Oxford United are delighted to announce a new strategic partnership with Baton of Hope, becoming the first professional football club to sign up for the suicide prevention charity’s workplace pledge.
The collaboration is a commitment from Oxford United to help save lives and increase awareness of suicide. It will see accredited in-person training delivered across the Club by professionals who have dealt with the impact of suicide. Players and coaches from the Men’s Team took part in the first of a series of workshops on Monday, with further sessions planned for Senior Leadership and staff members.
Founded in 2023 by two fathers who lost their sons to suicide, Baton of Hope was established with the vision of creating a zero-suicide society. Oxford United Men’s Team player Will Vaulks is an ambassador for the charity and launched their inaugural Baton of Hope Tour in 2023, which is the UK’s largest suicide prevention initiative.
This partnership forms part of the Club’s suicide prevention and mental health initiative, Can We Talk?, which launched on World Mental Health Day in October 2024. Working alongside Oxfordshire Mind, Oxford United in the Community, and the Joey Beauchamp Foundation, the campaign began with a powerful video, reaching more than one million people online.
Following this, Oxford United hosted its first mental health workshop at the Kassam Stadium, with key stakeholders delivering messaging and advice on mental health awareness to a room of more than 200 supporters and national media.
Today’s announcement comes three years to the day since arguably the Club’s greatest ever player, Joey Beauchamp, took his own life. To mark the anniversary, his 16-year-old daughter, Jessie, spoke for the very first time about the impact her father’s death has had, with the aim to inspire more people to talk openly about the subject.
Working with Baton of Hope will ensure the Club continues to positively increase understanding of suicide and mental health both internally and externally. It’s a commitment to try and establish a safe environment for all connected to Oxford United, and ultimately, to help save lives.
Mike McCarthy, Baton of Hope co-founder, said: “We are enormously proud to work alongside Oxford United. The Club have demonstrated a serious and sincere commitment to the mental wellbeing of its community.
“They, like us, believe that in the majority of cases suicide is preventable. We share a view that the stigma surrounding this subject must be overcome. The Club is proving itself a front runner in confronting a societal catastrophe that is robbing our nation of talent and potential.”
Will Vaulks, Men’s Team player and Baton of Hope Ambassador, said: "I’m truly overwhelmed with the response and the commitment shown by Oxford United. This is a cause which means so much to me on a personal level and I am delighted the Club have been proactive in supporting it.
“This partnership is hopefully the start of a long-term vision to help end suicide within our community.
“I personally have to thank Ben Wilson and Mike McCarthy from Baton of Hope. Alongside those within the Club none of this would be possible. I am very excited to see what difference this can make in Oxfordshire and beyond.”
Oxford United Head of Media & PR, Ryan Maher, said: “This is an important partnership as we take the next step with our suicide prevention campaign, Can We Talk?
“We started this campaign on World Mental Health Day in October with the goal of ending the stigma around mental health and suicide. We want to use our platform in the community and beyond for good. This campaign is about opening conversations and striving for a society where people stop dying from suicide.
“To now be in a position where we look internally and give our players, staff, and supporters training is crucial. We are excited to be working with Baton of Hope as we believe this partnership will help save lives and promote the message that we can talk.”
