Over 100 school children gathered at the AJ Bell Stadium, home of Sale Sharks, on Wednesday 5th February to launch the Trust’s new mental wellbeing schools’ programme ‘Find Your Brave’
Young people from four Salford schools got the chance on Wednesday to learn from some of Sale Sharks star players about how they cope with the pressure of professional rugby in order for the players to pass on their tips and hints to the young people around positive mental wellbeing.
The event was the launch of Sharks Community Trust’s new programme ‘Find Your Brave’, a new mental well-being programme for young people in Manchester and North West primary schools. The programme has been developed in partnership with children’s mental health charity and club charity partner, Place2Be, and will help young people understand the importance of resilience and good mental wellbeing.
Over 100 school children from Cadishead Primary, Christ Church School, Lewis Street School and Moorfields School, all from Salford, attended the launch event which was attended by Sale Sharks stars, Denny Solomona, Faf de Klerk and Josh Beaumont.
The young people took part in a classroom session which was aimed at providing them with some important skills to improve their mental wellbeing, whilst also receiving a tour of the AJ Bell Stadium and taking part in a Tag Rugby game. However the highlight for the young people from the four local primary schools was the chance to meet the three internationally capped players, including the World Cup winner’ Faf de Klerk who brought his Rugby World Cup winners medal to show the children.
The children who attended have also been given the opportunity to attend the Sale Sharks Premiership Cup semi-final match against Saracens on Friday 7th February and take part in the guard of honour and welcome both teams onto the pitch for kick-off.
As well as meeting Sale Sharks players, the young people got the chance to meet the club’s co-owner, Michelle Orange who is a passionate supporter of Place 2 Be and the work they undertake to improve children’s mental health.
Speaking at the event, Michelle Orange, co-owner of Sale Sharks, said,
“I am excited to launch this new project as a partnership between Sale Sharks, Sharks Community Trust and Place2Be. Mental wellbeing is something that I am passionate about and this project fits well with the programmes that Sharks Community Trust deliver across the North West which have a positive impact on the lives of thousands of young people.
‘Find Your Brave’ in conjunction with Place2Be will have a massive impact locally, and to be present at the launch and to witness the energy and enthusiasm for this programme was very special. I am also pleased that the club will get the chance to showcase the project at the match on Friday and I am looking forward to welcoming many of the young people from today at the match.”
Josh Beaumont, Sale Sharks player, said,
“Find Your Brave is an innovative new project that will be delivered by Sharks Community Trust in partnership with Place2Be and it will strengthen the work currently being done around mental well-being. As a club, we pride ourselves on our commitment to ensuring rugby can play its part in tackling social issues and we are hopeful about the impact that this project will have. It is an important topic in society that needs to be discussed more.”
For more information on the programme, please contact jo.edwards@salesharks.com
