As part of the West Ham United Foundation’s commitment to our community, we’re proud to launch Play for Tomorrow, a powerful initiative in partnership with the Premier League’s Inside Matters campaign. Introduced on World Suicide Prevention Day (10 September 2025), Play for Tomorrow aims to raise awareness of mental health and suicide prevention across the football season.
Throughout 2025/26, supporters will find posters placed around the stadium for both home and away fans, featuring QR codes that link directly to local services and national organisations, including Samaritans, R;pple and Mind in Tower Hamlets, Newham & Redbridge / Safe Connections. These resources will also be available at the launch of our first Suicide Prevention Stand, providing vital information and connection in a safe, visible setting.
In recognition of Men’s Mental Health Month this November, our campaign steps up with exclusive football sessions and free online workshops. Men are disproportionately affected by suicide, accounting for around three-quarters of suicide deaths in the UK. Play for Tomorrow is designed to break down stigma, encourage help-seeking behaviours and create safe spaces for open dialogue.
From Friday 14 November 2025, we’re introducing weekly sessions to foster connections at The Foundry from 7-8.30pm for men aged 18 and over. These are non-competitive football sessions centred around teamwork and connection, combined with psycho-educational elements to build resilience and support mental wellbeing. It’s about more than football; it’s about forging friendships, encouraging each other and recognising that asking for help is a strength, not a weakness.
Online and in-person workshops
Alongside the football sessions, we’re offering a series of free workshops in partnership with R;pple and NE London Mind / Safe Connections. The four scheduled workshops ahead of Christmas address key topics such as harmful online searches, self-care, boundaries, Christmas and mental health, and self-harm awareness:
- 11 November - R;pple: Transforming harmful online searches into a journey of hope
- 26 November - Mind NE London Safe Connections: Self-care and boundaries
- 10 December - Mind NE London Safe Connections: Christmas and mental health
- 17 December - Mind NE London Safe Connections: Self-harm awareness
These workshops will be delivered online, with the view to hosting in-person sessions based on the needs of participants.
Speaking about R;pple’s involvement, 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. She 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.”
Join us
Through Play for Tomorrow, the West Ham United Foundation and our partners are proud to create safe, inclusive spaces for fans, especially men, to connect, learn and seek support, both on and off the pitch, because at our Club, community matters.
To find out more, click HERE.
