We are delighted to announce that Portadown Football Club have entered an agreement for the extremely dedicated, local organisation, Just A Chat, to become our official Mental Health Charity for the seasons ahead.
Entering this two way partnership, Portadown will support Just A Chat by giving opportunities for the charity to widen the scope of their brand in the ABC council area and in N.Ireland, support with fundraising and organising community events.
In return, Just A Chat will become an important presence at Shamrock Park, engaging with staff, players and supporters, being available for advice and offering real practical support for those in a mental health crisis, and in areas such as suicide, gambling, depression, addiction etc.
They will also offer workshops, throughout the season and hope to establish men’s and women’s groups at Shamrock Park.
Portadown Community Engagement Officer, Dave Wiggins commented,
We are really happy to have just a chat as our Mental Health Charity partner. They are an organisation who are rooted in the community and have genuine concern and offer real life support for those who need it. I hope everyone gets behind them and the activities that they will deliver here and around the area.
Conor Hegarty from Just A Chat, had this to say,
Our aim at Just A Chat is to ensure everyone knows what to do and where to go in the event of a crisis.
Our new partnership with Portadown FC gives us an incredible opportunity to reach even more people, raise awareness of the support available and make sure no one feels they have to face difficult times alone.
We’re incredibly excited to get started and look forward to building a strong and meaningful partnership that can make a real difference across our community.
To kick this partnership off, we will do three specific things:
1. The Just A Chat logo will feature on the back of our players warm up 1/4 zips, worn before each match during the season.
2. Just A Chat will be our charity bucket collection for the first home match of the season, this Saturday versus Dungannon Swifts.
3. Just A Chat Youth will also be our community guests at this Saturday’s match.
Let’s all welcome the staff, volunteers and young people from Just A Chat when we see them around Shamrock Park and if you or someone in your family is living with a mental health issue or sliding into a crisis, please do reach out for support at any time.
Be assured, you will be treated in confidence and with respect.
