Mental Health Awareness in Football

Kent FA Launches New Mental Health Youth Ambassador Programme

Kent FA continues to lead the way in highlighting the importance of mental health through the power of football.

This ground-breaking new programme will see young people, aged 16-24 given the opportunity to qualify as Mental Health Youth Ambassadors by August 2021.

Kent FA continues to lead the way in highlighting the importance of mental health through the power of football and we are delighted to launch our new Mental Health Youth Ambassadors programme, following on from the successful launch of our Mental Health Champion programme earlier in the season.

The Mental Health Youth Ambassadors programme, supported by Kooth and fully funded by our partners, The Tommy Crush Foundation, will see an number of young people, aged 16-24, undertake a half-day Mental Health First Aid England course, delivered by De La Mill Tutoring. 

Applications to become a Mental Health Youth Ambassador open on Friday 14 May at 9am and close on Friday 28 May at 9am. Applications are open to anyone aged 16-24 involved in Kent football as a player, coach, referee or volunteer who has an interest in and willingness to learn about mental health awareness. No experience is needed to apply!

The programme was designed for young people, by young people, as it has been the lead project of the Kent FA Youth Council over the past six months, with those on the Youth Council to become Mental Health Youth Ambassadors too. The Kent FA Youth Council feel strongly about promoting and raising awareness of the importance of mental health and wanted to lead a project that gave other young people a platform to raise awareness around the mental health of young people in football.

What is a Mental Health Youth Ambassador?

A Mental Health Youth Ambassador is a proactive individual who raises awareness of mental health in young people, working to break down barriers and ensure there is an understanding of where support can be accessed.

Any young person that becomes a Mental Health Youth Ambassador is not a crisis, advice or emergency service! Mental Health Youth Ambassadors are not there to resolve other young people’s challenges with their mental health, they are there to raise awareness of the importance of looking after mental health and to help other young people understand where specific support and guidance around mental health can be accessed. 

The aim is for the young people involved in the programme to educate other young people around mental health stigma and the importance of talking and listening, by raising awareness of good practice, as well as signposting and championing sources of professional mental health support for young people! Kent FA wants to create a culture where mental health can be promoted openly and positively by young people across Kent football. 

Anyone aged 16-24 can become a Mental Health Youth Ambassador, you don’t need to have any experience to get involved and apply.

You can find out more about the role by downloading the role description below

How do I apply?

You can apply by filling in the short application form below.



For more information on the Kent FA Mental Health Youth Ambassador Programme, please contact toby.elgar@kentfa.com

CLICK HERE FOR FULL ROLE DESCRIPTION