GUISBOROUGH TOWN and Redcar and Cleveland Mind have formed an innovative partnership to help raise awareness of the importance of good mental health and wellbeing through football.

The charity offers a wide range of wellbeing and mental health prevention and recovery services to adults, young people and children throughout the Redcar and Cleveland area.

It has two main support services – Road to Recovery, which provides adults with one-to-one emotional and practical support for mild to moderate mental health conditions, and Future Focus, which supports young people aged 14 to 19 who are experiencing emotional wellbeing difficulties

Nick Murray, funding and development officer at Redcar and Cleveland Mind, said: “We were very pleased indeed to be approached by Guisborough Town with a view to forming a partnership with our organisation and we are very much looking forward to working with the club over the next two seasons at least.

"We are hoping that members of the club’s coaching staff will attend our free mental health training courses provided by the Tees Training Hub.

“This will help staff support children and young people who may be experiencing mental health difficulties."

Lenny Reed, a former first team analyst on Guisborough Town’s senior coaching staff who is still keenly involved with the club’s junior teams, added: “Guisborough Town FC are so proud that Redcar and Cleveland Mind have agreed to partner with our football club and we are looking forward to creating a positive influence together.

“We very much hope that the partnership, along with some of the exciting plans we are working on jointly, will help to further increase awareness of mental health and in turn help to support the great work that charities such as Redcar and Cleveland Mind are doing."