As we know,  this global pandemic has had a huge effect on the mental health of our communities and with this in the mind, The Harlequin Foundation and its’ key partner Movember,  stepped up and have been supporting the mental health of community rugby clubs and their members.

Throughout lockdown and beyond, The Harlequins Foundation, together with Movember, will be delivering mental health education and support sessions to parents and coaches of community rugby clubs across Surrey, Sussex and Kent. These 1-hour long sessions, delivered to 12 clubs so far, help to support and educate coaches and parents to look for signs and symptoms of anxiety and depression. The workshop also focusses on how to support each other and have that conversation should someone within the club need the support.

The Harlequins Foundation’s Programme Manager Paul Wilson said ‘This work is invaluable to encourage families and community rugby clubs to support each other during this period and beyond.

“The Ahead of the Game programme is focused on supporting adolescent young men, but the lessons can be applied across all sections of a community rugby club’.

Amy from Old Whitgiftian RFC said: “Ahead of the Game offers valuable space for information sharing and education on mental health.

“The breadth of the workshop was impressive, whilst also being balanced with time for participants to contribute to open discussion.

“One parent remarked afterwards that they felt that the parents who had not attended had missed a rich opportunity, and I would endorse this.”

Sam from Farnham RFC  said: “Farnham Rugby Club parents were fully engrossed in the 40 minute presentation and then engaged in a 20 minute discussion with Paul & Andy which followed, a really valuable hour in this hugely important area.”

The Harlequins Foundation and Movember are continuing to deliver throughout the coming months and are looking to get more clubs involved. If you or your club would like to find out more about how they can receive this work, then please get in contact with paul.wilson@nullquins.co.uk.