A Blackburn football group is partnering up with one of the UK's biggest mental health and social services providers to support people with addiction and mental health issues.

Creative Football is teaming up with Priory, with hundreds of patients at Priory Hospital Kemple View in Blackburn benefit from being involved with football sessions and other activities.

These include FA courses, wellbeing training, education, and wellbeing advice alongside their clinical treatment.  

Wayne Beck, one of the organisation’s founders and a former Prior patient, said: “This approach creates a diverse network of support and friendships that many people haven’t experienced before.

"For some it’s the first time they are recognised for who they actually are rather than by their diagnosis.

“That is life changing.”

Priory is supporting the organisation by funding an evening league session and its associated costs for a year.   

Adrian Oldale, part of the recovery team at Priory Hospital Kemple View, said: "Creative Football has been fantastic for us at Priory.

"It is not only a good way of getting our patients active but it gets our staff and patients playing together which further cements relationships.

“I don’t think I could explain in real terms what Creative Football has done for us and our patients.

"I know it will continue to go from strength-to-strength and I am proud we have been able to play a small part in supporting the journey.” 

The organisation was created following initial funding from Sport England by Wayne Beck, Paul Davies and Paul Hardman, who ran a social inclusion football league for the national charity Creative Support which Wayne and Paul participated in when they were both receiving mental health treatment.

They also run two football groups – Blokes United and Girls United – aimed at people who are not under the care of mental health services but may be feeling socially isolated and suffering a deterioration in their general wellbeing.

Creative Football delivers 12 sessions in four areas of Blackburn every week for more than 350 people, costing £130,000 a year.

The three co-founders, along with the fourth member of their team, former service user Anthony Whittaker, are supported by 70 volunteers.