Bristol Rovers mental health football group reflects on its first year
Bristol Rovers Community Trust and Gloucestershire FA launched the 'Rebound with Rovers' scheme 12 months ago
Bristol Rovers Community Trust are celebrating the first anniversary of a project launched to help support people struggling with their mental health.
'Rebound with Rovers' was launched in November 2021, thanks to a partnership with the Gloucestershire FA and the Bristol Rovers Community Trust - with the sessions hosted each week by a fully-qualified mental health first aider.
Each week, those taking part enjoy an hour's game of football before a 'Check In Chat', where players get the chance to chat about how they're feeling, what they've been doing, and where they're at with the progress of their mental health.
Run by Costa Chard - who is also a fully qualified football coach as well as a mental health first aider - sessions have grown from just one person attending a week to now dozens.
With dozens of attendees now - like with many grassroots projects - they do start off small, but what one of their members has done is testament to the group's progress in the past 12 months.
Costa said: "At the very beginning, everybody was really supportive. It was also quite a frustrating time, because we could see the project's potential - but the game was all about getting the word out there.
"It seems like yesterday we started. At the first session on the 3G pitch in Southmead, we had out first attendee - Helen Cox. She's played a bit of football in the past, but it was intimidating to see me and Richard Todd from the GFA in full tracksuit, bibs, balls, cones... to walk into that was a big step - and now she's been to every session since.
"Helen is now my assistant coach and she's taking on her coaching exams... it's a wonderful picture of where Rebound with Rovers is at and what we aim for."
Mixing football with mental health check-ins, where they rate their days out of ten, the group aims to be a confidential safe space for people to express their true thoughts and feelings.
However, Rebound with Rovers' takes mental health support one step further, through emphasising a team-playing mentality.
Costa added: "The fact that we've grown to a place where we might have to expand what we do says a lot about our approach. We're also being socially prescribed, and having people wanting to get involved - and that's all down to the team.
"I may be the lead coach - but I'm just a part of the team."
Those interested in getting involved with competitive sports can also get involved - the 'Rebound with Rovers squad competed in their first SWCP tournament in Bridgwater last month, and came second - by a point.
Costa reflected: "That's the beauty with Rebound - you have some people who are experienced at football, and you have others who aren't at all - but we all come together as one."
With a mentality of 'we're all in it together', the sessions in Southmead clearly prove to have a value to those who attend - and those who run it too - with staff reflecting on the past year with a sense of real pride.
He said: "The Gloucestershire FA have been outstanding, and the Bristol Rovers Community Trust team have been so wonderful. And Tom Antebi from Off the Record. And Sarah Quinn from Southmead - everyone just came together from the very beginning, and look where we are at now.
"When you see people throwing themselves into it, when you see someone sharing with the group and express themselves - it makes me feel so proud to see how far we've come in the space of 12 months."
If you’re interested in attending a free Rebound with Rovers session or want to find out more information, contact info@bristolroverscommunity.org.uk.
You can find out more about 'Rebound with Rovers' here
Check out Gloucestershire FA here