Club Events

HERTFORDSHIRE HOMELESS WORLD CUP

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2nd ANNUAL HAVEN FIRST 2022 HERTFORDSHIRE HOMELESS

WORLD CUP FEVER FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT
The Hertfordshire Homeless World Cup is an incentive to raise awareness of mental health issues in our local community that not only affects many people but also those who have become socially excluded through the effects of homelessness

The sports mentoring program has been running for over 4 years and has expanded and grown by having almost up to 40 players coming up through the mental health and wellbeing to now gaining employment or being re housed and integrated back into the community

“SPORT CHANGING LIVES CHANGING COMMUNITIES “

The Sports Coaching and Mentoring program at Haven First is based on the belief that it is possible to raise awareness and responsibility of mental health issues if there is prior learning about the concerns, issues and priorities of the target group and the context of their lives of being homeless

And this awareness raising has been most effective when it is integrated across not just agencies such as health and social care practitioners but the public in general, school, school governors, young people so that there is a co-ordinated approach and message

Mental health stigmas and homelessness is of course very real affecting lives of many people with mental health problems as those close to them. That fear of being labelled and stigmatized affects people’s willingness to disclose their illness and seek treatment

So the Haven First Sports Coaching and Mentoring program sporting events is designed to raise awareness are effective, because Health and Social wellbeing is being view holistically. The debate around awareness should not cover up the very serious problems mental health services face

Marc Campbell Haven First Sports Mentor , Youth Liaison Officer Community Football coach at Hitchin Town Football Club has created environments which encourage creativity, innovation experimentation, enjoyment and FUN “it’s a quality learning experience for young vulnerable adults based upon his love for the game “