Mental health has always been at the heart of my work. As a counsellor and psychotherapist, I spend much of my working life supporting people through difficult periods, helping them understand themselves, talk openly about what they are experiencing and recognise that asking for support is a strength, not a weakness.

That is why sponsoring The Original Oak F.C. felt like such a natural fit for me and for Nicola Di Lenardo Therapy.

Football is about much more than what happens on the pitch. At grassroots level especially, a football club can provide friendship, belonging, routine and a genuine sense of community. It brings people together who might otherwise never meet and creates the kind of informal support network that can be incredibly valuable to our wellbeing.

For me, that connection between community and mental health is particularly important.

We have made enormous progress in the way we talk about mental health, but there are still people who find it incredibly difficult to say, “I'm struggling.” Sometimes the hardest conversation is the first one.

Sport can help create opportunities for those conversations.

You might turn up to play football thinking you are simply there for training or a match, but you are also spending time with other people, having conversations, laughing, sharing experiences and building relationships. Someone noticing that you are unusually quiet or simply asking, “Are you alright?” can sometimes mean far more than they realise.

I wanted my sponsorship of The Original Oak F.C. to represent that message.

It isn't simply about having my name associated with a football club. It is about supporting something within the local community and, hopefully, helping to keep conversations about mental health visible.

My message through the sponsorship is Mental Health Goals — a simple phrase, but one that means a great deal to me.

We regularly set goals for our careers, finances, relationships, fitness and sporting achievements. I believe we should be just as comfortable thinking about goals for our emotional and psychological wellbeing.

That might mean learning to set boundaries. It might mean talking about something you have carried for years. It could mean recognising when life has become overwhelming, understanding your emotions better, improving your relationships or simply giving yourself permission to ask for help.

There is no single definition of good mental health, and there certainly isn't a finish line.

It is something we continue to work on throughout our lives.

I'm proud to sponsor The Original Oak F.C. because it brings together two things I strongly believe in: supporting our local community and encouraging more open conversations about mental health.

If seeing Mental Health Goals on a shirt, a sign or around the club encourages even one person to think about their own wellbeing, check in with a friend or feel more comfortable reaching out for support, then the sponsorship has achieved something worthwhile.