Two organisations working to bring positive change to communities in Oxfordshire by harnessing the power of football have teamed up as part of a suicide prevention campaign.
Oxford United in the Community and the Joey Beauchamp Foundation will work in partnership, alongside the Football Club, to enhance people’s awareness and understanding of suicide, as well as mental health resources should a person be suffering in silence.
The collaboration has been formalised ahead of Oxford United’s home Championship fixture against Portsmouth on Saturday 15 February, the closest home fixture to the anniversary of Joey Beauchamp’s death.
On February 19, 2022, Joey, widely regarded as Oxford United’s greatest ever player, took his own life. The Joey Beauchamp Foundation was set up in his honour by his brother Luke, to try and eradicate suicide within the Oxfordshire community and beyond. The announcement of the partnership follows the launch of Oxford United’s own suicide prevention campaign, Can We Talk?.
This partnership will see both organisations share resources to maximise impact by addressing the pressing need for mental health support and awareness locally.
It also further enhances the Football Club’s existing support of the Joey Beauchamp Foundation which has been invaluable in establishing its present structure.
A series of joint fundraising initiatives have been organised including the first annual raffle in the lead up to the Portsmouth fixture. This follows a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between both groups which was signed in November and will allow Oxford United in the Community to expand its work supporting people across Oxfordshire.
Luke Beauchamp, Founder of the Joey Beauchamp Foundation, said: “This is an important step for the Foundation and one which will support our ongoing work to promote mental health services and skillsets within the football club’s fanbase and beyond.
“Mental health support is available, but right now not everyone is entirely confident how to access it or even how to approach those conversations.
“Picking up the phone or taking time to check in on a friend is the right thing to do – regardless if they’re showing signs of depression or not.
“The Joey Beauchamp Foundation aims to promote these behaviours and with support from Oxford United in the Community it’s our ambition to ensure people are well-placed to prevent others from experiencing loss because of suicide.”
Special hoodies have been made by the Joey Beauchamp Foundation ahead of the Portsmouth fixture and are available to pre-order on their website, supported by Oxford United in the Community and the Club. The hoodies form part of the Foundation’s Talk To Your Wingman campaign which promotes and encourages people to talk to trusted professionals when mental health issues arise.
Also, in the lead up to Saturday’s match, the Community have finalised prizes for a charity draw, with the proceeds going to the Foundation, while the Club will also honour Joey’s life with an applause in the 11th minute at the Kassam Stadium
Matt Everett, CEO of Oxford United in the Community, added: “No person should have to experience the loss of a friend or relative because of suicide.
“But even today, there remains a requirement to enhance people’s awareness and understanding of the support services which are available.
“Positive health and wellbeing is one of our charity’s four key pillars we aspire to achieve through our present community projects and programmes.
“By partnering with the Joey Beauchamp Foundation, we can use our existing network to spread an important message and achieve a collaborative goal to inspire positive outcomes through the power of football and the Oxford United badge.”
Free mental health support is available through Oxfordshire Mind, while Samaritans offers a 24/7 service each day of the year.
To speak confidentially with Oxfordshire Mind, call 01865 247788. Alternatively, Samaritans can be contacted via 116 123.
Further information about the Joey Beauchamp Foundation and its initiatives is available via www.joeybeauchamp.org. To buy an online raffle ticket, click here – entries close at 9pm on Wednesday, February 19.
