Oxford United’s Vaulks takes funding to three football clubs

Vaulks spoke at a ‘Can We Talk?’ workshop held at the Kassam Stadium on Tuesday evening, offering mental health training for 150 attendees and encouraging further discussion.

Speaking personally about his experience with suicide through both of his grandfathers, the 32-year-old was joined by Mike McCarthy, founder of the charity ‘Baton of Hope’ of which Vaulks does a lot of work with, and its clinical director, Ben Wilson.

The charity offers training and a pledge which workplaces can commit to.

Will Vaulks applauds Oxford United fans after win at Preston North End (Image: ©Jason Dawson)

“As a footballer, I feel really strongly that every football club should have this,” Vaulks said before the evening.

“Every football club should sign the gold pledge.

“I’m in communication with the PFA, I have been over the last year. I’m very grateful that they’ve also given me some funding and I will be taking that into at least three more football clubs.

“It’s kind of my mission now from the work I’ve seen that young men who are susceptible to so much pressure, so much exposure, that they need support.

Oxford United midfielder Will Vaulks leads mental health initiative at the Kassam Stadium (Image: Oxford Mail)

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“If you make your workplace a psychologically safe place that talks about suicide and is aware of it, then, in turn, that will make your team also more productive on the pitch, I really believe that.”

The former Wales international was awarded the FIFPRO Player Voice Award last November which included a prize fund that covered the cost of the event and provided free suicide awareness training.

Will Vaulks is awarded the FIFPRO Player Voice Award (Image: Oxford United)

Vaulks has also received an additional £10,000 from the PFA to support the expansion and delivery of his project across football clubs.

“We need money as a charity to fund these things. I’m very grateful to FIFPRO for that and I’m very proud that I’m able to put something back in and I know that I’ll leave Oxfordshire, or at least some of our supporters, with more toolkits to help their mental health.

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Baton of Hope founder Mike McCarthy holds up charity baton (Image: Oxford Mail)

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“Without being too morbid, the outcome is that we save lives and improve lives.

“I really feel that if my grandfathers had been at something like this and understood that the support was out there or being aware of their mental health, they may well still be here today. That’s the aim.

“And to help as many people as we can to go out into the community and become peer-to-peer support people who can notice signs. The NHS is so overwhelmed that we need to something within the community about it.”