We run mental-wellbeing football sessions to reduce and prevent suicide.
Meet The Team
Head In The Game’s team is made up of a blend of mental health & wellbeing experts, trustees from the finance, fundraising, tech and charity sector, football coaches, talking therapy leads and community based ambassadors, all with unique personal lived experiences.
”I cannot praise this programme enough. I can feel the change in myself for the better and I could see it in others too. Well done HITG.
Medway ParticipantMay 2022
”The project has given me something to focus on and look forward to each week. Knowing I’m not alone in how I feel has been a big help.
Thanet ParticipantSeptember 2021
I’m Mike, a proud trustee of Head In The Game.
I founded Calcium Ltd in 2016, my boutique Sales and Marketing Consultancy. Over the past decade, my specialisation has been in creating and executing go-to-market strategies for overseas VC-backed technology companies looking to expand in the UK and Europe. Additionally, I provide mentorship and leadership development for senior / revenue executives. Prior to this, I had a successful corporate career as a senior strategic director in various settings.
I am actively involved in several community initiatives. I am an Executive member Black Technology Sales Network, dedicated to supporting and promoting ethnic minorities careers in customer-facing technology roles. I serve as an Advisory Board Member for an Employee Wellness Start-Up and participate in the Balance Up Initiative, which aims to provide career advice in underprivileged schools.
I am also an Executive member of The Leadership Council of Great Britain.
My professional development includes completing leadership training courses at Hult Business School and The Chartered Institute of Marketing.
My motivation for joining Head In The Game stems from a deep passion for helping individuals navigate life’s challenges. I personally benefited from long-term therapy to address Complex PTSD, that stemmed from my events during my upbringing. This has led me to firmly believe that mental fitness is akin to physical fitness, requiring ongoing effort.
Head In The Game offers a practical avenue for individuals to enhance their resilience and lead happier, more fulfilling lives. This, in turn, benefits them, their families, and the broader community.
I am an Audit and Assurance Manager at Kreston Reeves LLP and began training with the same firm in August 2008.
I qualified with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants in 2014 and have been a Fellow of the Association since 2019.
For my day job I focus on managing Charity and Not for Profit teams, audits and advising my clients. I have specialisms in the educational, care and mental health sector audit and advisory work.
I undertake extensive training and CPD for my role and I also deliver specialist not for profit finance training to my clients and colleagues.
I am also part of the wellbeing team and currently Lead the Reduced Inequalities Sustainable Development Goal for Kreston Reeves LLP. I believe that reducing inequalities helps facilitate and empower all people inclusively to achieve their goals and enable them to flourish and thrive. This includes not only my colleagues and clients, but people in my local and further communities. I am also a Trustee of a Multi Academy Trust in Canterbury.
I have a passion and commitment to the not-for-profit sector and I find all of my roles extremely rewarding . I thoroughly enjoy contributing to the vision and future of the HITG charity!
I am Lancashire brought up but happily exiled in London where I have deeply proud to be involved in Head In The Game. I have always been passionate about social justice and this is part of my professional life and home life where I am proud to be an adoptive parent. With over a decade of experience working in front-line homeless services, my journey has been shaped by a commitment to seeing the strengths in people and helping them be the best they can be.
In my most recent role, I served as the Corporate Director of Strategy and Change at a large London council. During this time, I led impactful initiatives, including Citizen Assembly to reduce Hate incidents and service transformation to address inequality within communities.
Beyond my professional endeavours, I find joy in family life, sports of all kinds, getting close to nature.
Jo has spent the last 20 years fundraising at multiple charities including Scope, Crisis, Action Medical Research, and Porchlight.
As a lifelong Exeter City supporter (!) and mother of two football-loving sons, Jo is keen to see more men engaging in sport and talking openly about their mental health.
Wendy is Associate Director of Fundraising & Communications at Sense International, a global disability charity operating in 8 countries across the world. She brings with her over 20 years experience of working in the charity sector and marketing agency world. Purpose led inclusion, equality and wellbeing are core themes that run across her career.
With a background in strategic fundraising she has a successful track record of building multi-year corporate, major donor, trusts and statutory partnerships including with Nike, Google, People’s Postcode Lottery, Comic Relief, Sport England and FCDO/DCMS. All with a common goal of diversifying income. She has also headed up communications teams building digital campaigns that can galvanise a community of long-term supporters.
Outside of work she has a love for the outdoors – an avid open water swimmer and runner. You will often see her hot on the heels of either her two teenage sons or golden retriever!
Jason’s commitment to giving back to the community is truly commendable.
As well as being a patron of Head In The Game, he is involved with various other charities and good causes.
He trains listeners in London prisons while his work with ‘The Forward Trust’ showcases his passion for improving the lives of those who need it most.
His volunteer work and his support for the Forward Trust’s rehabilitation and reintegration programs demonstrate his unwavering commitment to the betterment of society.
Reghan is professional footballer who currently plays for Hamilton Academical.
His commitment to promoting positive mental health practices both on and off the pitch is truly commendable. His passion for raising awareness about mental health issues aligns seamlessly with our charity’s mission.
