Laureus Sport for Good and Movember partner to champion youth mental health in Paris through sport
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Laureus Sport for Good and leading men's health charity Movember are strengthening their work in Paris by bringing the expert-backed youth mental health programme Movember Ahead of the Game to six sports associations and clubs across the French capital.
The Ahead of the Game programme was successfully piloted in Paris during the city's Generation 2024 Olympic legacy programme, with 350 participants.
The newly announced partnership between Laureus Sport For Good and Movember extends grant funding to six Parisian sports associations and clubs through the Laureus Sport For Good City Paris coalition, with Movember supporting the roll out of the programme:
The newly announced partnership between Laureus Sport For Good and Movember extends grant funding to six Parisian sports associations and clubs through the Laureus Sport For Good City Paris coalition, with Movember supporting the roll out of the programme:
- Paris 18 United
- Paris Basket 18
- Académie de Football Paris 18
- Championnet Sports
- Académie MHDN Sports
- All Parisian Basketball
This adds to the impactful work the organisations have already carried out together in the United States, where they have collaborated to support a total of 14 youth development groups across Chicago, New York and Atlanta.
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Through Ahead of the Game, coaches and programme leaders will have access to a series of workshops to develop psychosocial skills and mental health literacy, helping them to build supportive environments for their young participants.
The expert-backed youth mental health programme is designed to help young people know who to talk to and understand the supportive community they have around them when faced with challenges in sport and life. Through bringing local organisations, coaches and community leaders together in a single city-wide effort, Laureus Sport for Good Cities represents exactly the kind of joined-up, community-rooted approach Movember looks for in a partner.
Tom Burstow, Global Development Director at Laureus Sport for Good said:
“Mental health has long been misunderstood and neglected during the most crucial developmental period in a young person’s life. Working alongside Movember, Laureus Sport for Good is leveraging sport as a powerful mental health tool by empowering community leaders to build safe, inclusive spaces for young people to thrive. We’ve seen the wonderful work unfolding in Sport for Good Cities in the US and know what’s possible in Paris.”
Owen Brigstock-Barron, Director, Global Sports Health Initiative at Movember, said:
"Laureus and Movember share a simple belief: sport can be more than a game. Bringing Movember Ahead of the Game into Paris means coaches and club leaders get practical tools to support the mental health of the young people in their care, at exactly the age it matters most.”
When used with intent, sport can foster positive mental health outcomes – and the evidence is clear that early intervention matters.
By combining Laureus’ global Sport for Good City programme with the Movember Ahead of the Game curriculum – one of the most evidenced community mental health programmes of its kind in the world - more young people, coaches, community leaders and parents are learning how to create safe and inclusive spaces for each other and other young people so they can build genuine connections and thrive.
The expert-backed youth mental health programme is designed to help young people know who to talk to and understand the supportive community they have around them when faced with challenges in sport and life. Through bringing local organisations, coaches and community leaders together in a single city-wide effort, Laureus Sport for Good Cities represents exactly the kind of joined-up, community-rooted approach Movember looks for in a partner.
Tom Burstow, Global Development Director at Laureus Sport for Good said:
“Mental health has long been misunderstood and neglected during the most crucial developmental period in a young person’s life. Working alongside Movember, Laureus Sport for Good is leveraging sport as a powerful mental health tool by empowering community leaders to build safe, inclusive spaces for young people to thrive. We’ve seen the wonderful work unfolding in Sport for Good Cities in the US and know what’s possible in Paris.”
Owen Brigstock-Barron, Director, Global Sports Health Initiative at Movember, said:
"Laureus and Movember share a simple belief: sport can be more than a game. Bringing Movember Ahead of the Game into Paris means coaches and club leaders get practical tools to support the mental health of the young people in their care, at exactly the age it matters most.”
When used with intent, sport can foster positive mental health outcomes – and the evidence is clear that early intervention matters.
By combining Laureus’ global Sport for Good City programme with the Movember Ahead of the Game curriculum – one of the most evidenced community mental health programmes of its kind in the world - more young people, coaches, community leaders and parents are learning how to create safe and inclusive spaces for each other and other young people so they can build genuine connections and thrive.
