“It is an absolute honour for the Club to be recognised with both a gold and silver award for our suicide prevention campaign, Can We Talk?, at this year’s prestigious Football Business Awards.
“This campaign shows the strength of football. Spearhead by our Men’s player Will Vaulks who lost both of his grandfathers to suicide, we have worked with some incredible partners to help make our Club a safer place to work, and a safer place to come and watch football. Through Baton of Hope, Oxfordshire Mind, and Joey Beauchamp Foundation, the Club have actively worked to make a positive difference in our community and try and tackle the stigma around suicide.
“Shockingly, suicide is the biggest killer of men under 50 and women under 35 in the UK. Each individual person is the biggest risk to their own life – this statistic has to change. We are tackling this subject head on with the seriousness it deserves.
“We will continue to fight for a zero-suicide society and have important plans in place with Will, the Club, and our partners to drive change. I have to take this moment to say a huge thank you to everyone that has worked alongside the Club on this campaign, and all of those who have been receptive. Plus, a big thank you to the Football Business Awards and the judging panel for recognising the Club and this campaign.”
