Leeds United Football Club are pleased to announce an ambitious mental health project in partnership with online learning provider The Skills Network, to offer a range of educational courses to supporters and their communities.
Leeds United College will be offering the free online qualifications in both mental health and counselling skills to people in the local community looking to develop their knowledge and understanding around the subject.
The club wants to help people better understand mental health, spot the signs of any mental health problems, and improve their ability to tackle issues in the current lockdown climate. Working with The Skills Network, a Selby-based online learning provider, free online qualifications can be achieved in:
Football gives many people an escape from the pressure of everyday life. However, current restrictions mean that games are being played behind closed doors, without supporters in attendance, and this enjoyment has been taken away from many people.
Lockdown has had an adverse effect on people’s mental health, with research from the Office of National Statistics suggesting that twice as many adults in Britain are reporting symptoms of depression now compared with this time last year, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
This is a fantastic opportunity for our supporters to learn more about the increasing prevalence of mental health problems and it is hoped that these free online courses will enable people to not only help themselves but help others around them.
Spencer Taylor, Director of Education at Leeds United Football Club, said: “The Leeds United College are delighted to have The Skills Network coming on board, and we are establishing a partnership that will deliver long-term impact. We chose TSN because of their reputation in online quality – we can hopefully now deliver the right programmes, with the right messages, to attract students and really make an impact in the community.
"Mental health education is so important, especially given the current climate with so many people struggling and trying to manage by themselves. These courses can really help you appreciate what other people are going through, and it can also help you with your own coping strategies.”
Eliot Grant, Owner of The Skills Network, said: “This is a really exciting project, and we are proud to working with a reputable global organisation such as Leeds United to build these key skills through online learning. We are giving something to those people who love football and their club.”
If you are interested in applying for a course, please visit https://leedsunitedcollegefunded.theskillsnetwork.com/
For more information on the two courses available, please contact [email protected]