The Trust’s Mental Health team operates within its Corporate  Responsibility and Safety section which is headed by Glenn Bate, but largely owes its existence to the pioneering work of former board member Kris Gunns, himself a sufferer of Borderline Personality Disorder, whose passionate championing of the mental health cause saw the Trust offering signposting services to those in need, working closely with mental health charities and the Club’s own Safeguarding Team, as well as the Football Supporters Association (FSA).

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The main purpose of the team is to raise mental health awareness and to signpost to professional services.

With lockdown calls on the service inevitably increased, the team and service have expanded with Nick O’Brien (Nick has a background in education, equalities work and safeguarding) and David Whiteside (David is a mental health survivor, campaigner and advocate) coming on board and the setting up of a specific Trust Mental Health email address and Twitter account which are constantly monitored.

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In February 2021 the Trust held a highly successful mental health forum which involved Club staff, FSA representatives and healthcare professionals and is continuing to look at ways to develop its service.

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We plan similar events in the future.

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If you wish to contact the team you can do so at mh@canariestrust.org, or via Twitter @canariestrustMH