World Suicide Prevention Day is a moment for communities everywhere to pause, reflect and reaffirm a simple truth: every life matters, and every conversation has the potential to save one. As a club built on connection, belonging and shared purpose, today carries particular significance for us.

This morning marks the national launch of On Your Side, a new suicide‑prevention toolkit now available through the Hub of Hope, the UK’s largest mental health support directory. It is the most comprehensive guidance ever created specifically for the sporting world — from elite organisations to grassroots clubs like ours — and it gives every volunteer, coach, parent, and player the confidence to support someone who may be struggling.

What On Your Side Means for Our Club

Sport is powerful. It brings people together, creates routine, builds identity, and offers a sense of belonging that many people rely on. But it also places pressures on individuals that are not always visible. We know that people in our club community — teammates, parents, supporters, officials, volunteers — may be carrying burdens we never see.

The On Your Side toolkit has been designed to help clubs like ours recognise those moments and respond safely. It provides clear, practical guidance on:

• Understanding the signs that someone may be at risk
• Starting supportive, non‑judgemental conversations
• Knowing what to do if someone discloses suicidal thoughts
• Creating an environment where people feel able to speak openly
• Supporting the wider community after a suicide
• Connecting people quickly to local help through the Hub of Hope

This is not about turning volunteers into specialists. It is about giving ordinary people the confidence to act with compassion and clarity when someone needs them.

A National Commitment — and Our Part in It

The launch of On Your Side today brings together leaders from across sport, all committing to embed suicide prevention into everyday practice. The message is clear: suicide prevention is not the responsibility of mental health professionals alone. It is something every club, every coach, every teammate can contribute to.

For us, this aligns with our values. We are a club that looks after one another. We celebrate together, we support one another through setbacks, and we take pride in being a welcoming, inclusive community. Today’s launch strengthens that commitment.

Why This Matters Today

World Suicide Prevention Day reminds us that small actions can make a profound difference. Checking in on someone. Asking how they are. Noticing when something feels “off”. Offering a listening ear. These moments matter.

By adopting the On Your Side guidance, we are making a clear statement:

No one in our club should ever feel they have to struggle alone.

The Hub of Hope ensures that anyone who needs support can find it quickly, locally, and confidentially. The toolkit ensures that those around them know how to help.

Together, these resources give our community the tools to turn care into action.

A Message from Paul Berry, Club Chairman

“As a club, our greatest strength has always been our people — the volunteers who give their time, the players who support one another, and the families who make our community what it is.

On World Suicide Prevention Day, I want to say clearly that every single person connected with our club matters. If you are struggling, you are not alone. If you are worried about someone, your concern is important.

The launch of On Your Side gives us practical, evidence‑based tools to help one another. It reinforces the idea that you don’t need to be an expert to make a difference — you just need to care, to listen, and to be willing to reach out.

I encourage everyone to take a few minutes to look at the guidance and familiarise themselves with the Hub of Hope. These resources could help you support a teammate, a friend, a family member — or even yourself.

As a club, we stand together. Today is a reminder that support is always available, and that every conversation has the potential to save a life.”

Our Commitment Going Forward

Over the coming weeks, we will be sharing elements of the On Your Side guidance with members, volunteers, and parents. We will encourage everyone to familiarise themselves with the Hub of Hope and to take simple steps that strengthen our club’s culture of care.

If you ever feel concerned about someone, or if you are struggling yourself, please speak to someone you trust — a friend, a teammate, a coach, a family member, or a professional. Reaching out is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Today is a reminder that suicide is preventable, support is available, and as a club, we are committed to being on your side.