Sunderland AFC Branch Liaison Council secure sponsorship to deliver their mental health support initiative.

A football supporters’ group are celebrating after securing significant sponsorship that will allow for a much needed and nationally recognised mental health support initiative to continue.

A football supporters’ group are celebrating after securing significant sponsorship that will allow for a much needed and nationally recognised mental health support initiative to continue.

The Sunderland AFC Branch Liaison Council (BLC), who represent 41 official supporters’ branches of Sunderland AFC, have welcomed Stewart Donald and Bridle Vehicle Leasing as sponsors of the BLC Mental Health Hub.

The BLC Mental Health Hub, which was recognised earlier this year as a glowing example of best practice by the Duke of Cambridge, is a partnership between the BLC, Washington Mind and the Foundation of Light.

First launched in November 2019 and located in the Beacon of Light, the hub operates prior to Sunderland home matches. The BLC have lost a number of their members to suicide and the hub has offered professional support for Sunderland supporters to address mental health issues and provided a safe environment for others to share and talk through their concerns and anxieties.

The BLC have relied on the generosity of their members and Sunderland supporters in order to meet running costs of the hub to date and have held a fund-raising talk-in with former Sunderland players.

The sponsorship and the funds involved will secure the future of the BLC Mental Health Hub for at least the next three years and provide the opportunity for it to be expanded into other areas that require urgent support. The funds will also address many of the access issues created by Covid-19.

Due to current Government guidelines and the absence of fans at matches, the BLC and Mind have offered an alternative to the matchday mental health hub with the provision of a daily live chat facility and plans are in place for the provision of a telephone support service in December and January.

Jim Gilling, Chair of the BLC, said: “We are delighted to welcome Stewart Donald and Bridle Vehicle Leasing as sponsors for our Mental Health Hub. It is a fantastic sponsorship agreement given the exceptional circumstances everyone is living through at this present time. The support that this investment provides, means that the BLC Mental Health Hub secures its future for the years ahead and allows for the further expansion of the services that we can offer to our supporters and the wider football community. The BLC have adopted the slogan, ‘Fans supporting Fans’ for use on social media and now we have official sponsors supporting us to achieve our planned growth well into the future.” 

Stewart Donald, owner of Sunderland AFC stated “I am really pleased to be able to help and I am fully committed to helping the community in Sunderland and surrounding areas. In the time that I have owned the football club I have met some wonderful people and I want to continue my support for the area and the people in it. To be able to support the BLC Mental Health Hub and such worthwhile endeavours that can really make a difference is something that I am completely on board with.”

Duncan Fitzgerald, Operations Director at Bridle Vehicle Leasing, added: “After being introduced to Jim and his team and finding out about their initiative we wanted to show our support. Hopefully, the sponsorship we are providing gives them the platform to continue and grow all the good work they are doing. We are delighted to be involved in such a fantastic cause”

For further information about the BLC Mental Health Hub or the work of the Sunderland AFC Branch Liaison Council please visit www.safcblc.com.

Notes

• The Branch Liaison Council was formed in 1972 and represents 41 official supporters’ branches of Sunderland AFC, including 8 overseas branches.
• The Branch Liaison Council meet regularly with Sunderland AFC through structured dialogue meetings representing supporters in dealing with issues such as ticketing, safety and travel.
• The Branch Liaison Council and member branches have raised £31,000 in the last year for several local charities.
• Bridle Vehicle Leasing is part of the Bridle Group. They provide a wide range of services including Vehicle Finance Brokering, Fleet Management, Short Term Flexible Vehicle Rental and General Insurance and Asset Finance. For more information visit their website bridlevehicleleasing.co.uk/

Website:       www.safcblc.com

Twitter:         @BlcSafc

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