Two of the country’s most progressive non-league football clubs – Dulwich Hamlet FC and Whitehawk FC – have joined forces to raise awareness and funds with a series of events in February for the charities Mind in Brighton & Hove, and Mind in Lambeth and Southwark.
Dulwich Hamlet of the Vanarama National League South and Whitehawk of the Pitching In Isthmian League South East announce a series of joint initiatives during February, culminating with a very special Zoom evening with current Hamlet striker Danny Mills, who spent five years at Whitehawk during one of the most successful periods in the club’s history.
Launching on Time To Talk Day on Thursday, February 4, and using #shoutout, SHOUT OUT FOR MENTAL HEALTH is a campaign to raise funds via a JustGiving page, as well as encouraging anyone currently feeling anxious and alone in the current climate, to talk to someone; to call a friend, work colleague or
family member, and to reassure them that they are not alone.
The campaign includes a TV show, Whitehawk’s own TV show on local channel Latest TV, a ‘Virtual’ match, played out on Twitter between the two sides, a radio request show on local London station K2K, a fans’ quiz night, and an ‘Evening with’ zoom event featuring Danny Mills and some very special guests. Full details on poster at the end of this story.
Danny said, “Being in football for a number of years, I have seen the effects football has on players mental health. The anxiety of not knowing whether you’re going to start a game, waiting to know if you’re going to make the bench. The fear of making mistakes during a game. This campaign has been inspired by seeing these struggles and I want to help raise awareness for those who may not realise it’s happening.
“There is nothing wrong with not being okay. We’re all in this together. We all need to talk. Shout out for mental health is a campaign where Dulwich Hamlet and Whitehawk Football Clubs join forces in a unique and pioneering partnership to raise awareness for mental health.”
Andy Schofield, Whitehawk FC chairman, added: “These are tough times for everyone, with people kept apart from their friends. This is the case at our football clubs, where the usual Saturdays have not been happening for nearly a year now. This initiative highlights the fact that mental health is just as important as physical health, although it can often get overlooked.”
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