Bake Off Champion joins forces with Scarlets to back new mental health scheme

Scarlets Community Foundation has teamed up with the star* scheme, which provides young people and families with support and mentorship through rugby.

The scheme uses engagement with grassroots rugby clubs and hubs to help young people and their families overcome the impact of adverse childhood experiences. Since its launch earlier this season, the scheme has joined up with five clubs in the Scarlets region – Felinfoel, Crymych, Milford Haven, Burry Port and Kidwelly to support young people.

Recent research has shown that to help young people overcome the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES), they need to build resilience through relationships with trusted adults.

The *star scheme embraces this within grassroots rugby with club coaches receiving training to help young people gain confidence, enjoyment, and engage fully with their journey via rugby.

Also provided is access to resources that a young person and family might need to enable them to engage with the sport, from kit to transport, breaking down the barriers of involvement.

Scarlets Community Foundation and star* Wales scheme joined up during Mental Health Awareness Week to welcome Carmarthenshire-based Georgie Grasso to her home rugby club, Scarlets, to talk baking, rugby, and mental health and wellbeing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eeRFMOp1Co

Ambassador Georgie Grasso said:

“It’s so important to have schemes like *star running in our communities.

“This allows young people who have had trauma in their early years to find a trusted, safe and inspiring environment in rugby where they can be themselves, gain a lift and get confidence from being part of a supportive team and a sporting family.

“I was late diagnosed with ADHD – I knew something was wrong but I thought it was just me and never saw it as a mental health issue, and years ago it was frequently misdiagnosed in girls.

“Running, cooking and being part of something always helped my mental health. I go to sports classes now it’s for my mental health, I am with a group of people with the same goals and we chat afterwards and I feel 100% better.

“With mental health challenges you tend to isolate yourself and there are so many children that are facing that right now. It’s scary to go into a group of people because you may have anxiety and you often think that you won’t be able to do it and everyone will hate you.

“But after meeting my local team and rugby clubs like Scarlets, you realise they all want you to do well – it’s one big team and you are all part of it.

“We need to encourage more children and their families to try star* and get involved so we can help young people with ACES now so they don’t suffer more in adulthood.”

Scarlets captain Josh Macleod and team-mate Max Douglas took time out of training to get some expert baking tips from the Great British Bake Off winner and to chat about star*, and the community clubs in the Scarlets region that are supporting the scheme.

Josh said:

“Mental health is probably not spoken about enough. Being part of a professional rugby environment, you have an underlying feeling of support from your team-mates without sometimes even realising it, which helps with mental resilience.

“All I can say from my experience is, and I had it in the early stages of my career with the older guys – when you open up you’ll be surprised how much support is there for you.

“It’s the culture we are trying to drive here with the older guys in the team – we are here to help. My advice is just start the conversation, connect with people, you may be surprised where it will lead you.”

Star* Regional Manager Jonathan Griffiths said:

“We know the difference that engagement in rugby makes to the lives of young people, and we are already seeing such a positive impact both from clubs and families of young people who are getting support and encouragement from star*.

“The more clubs that get involved with star,* the more young people we can help in this region.”

[Lead image: Scarlets Rugby]