“We need to normalise talking about mental health and why we need to look after it!” - Patrick Foster Delivers Inspirational Presentation To The Players At Stamford Rugby Club
We were delighted to join the players at Stamford Rugby Club this week, for an evening presentation and Q&A with Patrick, who is delivering his incredible presentations to audiences across the country, to support and fundraise for his London Marathon challenge, which he will be completing this year in support of The Mintridge Foundation.
Patrick Foster is a fantastic role model, not only for young people but also for men and women across the country. There are so many elements to Patrick’s story, that mean whoever his audience is, they may be able to personally relate to what he has been through or know someone close to them that they want to help and support.
Stamford Rugby Club welcomed Patrick to speak to their players about why talking about mental health matters and to raise awareness of how your mental health can positively and negatively impact all areas of your life. Supported by the staff at The Mintridge Foundation, who are Mental Health First Aiders, Patrick delivered an inspiring but hard-hitting story about his battle with addiction and the consequences this has had on his life so far. As a club that has experienced its own loss and turmoil over the last couple of years, they are making huge steps forward in talking about mental health and challenging the stereotypes associated with what it means to be a ‘tough man’, and the belief that ‘showing weakness means you are weak.’ Perceptions that are sometimes found within men’s sports clubs. The club have been huge supporters of the Max Hunter Fund, and with personal connections to Max Hunter, Patrick’s story was even more relevant and eye opening for the players who attended the evening.
“The ones that seem like they are ok, they are the ones you need to look after the most.”
It was incredibly important for the members of Stamford Rugby Club to hear about Patrick’s journey and how he came out of the other side of some very difficult points in his life, so they too can gain an understanding of how your mental health can influence the path and the decisions you make along your journey.
“We need to normalise talking about mental health and why we need to look after it!”
It was so great to see the players on this call opening up about their own experiences and seeking some guidance from Patrick about how they can support each other but also other members of their communities. Due to Patrick’s honesty and vulnerability on this call, the players felt empowered and supported to speak about their own experiences, which we are delighted to have facilitated.
“I always thought that mental health issues don’t happen to me, but if it can happen to me it can happen to anyone!”
With his story, Patrick highlighted that it was ok not to be ok and that sharing your problems is not a weakness but more of a strength, which is a big focus for the coaching staff and players at Stamford Rugby Club. For players working in a club environment, Patrick was in a perfect position to speak to them about the world of professional sport and how incredibly competitive it can be on and off the pitch.
“It was the first time in my life I had been told I wasn’t good at something…you always think you are going to bounce back well from things like this but I just didn’t.”
Patrick has a very unique story, and we are very fortunate to be able to share his story with young people, schools and sports clubs across the country.
The players led a brilliant discussion at the end of the presentation with Patrick and some of the best questions they discussed were:
How did your friends and family react to finding out about the extent of your gambling?
What is your current job now?
Were you surprised by people’s reactions and how those people spoke to you after you told them what was going on?
How do we challenge the stigma around mental health and what can we be doing to support others around us?
As the evening came to a close, Patrick left the players with some things to think about as they go on into their next rugby season and we start to return to a ‘normal’ way of life.
“As mates and as teammates, when something happens in someone’s life, on or off the pitch, that is when you need to rally round people as that’s when they are most vulnerable. So do what you can to support them, listen non judgementally and when things go wrong in your life, you must be kind to yourself!”
We are delighted that we could put together this evening with the players at Stamford Rugby Club and Patrick, and we hope his messages are helpful for them to hear now and in the future. We look forward to seeing the players from Stamford Rugby Club soon and we thank them for all of their support.
Patrick Foster is running the London Marathon for The Mintridge Foundation and he would love your support. Please click the link below to find out more about his challenge and why he is raising money for Mintridge.
The Mintridge Foundation is a registered charity dedicated to enhancing life skills in young people through sport. We provide a support network for young people by harnessing the power of positive sporting role models. The Mintridge Foundation assists young people of all ages, abilities, and physical capabilities to develop confidence and resilience, and creates awareness of the importance of mental and physical wellbeing through sport.
Our team of Ambassadors - Olympians, Paralympians and other professional sports stars from over 20 sports, both team and individual - work with young people in schools, clubs and academies across the UK. Starting with visits including assemblies, coaching clinics and classroom sessions tailored to each organisation’s requirements, our ambassadors can then provide one- on- one remote mentoring in a safeguarded environment, delivered via technology such as FitSwarm and Playwaze to build a lasting legacy for individuals.
The Mintridge Foundation’s successes demonstrate the incredible power of sport; from a mentee’s selection to represent Great Britain in their chosen field to enabling disabled children to find confidence and happiness just through participation. Understanding life after sport, we also support our Ambassadors in their transition from active sport to the next stage of their careers.
To find out more about the Mintridge Foundation, please contact Alex Wallace.
