To mark Mental Health Awareness Month and the Premier League’s Inside Matters campaign, we welcomed four Clarets players to a special session of the our Schools Mental Wellbeing Project.
A Special Visit for Local Pupils
Pupils from years 7-11 at Sir John Thursby Community College were surprised to meet Quilindschy Hartman, Florentino Luis, Bashir Humphreys and Maxime Esteve during a special edition session, co-hosted by Six Connections founder, Dave Scholes, who delivered an interactive workshop, as part of his ‘Powered By Mates’ campaign.
Learning Through Play and Participation
The session combined fun, interactive team activities, including ‘over and under’ a competitive balloon challenge to encourage teamwork and communication and Mr & Little Miss character exercises – designed to spark open conversations around mental health in a relaxed environment.
Honest Conversations, Real Experiences
The pupils were given the opportunity to ask pertinent, behind-the-scenes questions to the players, who shared fun facts, from ‘who has the worst dress sense’, ‘best music taste’, to more emotionally charged subjects about handing pressure both on and off the pitch and dealing with negativity.
The players spoke openly about managing stress and navigating the darker side of social media, offering pupils a rare glimpse into the human side of life as a professional footballer. It was a powerful reminder that, regardless of background or status, everyone faces challenges.
The session finished in good spirits with a competitive final round of ‘over and under’ involving the players themselves, bringing plenty of smiles and a surprising competitive edge (which the players won!)
The Power of Starting the Conversation Early
Six Connections is Burnley FC’s Community Partner for 2025/26, with Dave Scholes working across the area to promote the importance of conversation.
Reflecting on the visit, Dave Scholes shared:
“All the negativity on social media can really pile pressure on young people. When they see and hear the players share their stories, it shows them they’re not on their own and that it’s better to talk to your mates, family or colleagues early, before it becomes a crisis. Powered By Mates is about making it normal to have a proper chat about mental health, so it feels natural, not awkward, and the sooner we start those chats, the better.”
For more information on Six Connections and the Powered By Mates campaign, visit:
www.sixconnections.co.uk/powered-by-mates
The simple power of a conversation, talking and listening, can be the first step to supporting positive mental health.
Visit premierleague.com/InsideMatters for information and tools to support mental wellbeing . #PLInsideMatters
Looking for support – or know someone who is?
Burnley FC in the Community’s Health and Wellbeing Hub offers support for people of all ages, across all corners of the community.
The simple power of a conversation, talking and listening, can be the first step to supporting positive mental health.
Visit premierleague.com/ InsideMatters for information and tools to support mental wellbeing . #PLInsideMatter