Reghan’s desire to create long-term positive change resonates with supporters and will inspire others to join our cause. Together, we champion mental health awareness and breaking down the stigma surrounding it.
Mark is an experienced Operations Manager, Director and is the CEO of Head In The Game.
With a rich background spanning more than 15 years in mental health services and charities, Mark is dedicated to instigating lasting positive transformations in the lives of vulnerable individuals. His passion lies in fostering open conversations and mitigating suicide risks through the management of diverse projects and programs.
Mark has worked in the welfare-to-work and mental health support industry, gaining experience of the delivery and management of multiple projects and programs for large organisations.
Mark is a Mental Health Advocate, Wellbeing & Mental Health Lead, Suicide Prevention Expert and Facilitator Of Change.
Bringing over 20 years of mental health, sport and senior management experience is our Wellbeing & Inclusion Lead and HITG Director, Matt Witts.
Matt is a multi award winning coach and is widely recognised as one of the regions most knowledgeable and respected figures in supporting the most vulnerable in our communities.
Being a director of Head In The Game is a tremendous honour and something that’s very important to me.
We strive to help change the lives of the individuals that we support through our weekly football sessions and programmes.
As a previous recipient of the amazing support HITG I have had first hand experience of how successful this charity is in helping so many men in a time of need. In a time when I needed “something” to pull me out of the rut I was in, luckily I found HITG.
From the moment I arrived to my time as a ‘seasoned veteran’, I have been greeted with kindness and compassion. No thought too trivial or issue too small the gents at HITG were always on hand to support, talk and coach me through what I was dealing with. This is the reason I wanted to give back to a community which has called out for guidance and help. I feel it a calling to get back out there and be that listening ear to those who need it and that shoulder of support when others need lifting.
One friend said it best when that said, “HITG really has saved my life.” This is why I want to give back to those who have helped me and those who now need it more than ever.
Registered Mental Health Nurse currently lecturing at university on the mental health nursing course as well as other nursing based courses within the university.
I am passionate about improving mental health services within the UK as practising as a nurse throughout covid has shown there is a shortage of support for those in need at all levels. Having experienced my own mental health difficulties, I consider that to be a benefit not a detriment to my ability and capacity to support and guide others through their own experiences.
As a participant the HITG sessions have left me feeling refreshed, ironic when your red in the face, panting, and dripping with sweat. But that’s what they do, or at least the power of playing a bit of footy can do for you. A common factor we have shared as a group is the sense of ‘focus’, a clear head or forgetting outside stressors for an hour. When we step on the pitch, we’re like kids in a candy shop, we have this desire to go straight to the ball and fire a shot on goal, or maybe just a casual pass and chat in a circle. It’s been extra special to experience this programme under the dome of the Lions Centre at Millwall FC. It’s become a routine for me, and it really does kick start my week on a top note.
As a volunteer, I take great pride in helping those who need a little bit of support and having experienced the power of HITG myself, I feel I can share my positive experiences with others.
I was nervous about attending HITG but I have to say it has been one of the best things for my own wellbeing I have ever done. It’s improved my understanding of my own mind and helped me speak about things I had previously bottled up. The sessions are great fun and pressure free (I could say as little or as much as I wanted). I’ve met some great people as well; I really look forward to every session.
As a volunteer coach, I’m proud to be involved in helping change the lives of others.
It’s fair to say I’ve had my own mental health issues over the years, I probably didn’t realise how bad my own mental health had been until I started volunteering with HITG and seeing that there were guys who were in a similar situation to me.
I make no secret that I really struggled during and post lockdown and when asked was happy to come along and help coach the sessions, it felt like I was giving something back and helping guys who were struggling. But It became apparent quite quickly after joining HITG that it massively helped my own mental health, I needed the group, the sessions and the friendships within these sessions for my own mental health too. I’d be lost without it now.
I’ve struggled with depression most of my life – having been officially diagnosed at the age of 18. It has impacted my life in a number of ways including forcing me to drop out of university and affecting relationships with family and friends. The day I applied to be part of HITG Medway (and the reason for doing so) I realised that apart from zoom meetings with colleagues I hadn’t seen or spoken to anyone other than my partner for over 2 months.
I’m a pretty sociable person and enjoy the company of others but one of the symptoms and causes of my depression is shutting myself off from other people. So I signed up to HITG as a way of forcing myself out of the house and to meet some new people. It more than exceeded my expectations – both Mark’s and David’s abilities to make people feel at ease instantly whilst providing a space where we could be comfortable and open was vital. I really looked forward to Monday evenings and came away absolutely buzzing. Both from the football but also from the affirmation and encouragement provided in the chats.
One evening after the session I asked someone who was there how they were doing and they said they were going through a really tough experience and we ended up having a really long chat. I felt completely ill equipped to know what to say but also got the sense that for them, just having someone to listen was enough. Which is what led me to want to be a volunteer coach with Head In The Game.
