Alderley Edge based It’s a Goal! Foundation today published the findings of an independent evaluation of its programmes by the University of Nottingham.
The It’s a Goal! Foundation is a not-for-profit company set up by Malcolm McClean which began running programmes in football clubs to help young men suffering from depression, some six years ago.
It’s been operating at Macclesfield Town, Manchester United, Stockport County, Plymouth Argyle, Burnley, Stoke City and Scottish Borders. The NHS North West has just invested £500,000 to take the programme into seven more football clubs in the region.
Founder Malcolm McClean said “I’m delighted with the progress that we have made. I instinctively felt that using a football metaphor would be a great way to get men to open up and take control of the issues in their lives, yet amazingly there seemed to be 101 people who wanted to tell me that the idea wouldn’t work. It’s great that we persevered and now the NHS is investing in it in a big way”.
He added “The tragic suicide of German goalkeeper Robert Enke illustrates how difficult it can be for men to open up and address difficult issues. He was famous, successful, wealthy, married to a beautiful wife and surrounded by his team mates every day, yet still he found it difficult to open up about the way he was feeling.
"This year, as every year, that will happen to some 7000 people, mostly men. A treatable illness can become a killer illness. Our programmes make a small dent into these figures so there is still a lot to do”.
Click here to download a copy of The Latest Score: An evaluation of the It’s a Goal! programme.
