Empower Programme Hemel Hempstead

Empower is a 48-week project that aims to improve young people’s mental health through the use of physical activity. Each session is 90 minutes in length and consists of 60 minutes of physical activity, typically in the form of a sport session such as dodgeball, football, basketball, badminton or dance. Following the physical activity, there is a 30-minute wellbeing workshop, which is a facilitated conversation between participants, Watford FC Community Sports and Education Trust Coaches and a NESSie psychotherapist. Each session is a mix of genders and the age range is 9-12 years old.

The project is split into three phases, detailed below. Each phase scales down in contact time with participants, coinciding with psychotherapeutic approaches and NICE guidelines.

• Phase one (Developmental) consists of 12 weekly sessions
• Phase two (Maintenance) consists of 6 sessions occurring fortnightly
• Phase three (Reflection) consists of 6 sessions occurring once a month

In the upcoming phase, Empower session dates are:

• Hemel Hempstead (Held at JFK school) – Starting from May 2021 (For 48 weeks) : 5-6.30pm or 6.30-8pm

Empower is a 3-year project that is funded by Comic Relief, meaning that every session is absolutely free.

Who is Empower for?

Empower is suited for young people between the age of 9-12 years old with a mild to moderate mental health issue or are an individual who exhibits poor mental wellbeing.

To refer a young person into Empower, the parent or guardian of the young person fills out the following forms and returns them to to Jodine.williams@watfordfc.com who will contact you about the course.