Kicking off a new partnership with two local football leagues!
Today, we are pleased to announce the start of a new partnership with two local football leagues: the Toolstation Western League and the Kitchen Kit South West Peninsula League. Staff at both leagues have identified the importance of raising awareness of mental health services amongst their member clubs, including their players, staff, and fans. They will be supporting Devon Mind’s work in a number of unique and engaging ways.
Following successful initiatives with our colleagues at Bath Mind and Mind in Somerset, the Toolstation League reached out to us this year to explore a similar partnership. Through this collaboration, the local clubs in the league will be raising awareness of Devon Mind’s support services by displaying a bespoke designed poster in the changing rooms at each game of the season, informing players and coaching staff of the options available to them should they need help with their mental health. The clubs will also be hosting bucket collections to raise money for Devon Mind.
Devon Mind’s partnership with the leagues was officially launched on Saturday 8th October 2022, at the Toolstation League Premier Division fixture between Buckland Athletic and Helston Athletic at Homers Heath in Newton Abbot, which the hosts won comfortably 4–0.
Speaking after the game, Devon Mind Marketing & Fundraising Manager Andre Pusey commented:
“We’re really pleased to be partnering with the Toolstation Western League and the South West Peninsula League starting this season. It’s critical that we reach players, staff, and supporters across all areas of Devon to increase the awareness of mental health support services that are available in their area, so we would like to thank everyone at the league for making this happening. Massive thanks also to all the staff and fans at Buckland Athletic, who gave us the warmest of welcomes to launch the partnership, donated generously, and showed genuine passion for supporting the mental health of their players and staff. Up the Bucks!”
John Pillier, Co-Chairman of Buckland Athletic, added:
“Everyone at Buckland Athletic is 100% behind this partnership between the Western League and Devon Mind. We’ve always taken the welfare of our players, coaches, and supporters very seriously, and that includes their mental wellbeing. The changing room posters are great and I’m really pleased Devon Mind have been able to join us to talk to so many people that have come here today. Buckland Athletic is a community club and communities care for each other.”
Following its successful partnerships with Bath Mind, Mind in Somerset, and Devon Mind, the Toolstation League aims to provide all member clubs with access to mental health and wellbeing support, planning to work with all local Minds from Wiltshire to Cornwall.
About the leagues
Founded in 1892, the Western Football League (sponsored by Toolstation) consists of a Premier Division and a Division One, which sit at levels 9 and 10 of the English football league pyramid, respectively. The South West Peninsula League (sponsored by Kitchen Kit) was founded much more recently, in 2007, and consists of two Premier Divisions – East and West – both of which sit at level 10 of the pyramid and feed into the Western League.
The Toolstation Western League currently consists of 42 teams over its two divisions, although only three are located in Devon: Premier Division clubs Barnstaple Town, Buckland Athletic, and Ilfracombe Town. The Kitchen Kit South West Peninsula League currently features 37 teams – 19 in Premier Division East and 18 in Premier Division West. All but one of the clubs in the East division are located in Devon (including Plymouth).