- Organised by Aviva, the event involves local businesses
- In its third year, the organisers hope this year’s Tournament will raise £15,000 for local mental health charities, Kyra Women’s Project (Kyra) and Menfulness
- The event will be held on Friday 13 June at York University Sports Centre.
Aviva has teamed up with York businesses to host a third annual wellbeing tournament in aid of local mental health charities. The event will bring York employees together to promote physical and mental wellbeing, while raising much-needed funds for valuable charities in the City. Local organisations involved in the day include Benenden Health, Hiscox, York College, University of York, Portakabin and Paragon.
Being held at York University Sports Centre, the event will see 34 teams come together for a fun-packed day of 7-a side football and netball. Friends and family are welcome to cheer on the teams and there will be something for all ages, with local charity stalls, children’s activities and food vendors for essential ice creams.
Community impact
The tournament organisers hope to reach a £15,000 fundraising target for the day – and Aviva will match the fundraising total.
The beneficiary charities involved in the day’s activities, are Kyra – a local charity run by women, for women, to improve wellbeing and self-esteem and Menfulness, who bring men together to offer support and break the stigma of talking about mental health.
The proceeds of the day will provide much-needed funding. £180 will fund a 6-session counselling course with Menfulness and £250 will fund 5 sessions of specialist counselling with Kyra.
Mental health challenges can affect us all at some point of our lives, so we are delighted to be running this event for the third year in a row.
Oliver Thompson of Aviva said: “Mental health challenges can affect us all at some point of our lives, so we are delighted to be running this event for the third year in a row, helping people to get ready for the future by ensuring they can access this valuable support when it is needed by starting a conversation and normalising mental health challenges.
The York Wellbeing Tournament is one of the ways we’re supporting these amazing charities who focus tirelessly on supporting the mental health of communities in York, so they can
continue their brilliant and much-needed work.”
Matty Lewis from Menfulness added: “We want to extend our thanks to Aviva for their support, choosing Menfulness for a second year running, alongside another incredible charity, Kyra, to fundraise for. Our purpose is to break the stigma behind men's mental health, so the priority is to raise awareness in the hope that men who are suffering know there is a safe space for them. The funds raised on the day will help us future proof our counselling services and save many more lives in the process.”
Dr Ira Laketic-Ljubojevic, CEO at Kyra said: “We’re delighted to team up with local York employers who, like us, believe in the importance of ensuring that women in York feel they have a safe and welcoming space. The money raised through this tournament will help us continue to provide counselling, training and mental health support for women seeking to make positive changes in their lives.”
Registration for the event begins at 9am on Friday, 13th June at York University Sports Centre and the event will finish at 5pm.
Members of the public can simply turn up and support on the day or if they would like to, they can donate to the Tournament.
Media enquiries:
Shelley Kernaghan
Retirement and Annuities
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Phone
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+44 (0) 7800 692 266
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Email
About Menfulness:
Menfulness is a social community that facilitates proactive events for men to open up about their mental health challenges.
Menfulness aims to break the stigma behind men's mental health and get men talking and ultimately to help reduce male suicide, which is currently the biggest killer in young men.
Menfulness is a registered charity: 1199085
About Kyra:
Kyra supports women to overcome challenges and make positive changes in their lives providing encouragement, companionship, information, training and importantly, a sense of belonging.
97% of women who attended Kyra say it helped in their overall recovery, 100% say their self-esteem has improved and 82% say they are more assertive.75% say their relationships improved, 89% feel are optimistic and confident about the future and 93% say they feel less lonely and isolated.
Kyra is a registered Charity No. 1154290 (England and Wales) Registered office St Saviourgate, York, YO1 8NQ
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