Salford Red Devils Foundation has launched its first official ‘Manbassadors’ programme.
The programme, which began on Wednesday, 5th November, pushes men to talk about their mental wellbeing, physical activity and healthy eating.
The sessions also provide a safe place for men to talk and listen to one another, with a view to ending the stigma around men’s mental health and boosting their confidence.
Tom Trainor, 50, from the Salford Red Devils Foundation, said: “We attempt programmes delivered by foundation staff, looking at positive mental health, creating opportunities and space for men to talk about any issues they have.
“We’re focusing our content, the content of our programmes, on proactive mental toughness. So, looking at how we respond to challenging situations, taking control, and developing self-confidence.
“We’re also looking at physical health, because obviously there’s a correlation between increasing levels of physical activity and the impact of that on our mental health, and then we’re also looking at healthy eating.
Hopefully, we can upskill the attendees of the project in terms of looking after themselves from a nutritional point of view.”
Trainor said: “There are ambassadors’ programmes in other areas of Greater Manchester. But from our point of view, we’re promoting this across the club and Foundation’s social media channels. So, we’ve got fans from all over the region, so we certainly wouldn’t turn anybody away.
“It’s a very pressing topic in terms of male mental health and creating that space for men to be able to open up and to talk and not just put a brave face on things and the old stereotypes around being tough.
It’s an important thing, and sport, in particular rugby league, is a great vehicle to be able to promote that message as well. As a foundation and as a club, we’re hugely behind the Manbassadors programme and we know it will have a massive impact.”
“People can drop in for half an hour. We’re not hugely driven by numbers on this. If we get one person who’s not had the opportunity to talk before and they’ve got that, that’s fantastic. It was a small group to start off with, but actually, we’re hoping it will grow over time. But again, for us, it’s about creating that opportunity for men to be able to access the programme”
With the financial situation around the Salford Red Devils, many have worried about losing their local and chosen rugby league club.
Trainor said: “We would have done this irrespective of the situation. As a foundation, our motto is to empower better lives through rugby league. We work right through from reception-aged children in primary schools to people in nursing homes and community centres at the other end of the age spectrum.
“So, we’re just looking to provide a broader programme of engagement for as many people in the city of Salford and the wider region as possible. So, you know, this hasn’t been driven by anything that’s going on currently with the club. It’s about us trying to provide a top-class service to everybody in our area.”
The programme will take place every Wednesday for the next 15 weeks at the Salford Community Stadium, from 6.30pm until 7.30pm.
You can register for the programme here.
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