Club & Community Support International Men’s Day

To celebrate International Men’s Day today, AFC Fylde Community Foundation joined other local sports clubs, charitable organisations and businesses for United Youth Alliance’s Fylde Coast International Men’s Day event at Bloomfield Road on Friday.

Facilitated by the Blackpool-based United Youth Alliance and held at the home of Blackpool Football Club, the day was enjoyed by all and provided a platform to engage in important conversations about men’s mental health.

Marked annually on 19th November, International Men’s Day (IMD) is celebrated and highlighted across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

International Men’s Day highlights worldwide the positive values men bring to themselves, their families and local communities. This year’s theme for International Men’s Day is ‘zero male suicide.’

The day is an opportunity for people everywhere of goodwill to appreciate and celebrate the men in their lives and the contributions they make to society.

International Men’s Day in the United Kingdom takes a gender-inclusive approach and believes in ensuring that issues affecting women and girls are also resolved.

It also recognises the intersection between gender and other factors such as race, place, class and sexuality, which can compound the inequalities affecting men and boys in the United Kingdom.

Also in attendance at United Youth Alliance’s Fylde Coast International Men’s Day were Blackpool FC Community Trust, Fleetwood Town FC Community Trust and Fylde Rugby Community Foundation, amongst many others.

The United Youth Alliance supports the development of the civil sector to increase capacity and impact as well as offering community-led social action, training and networking events, which in turn, develops local communities.

Scott Harries, Community Development Officer at AFC Fylde Community Foundation, said: “It’s been great to attend Fylde Coast International Men’s Day and see so many people here speaking about such important topics.

“It’s positive that we’ve been able to share ideas with colleagues from other clubs and community organisations on how we can support men’s mental health in our communities across Fylde and beyond.

“To all come together as a collective, we can help drive awareness so people know that the support is out there if needed.

“Thank you to United Youth Alliance for putting on the event for International Men’s Day.”

Throughout the week, members of staff from AFC Fylde Community Foundation, AFC Fylde’s first-team squad and academy have all made their pledge to support International Men’s Day.

The Foundation provides sessions for men to speak openly about how they feel, whether that be through participating in football sessions, the FIT FYLDE group or its employability, education, social interaction and mental health provisions in the Fylde borough.

Everyone at AFC Fylde and AFC Fylde Community Foundation are pleased to support International Men’s Day.