Yorkshire Cricket, the Rugby Football League (RFL) and the three Football Associations representing North Riding, East Riding and Lincolnshire, have formally joined the Humber and North Yorkshire UNITED collective, a pioneering initiative launched in April 2025 to unite sport in the region around mental health, suicide prevention, and self-harm awareness.
Originally established with professional sporting organisations including the Tigers Trust in Hull and York RLFC Foundation, Humber and North Yorkshire UNITED is now entering its next phase by welcoming grassroots governing bodies which play a vital role in supporting communities through sport.
Humber and North Yorkshire UNITED will reach participants and clubs across all levels of sport, from under-6s to walking sports, paving the way for improved mental health awareness and access to support for potentially hundreds of thousands of people.
By joining UNITED, these leading sports bodies are committing to:
- Improved access to training for clubs, coaches, and volunteers around mental health awareness and suicide prevention.
- Strengthening safeguarding standards to ensure young people and adults at risk are better protected.
- Closer links with local and regional mental health services, making it easier for clubs and communities to access the right support at the right time.
- Building resilience among volunteers, staff, and clubs to recognise, respond, and provide pathways to professional help when community members face mental health challenges.
- Awareness campaigns delivered through governing body communications to clubs and members.
- Practical resources to support coaches, volunteers, and parents in recognising signs of poor mental health and directing individuals to appropriate help.
- Collaborative events and workshops focusing on wellbeing, suicide prevention, and self-harm awareness.
Supported by leading mental health charities, Movember, MIND and local charity the Charlie Dallas Lancaster foundation, the clubs will also have opportunities to raise funds for mental and community health in their local area.
Ryan Nicholls, NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) Urgent and Emergency Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Programme Lead, said: “Sport brings people together like few other things can. By uniting professional and grassroots organisations, Humber and North Yorkshire UNITED is ensuring that every level of sport can play its part in supporting mental health, tackling suicide, and giving communities hope.”
Adam Lowthorpe, East Riding County FA Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are delighted to be collaborating with the members of the Humber and North Yorkshire UNITED collective to deliver mental health awareness and interventions to our members.”
Jasmine Morris, North Riding FA Team Manager, added: “We’re incredibly proud to join forces with Humber and North Yorkshire UNITED alongside other sporting bodies. Grassroots sport has a unique power to bring people together, create safe spaces, and support individuals through life’s challenges.
“By uniting around mental health, suicide prevention, and self-harm awareness, we can ensure that everyone – from young players to walking sports participants – feels supported both on and off the pitch.”
Mary smith, Active Humber Sports Welfare Officer, said: “Sport is about so much more than the game, it’s about the people who make up our clubs and communities. It’s fantastic to see everyone coming together through Humber and North Yorkshire UNITED.
“By putting safeguarding and welfare at the heart of what we do, we can ensure everyone in our clubs can feel safe, included, and valued, while also making sure support for mental health and suicide prevention is always within reach.”
Ashleigh Seddon, Rugby Football League, Social Impact Manager, added: “At the RFL, our community – the Rugby League family – are at the core of everything we do. We’re proud to join Humber and North Yorkshire UNITED and by establishing this partnership it means that we’re strengthening our ability to look after not just players’ performance on the pitch, but their wellbeing off it too, a key focus of our dedicated social impact mission.
“Together, we can aim to make sure every coach, volunteer, teammate and communities beyond have the confidence to spot the signs, start the conversation, and help save lives.”
