The Successful Launch of Our Rebound with Rovers Women’s Sessions!
- Marc Lewis
- 13 hours ago
- 3 min read
Today marked the first-ever Rebound with Rovers Women’s Session delivered by Bristol Rovers Community Trust - and what a fantastic success it has been!
Rebound with Rovers is an award-winning, free mental health football programme delivered by Bristol Rovers Community Trust. Designed to support adults aged 18 and over who may be experiencing depression, anxiety, or other mental health challenges, the programme provides a safe and welcoming environment where participants can engage in physical activity, build social connections, and improve their wellbeing through football.
The introduction of a women-only group came in response to growing awareness around the importance of creating safe spaces for women in sport. These dedicated sessions provide a supportive environment where women can come together, enjoy football, and openly discuss experiences that may affect their mental health. Following each session, participants are invited to enjoy refreshments and conversation during a relaxed check-out, helping to strengthen connections both on and off the pitch.
To help bring the programme to life, Bristol Rovers Community Trust Head of Mental Health, Costa Chard, successfully secured funding from Sport England. This investment has enabled the Trust to deliver a leading sports-based mental health provision specifically designed for women across Bristol. The sessions provide opportunities to discuss specific issues women may face during their lives such as perinatal and postpartum depression, premenstrual syndrome, and other challenges that women may face, all within a supportive environment led by women, for women.
The gallery above showcases the incredible effort, collaboration, and shared commitment between Bristol Rovers, Bristol Rovers Community Trust, and Sport England in creating this unique mental health programme. The launch has also received fantastic support from female-focused organisations including Her Game Too and Bristol Girls Can, as well as players from the Women’s First Team, demonstrating the collective desire to make football a positive and accessible space for women.
Bristol Rovers Community Trust, Head of Mental Health Costa Chard said:
“One of the things I'm most proud of about Rebound is seeing the impact it has on people's lives. Our sessions don't just help attendees improve their skills; they also build confidence, create friendships, and open up new opportunities. To date, five of our attendees have become coaches, which is an incredible achievement. Helen was our very first attendee, and she will now be coaching our new women-only Rebound session. Seeing that journey from participant to coach is fantastic and shows what's possible when people are given the chance to grow. Thanks to Sport England, we're now able to offer this women-only session, and I'm excited to see even more women benefit from everything Rebound has to offer.”
Bristol Rovers Community Trust, Coach Helen Cox added:
“It's finally here! Rebound for women. I'm excited to be leading these sessions, come along and have fun and improve your mental wellbeing. I'm looking forward to meeting you.”
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