The Street Soccer Foundation founded by Gillingham footballer Keith Mabbutt launches matchFit mental health app

Youngsters missing sports and struggling with lockdown restrictions can tune into motivational talks from sports starts, including Gary Lineker, thanks to the efforts of a Kent charity set up by a former Gillingham footballer.

The Street Soccer Foundation, founded by Gillingham and Millwall player Keith Mabbutt, has launched the 'matchFit' app to help children and young people who are mentally struggling with the impact the coronavirus pandemic is having on their lives.

According to the Centre for Mental Health an estimated 500,000 healthy children under the age of 18 are likely to require some element of mental health care due to the economic, health and family pressures caused by the pandemic and its ongoing restrictions.

The matchFit app offers youngsters a free, easily accessible platform full of information, advice, and guidance to help them focus on their own well being.

The app focuses on mental health, resilience, motivation, behaviour, and mindset and uses music, audio and readings, and includes an interactive mood tracker, to provide 24/7 support.

There are also motivational videos from sporting figures including Rachel Yankey, Carl Fogarty and Wes Morgan who give advice on how to keep positive, confident and head strong when times get tough alongside talks about maintaining physical fitness alongside mental well being.

Over the last year, the Street Soccer Foundation, which in ordinary times uses football coaching and mindset training to help support and improve the lives of vulnerable and homeless young people, has adapted and invested in its digital offering so that it can continue reaching those who feel vulnerable or isolated.

The charity is based in Maidstone.

Keith Mabbutt said: “The 24/7 aspect of having the ability to tap into immediate support whenever someone needs it, became a priority for us after learning of so many individuals struggling to cope and adapt. This is why we have an in-built ‘mood tracker’ as well as a ‘discovery’ forum so that users of the app are also able to express themselves and help others.

"I’m particularly grateful to our contributing partners at TECHTONIC, our app developers, as well as the University of Birmingham who have produced evidentially supported advice within the app.”

The Street Soccer Foundation also partnered with Inner Anthem to provide music for the app, which has been specifically written and produced to help enhance people’s mindset and increase self-esteem.

James Dand, owner and founder of Inner Anthem, said, "Music can have a very powerful impact on each of us, because of its ability to change our feelings, emotions and thoughts, which influences our mental health."

The matchFit app is available to download on the Apple App Store and on Google Play.

To learn more about the work of the Street Soccer Foundation visit streetsoccerfoundation.org.uk/ or follow the facebook page.

For tips on boosting your family's mental health during the pandemic please click here.