Football star Barry backs campaign
Supporting Libby’s Back Onside mental health charity
Drymen is set to play host to a charity football event with former Rangers and Scotland captain Barry Ferguson aimed at raising funds for an innovative new mental health project.
Back Onside, the brainchild of Buchlyie woman Libby Emmerson who runs notfor-profit company Elite Collaboration, aims to empower young adults and adults that suffer from issues such as poor mental health, disabilities, obesity and bullying.
The Drymen event - the Elite Legends Five-a-Side Football Tournament on Sunday July 16 - will raise funds for a new Back Onside pilot programme later this year at which Barry and fellow coach and former Rangers player Bob Malcolm will work with those affected, using football as a starting point.
Barry will also be among the celebrities at the Drymen fundraiser at the local football pitch in Stirling Road and both teams and sponsorship are being sought.
Libby said: “There will be a post match mingle with our Legends in the Drymen Inn and a chance to take part in a raffle and auction.
“There are sponsorship opportunities and entry is only £10 per person, with five players and two subsitutions per team. Registration is at 11am and kick off at noon.”
Elite Collaboration specialises in events and artist management and gives charities the chance to come together and raise funding and awareness of their causes, whilst celebrating their achievements, successes and people. The company appoints three beneficiaries each year with profits split equally among them and the Back Onside project. As a social enterprise it also offers commercial events planning and management/partnership services to corporate customers, with the profits added to the charities pot.
Libby said: “Back Onside is a project that Elite Collaboration along with our patrons Barry Ferguson MBE and Bob Malcolm have put together.
“Mental health is an issue close to me. In the last year or so I have struggled with anxiety and panic attacks and Barry and Bob became involved because they did mental health work when they were with Clyde.
“Mental health problems affect one in four British people at the moment with the rate of young adults developing issues rising from year to year. We want to find these people and help motivate them - boost their confidence and unlock all the potential they have within themselves.
“Through a fun, interactive programme, Back Onside will combine classroom activities - focusing on shaping people’s outlook on themselves and life and how to take steps in improving their future opportunities and harness potential they never realised they had - with training on the pitch where, with help from Barry and Bob, everyone gets to test the skills learned in the classroom in a practical environment. On the pitch they can put meaning to teamwork, leadership and problem solving.
“It takes place on August 29 for seven weeks in Edinburgh for up to 10 16-24-year-olds. They can come from anywhere and be selfreferred or referred by schools, doctors or organisations. The BBC are likely to be filming and some may be asked to talk about their own experiences.
“People who just want the chance to play with Barry and Bob will be spotted straight away,” said Libby. “This is about targeting help to people who genuinely need it.”
Elite Collaboration also hopes to start offering expert coaching in various other sports as well as practical music and songwriting sessions, dance, drama and more.
For more details or to donate see https://www.justgiving.com/ crowdfunding/backonside or www.elitecollaboration.co.uk.