Great to have a wide range of representation from Valley RFC and the Valley Foundation featured recently at the Forum. All the way from our management, to Foundation reps and players across all 3 of our sporting sections - this clearly is an important topic in our minds.

Kat Roszynski, Valley Foundation Vice Chair and one of our heretohelp co-leaders shares her thoughts of the day:

‘Effect the player, effect the performance’: wise words and inspiring projects at EACT Jockey Club Active Community Programme Presents: Laureus Sport for Good Mental Health and Wellbeing Through Sport Forum

It’s Friday 21st February 2025 and we are sat in a room full of people involved in sport. Coaches, athletes and everything in between. We are all here for one reason. The power of sport beyond the win, the loss, the accolades. We are here to hear the transformative role sports have in stigmatised communities across the world. The day was filled with examples of inspiring programmes that had identified vulnerable and socially isolated groups where sport can create a third, safe, space (a term used to describe somewhere other than home and work/school which represent the main spaces we occupy). In this safe space, using sport as a vehicle, participants can learn coping skills, emotional regulation as well as build a sense of belonging through social connections.

Two outstanding examples include Waves for Change and Netball for Change. Here is a flavour of the amazing work they do:

Waves for Change (South Africa)

Despite many children in the economically poor areas of South Africa being exposed to, on average, eight traumatic events in their childhood there remains the attitude that children are too young to have mental health struggles. Waves for Changes see it otherwise and have created a 10 month programme, as well as a further ‘transitional programme’, underpinned by the following pillars

Creating physically, emotionally and mentally safe spaces for children
Providing structured psychosocial education to teach children to cope with stress manage their emotions and live well
Building strong connections with caring coaches and peers
Enabling access to other services, opportunities and supportive social groups
Providing respite from stress through mastery of a fun, challenging activity (surfing)

The end result is a noticeable change, as observed by parents and teachers, the children are able to better emotionally regulate, make social connections and decide to engage in school.

Netball for Change (UK)

Delivered by The Change Foundation, the oldest UK sport for development NGO, identified increasing social media addiction and rising mental health challenges in girls. In response they created a programme that uses the game of netball to teach girls affected by the overuse of social media and how to stay safe online lasting 12 weeks and, typically, is structured:

Welcome to a digital free zone
Warm up
Netball games inviting young women to discuss behaviours
Netball match
Reflections

The end result is empowered participants with the knowledge and skills to be able to engage with social media in a healthier and more constructive way that does not compromise their mental health, confidence and self-esteem.

At Societe GeneraleValley RFC we are proud to contribute to the mental health landscape in Hong Kong through The Valley Foundation, dedicated to using sports with socially isolated communities as an opportunity to learn new skills and build confidence, as well as #heretohelp, an initiative focussing on two areas to build capacity in the realm of mental health:

Training: Engaging with local NGOs The New Normal and Mind HK to train in Suicide Prevention and Mental Health First Aid
Community: Facilitating social connections with our community walks.

If you would like to get involved in our various mental health initiatives and projects don’t hesitate to reach out - we welcome partners, sponsors and collaborators to continue this important, impactful journey together. Email: Katrina.roszynski@valleyfoundation.org