Foundation Health Tournament Success!

Saints Foundation staged its annual Health Kicks football tournament recently with over 280 men taking part in the hope their team can be crowned Health Kicks Champions 2011.   The tournament is the flagship event of the Foundation’s men’s health programme which has the objective of highlighting the range of Health issues that affect men in Southampton, including Sexual Health, Mental Health, Smoking Cessation and MOT Health Testing 

This year the Saints Foundations Men’s Health Project linked up with the National ‘Time to Change’ Project to ‘Tackle Mental Health Stigmas’ in young men and offered a host of activities to engage men with Mental Health Services and charities. The day itself brought together many local services working to get men exercising and talking about their Health, something that in every day life men struggle to do.

Participants had the opportunity took part in a mental Health Quiz and speak to advisors from Solent Mind, Time to Change and Southampton Voluntary Services as well as undertaking a MOT Health Test, screening Blood pressure, Cholesterol and Lung Function.

The tournament brought men from all walks of life together, including 2 teams from Everton Football Clubs ‘Imagine Your Goals’ community health programme. Health Kicks Project Officer, Phil Hastings commented, “The players had a great time and more importantly were exposed to a range of health information specifically focused on men’s health issues, so we hope they now understand the health messages to improve their quality of life in the future.”

Tournament winners were SKS who defeated Duppy FC in the final and the Player of the Tournament Cameron Brookes, also of SKS.  The men’s health project is part funded by the Football Foundation and Comic Relief as well as donation to the Saints Foundation.  For further information on the project or to make a donation click here.