grow to reach their full potential.
To raise awareness this year, the Trust hosted an International Men’s Day seven-a-side tournament at the club’s London Colney training ground. The event welcomed 25 teams and over 250 participants, and raised over £1,000 for the Trust and Man On!.
Man On! is the Trust’s free weekly football-based mental health programme for men aged 18+. The programme launched five years ago in Watford to provide a service to support men given the increasing suicide rates at the time.
Since its launch, Man On! has supported over 150 men across Hertfordshire, North-West London and Harrow, improving their mental and physical health, helping them build their support network and providing a safe and inclusive environment for them to create new, long-lasting positive relationships.
The success of the initial programme in Watford created a demand for the programme in other areas. As a result the programme now runs in Rickmansworth, St Albans, Harrow and Watford.
On the International Men’s Day football tournament, Taylor Morrison - Mental Health & Wellbeing Officer for the Trust - said: “We’re very grateful to all that supported and attended the day, and send our congratulations to the three group winners - B2R, Hardley Athletic & You’re Having a Capoue.
“The tournament was a great success, and we look forward to running future events to support International Men’s Day.”
To find out more about Man On!, and get involved, click HERE.
