13th May 2025
On Monday 14th April, a joint event hosted by Fight 4 Change and Black Prince Trust’s Health and Wellbeing Lead and Football Development Officer brought together different community groups and members of the community in targeted sessions and interventions promoting good physical and mental health. The event showcased good practices for alleviating the everyday stresses through welcoming and fun activities.
One of the first activities, aimed at young people attending a gang intervention programme for a day of football, conversation, and community support. Running from 12–4pm at the Black Prince Trust, the event used sport as a way to connect with an at Risk Group in a safe and supportive space. The tournament gave participants a chance to take part in something active and positive, while also offering space for reflection and meaningful engagement.
Supporting Mental Wellbeing Through Social Action
In the lead-up to the event as part of the month of Stress, a team of six young advisors developed a social action project focused on mental wellbeing and stress awareness. Their goal was to create a simple, helpful way to support others through everyday pressures.
They designed and produced stress packs, which were shared with people on site and the wider community on the day. Each pack included:
– A stress-themed crossword puzzle
– An information leaflet on understanding and managing stress
– A set of positive affirmation cards
– A stress ball
– Leaflets and contact details for activities and support services in the local area
The young advisors also used this opportunity to talk directly with members of the local community—opening conversations about stress, sharing what’s available locally, and encouraging people to make use of local resources.
Virtual Reality and Reaching Out
A VR mindfulness experience was also available during the event, offering a short immersive break designed to promote calm and focus. While engagement on-site was limited, the team took the headset and remaining packs out into the surrounding area.
Over the course of the afternoon, they spoke with more than 120 people, including mothers, young people, and older residents. Many welcomed the packs and a few were curious enough to try the VR experience for themselves—some even giving it a go in their local café.
A Community Moment
The day was an opportunity not only to enjoy football but also to reflect on challenges that often go unseen—like stress, trust, and how we respond to pressure. The work of the young advisors in the community helped create space for those conversations to happen.
While simple in format, the event offered a reminder of how local partnerships and youth-led initiatives can build trust, raise awareness, and connect people through shared experiences—on and off the pitch.
Football Community tournament
We also, had the pleasure to conduct a football tournament combining two great organisations from Fight4change and Horizon which was a great success in mixing the teams from both programs. The tournament held four teams across both programs which were mixed teams. The tournament allowed the social and relief perspective as everyone enjoyed the tournament and we were able to engage with other members from both organizations.
We had winners’ trophies, fair player award and player of the tournament which was a great reward for teams and individuals hardwork. This was part of the De stress festival which was a great success.
Health and Wellbeing for the Community
Our Health & Wellbeing (H&W) team were out in force. This included the Lambeth H&W Bus onsite, busy offering Mental Health 1:1 support. Their team also included a Female Health specialist who based herself in our Community Lounge, this was part of the Women & Girls female health drive we are delivering in partnership with Lambeth. She was able to provide not only specialist advise but also take-away factsheets on the topics of contraception, pre-conception, menopause and heavy menstrual bleed. These were produced by Lambeth Public Health clinical specialists and are still available from BPT anytime.
The Community Living Room and Ageing Well coaches promoted our wide and varied H&W weekly sessions and delivered short taster classes in Forever Young, mat and chair yoga, whilst our Walking Football coach, Goncalo, was around and offering a warm welcome to any new interested attendees. Charmaine delivered mini therapeutic massage, which was incredibly popular and oversubscribed and as a result we are looking to build this into our regular schedule.
Many thanks to the Lambeth Public Health team for helping us make the day such a success.
