As part of the West Ham United Foundation’s commitment to our community, the club will launch Play for Tomorrow, a powerful initiative in partnership with the Premier League’s Inside Matters campaign. Introduced on World Suicide Prevention Day in September 2025, Play for Tomorrow aims to raise awareness of mental health and suicide prevention across the football season.
From Friday 14 November 2025, the club will introduce weekly sessions to foster connections at The Foundry from 7-8.30pm for men aged 18 and over. These will be non-competitive football sessions centred around teamwork and connection, combined with psycho-educational elements to build resilience and support mental wellbeing.
The scheme will be working closely with other mental health charities including Samaritans, Ripple and Mind in Tower Hamlets.
Alice Hendy MBE, Founder and CEO of R;pple, said: “We’re thrilled to be part of the Together Against Suicide initiative. Together with the West Ham United Foundation and fellow charities, we’re bringing hope and support to those at risk of suicide one match, one conversation and one life at a time.”
Bernadette Keane, Chief Executive of Mind in Tower Hamlets, Newham & Redbridge, echoed this statement.
Keane said: “At Mind in Tower Hamlets, Newham & Redbridge, we believe connection saves lives. Together, we’re tackling stigma, building resilience and showing that every conversation can make a difference.”
In the UK, men are disproportionately affected by suicide, with males accounting for approximately three-quarters of all suicide deaths. In 2024, the male suicide rate in England and Wales reached its highest level since 1999.
Playing football is widely recognised in the UK as a valuable tool for supporting men's mental health and helping to prevent suicide. Numerous charities, professional clubs, and grassroots initiatives use football as a way to encourage men to open up, build support networks, and access mental health services.