Sporting Chance is proud to announce that mental health services have now been expanded to support all clubs in the Women’s Championship, as well as the continued service to Women’s Super League clubs.
SUPPORT FOR WOMEN FOOTBALL PLAYERS
Football stakeholders are working together to align the mental health and emotional support services available to the female players with their male colleagues. Sporting Chance is delighted to now offer all women playing in both the Women’s Super League and Women's Championship access to our national network of mental health expert practitioners and access to residential services. Additionally, the charity's education department will continue to run its Women in Sport sessions in WSL academies as part of Loughborough College's Diploma in Sporting Excellence programme.
Working with stakeholders to enable this to happen, Colin Bland, Sporting Chance CEO commented: 'Sporting Chance exists to provide a safe and confidential place for all who play professional and elite sport. I am delighted that we have achieved parity in women and men’s football in terms of the services we now offer. Our purpose is that when any professional or elite athlete has the courage to ask for support there is a safe place for them to go, and for many, we can be that place.’
On England Lionesses starting their World Cup Campaign: ‘I am wishing our Lionesses every success in Australia. For me they incapsulate Ghandhi’s short but wonderful quote; “Be the change you want to see in the world”. They have changed the country’s perception of women’s football and I am sure this has helped how women players are seen and treated – I wish them good luck’.
23 YEARS OF GROWING SUPPORT
Formed in 2000, by then Arsenal and England Captain Tony Adams, Sporting Chance has evolved over the last 23 years in line with the expanding mental health support needs of professional sportspeople. In 2002 the charity opened its residential facility, the only clinic in the world exclusively for professional sportspeople with an addictive disorder, and in 2012, developed a one-to-one therapy network with a 24-hour helpline. The network was significantly expanded in 2014 to meet the wider needs of elite athletes unrelated to addiction, and now provides support through over 250 mental health experts to over 19 stakeholders within UK sport. In 2022, Sporting Chance supported over 1400 athletes with clinical services.
Sporting Chance supports athletes for any mental health or emotional support through our dedicated 24-hour helpline on 07500 000 777.
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