I’ve said it before but what you provide at HITG is completely invaluable and, as far as I’m aware, there really isn’t anything like it at all. Which is surprising, given the rates of suicide and depression amongst men. It’s clear to me that there needs to be a HITG session on every pitch in the country and so to help be a part of that and to be able to give back what was so important for me is an amazing opportunity.
When I signed up for Head In The Game at the start of the Maidstone sessions in 2021 I was at a low point in my life and had recognised that I needed support and social interaction.
I hadn’t played football for many years and was very nervous about attending the first session, but it changed my life. I had been involved with Mental Health services in a small way through a previous job role but up until that point I had never really thought about, or taken care of, my own mental wellbeing.
The sessions helped me hugely and when I was asked if I would help with the running of the MindStones Head In The Game legacy project sessions I jumped at the chance as it was an opportunity to give something back and to provide the support, which had been so important for me, to others.
With over 10 years of experience in presenting, facilitating, and building relationships across a range of sectors, Peter has helped achieve positive solutions for workplaces, educational organisations, and the broader community. Having worked extensively in both the education and wellbeing space in Australia, Asia and Europe, Peter has also worked in the area of primary prevention.
Most recently before working as a consultant, Peter worked in Australia designing and facilitating engaging workshops for corporate and educational organisations aimed at providing evidence-based, practical strategies to build resilience. Peter has a genuine interest in connecting with others and are skilled at creating trust and shared understanding with diverse individuals, utilising this to create, maintain and build relationships with key stakeholders across a vast array of industries. Further to this, I have extensive experience in managing and leading people and projects, using my positive disposition, high level planning and innovative thinking to provide practical, human-centric solutions.
With a postgraduate Masters degree from the University of Melbourne specialising in wellbeing and leadership, including research into the link between leaders, culture and wellbeing, Peter is passionate about improving the lives of others through behaviour change, positive psychology and leadership development.
I am determind to support people with their Mental Fitness, I have first hand experience of metal health issues both of myself and my children. Its important to me to ensure there is help available for people who need it.
I met Matt through Networking and very soon found myself volunteering for this amazing Charity. I am passionate about raising money to help spread awareness of HITG and I’m proud to head up the team of volunteer fund raisers.
I know that talking about feeling’s can be a difficult thing to do, but I believe it can help. The safe, non-judgemental place to do just that along with the team building involved in football, is powerful. It’s really works and the results are visible. Seeing the difference it makes to peoples lives is the reason I volunteer.
I know from my own past that being in a dark place can feel very lonely. But with Head In The Game you’re not alone, we got you. I’m proud to be a part of this fantastic charity.
Forever grateful to Matthew Witts and Mark Pinkney for enrolling me as a volunteer to help create the first ever women’s Head In The Game (HITG) program!
I achieved this through an employability scheme at the University of Kent and was successful when interviewing amongst my peers. My interests in Psychology and mental health allowed me to create the program with much excitement. After the course was ready, myself, Matthew, and Lisa encouraged women aged 18-55 to participate in this exciting 12-week program. All recruits had said they felt a positive outcome in their lives after completing the course.
Therefore, I am now fundraising for HITG so that this course, and ones alike, can run in my local area to support more women in need.
Drop-in sessions
Head In The Game facilitates weekly mental-wellbeing football sessions at multiple venues across the United Kingdom with the overarching aim of reducing suicide.
Our service is aimed at encouraging people to open up and talk using football as a way of starting those sometimes difficult conversations.
12 week programmes
Our 12 week programmes are a journey through various drills, games and football activities with a set number of participants, centered around a variety of supportive mental health coaching and challenges to improve participants mental and physical well-being.
Our aims
Tackle the stigma of talking openly about mental health
01
Promote positive physical and mental wellbeing
02
Reduce the strain on frontline services
(doctors, hospitals, A&E departments) by engaging with men at the earliest level of intervention
03
To improve health, increase confidence and self-esteem whilst reducing social isolation
04
To raise awareness and help lower the UK suicide rates in men and women
05
To create open and welcoming atmospheres where personal issues can be raised and discussed in a safe and secure environment
06
To promote diversity and inclusion. They’re more than just words for us.
Diversity and inclusion are the principles guiding how we build our delivery teams, cultivate our ambassadors and create a mental health and well-being service that’s the right fit for every person inside of it.
07
Some of the more official stuff
Head In The Game is a registered UK charity (1204792)
We are a non-profit organisation established for a specific charitable purpose. We play a vital role in addressing societal issues and improving the wellbeing of individuals and communities.
To maintain transparency and ensure proper governance, charities in the UK are subject to regulations enforced by the Charity Commission for England and Wales. The regulatory bodies oversee charitable organisations, ensuring they adhere to legal and ethical standards. Charities must register with the appropriate commission, submit annual reports and financial statements, and adhere to strict guidelines on fundraising, administration, and accountability. Compliance with these regulations is essential to maintain public trust and the charitable sector’s integrity in the UK.
Our work is supported by such organisations as KCC, Live Well Kent, Sussex Community Foundation, The Coop, Maidstone Lions, Canterbury City Council, Sevenoaks District Council, South Yorkshire Community Fund, Kent FA and The National Lottery Community Fund.