WHITE//HAWK are FEAR//LESS

Whitehawk FC, in conjunction with YMCA Right Here, a health and wellbeing project for 11-25 year olds in Brighton and Hove, will be playing host to the FEAR//LESS project- aiming to challenge and inspire society’s idea of masculinity and destroy barriers that keep people from asking for help.

Suicide is the leading cause of death among young people under 34 in the UK, and in 2017, an average of 12 men per day took their own lives, compared to about four women a day. While the male suicide rate is decreasing, these figures show there is a way to go, with young men still much less likely to seek support for mental health issues.

FEAR//LESS has been developed by young people at YMCA Right Here, part of YMCA DownsLink Group. After asking local young artists to explore ideas around identity, body image, relationships and health and wellbeing, an interactive exhibition of their work is launching at Whitehawk Football Club on Saturday February 16, 2019, before the Club’s Bostik Premier League clash with Potters Bar Town.

Kevin Miller, Head of Commercial at Whitehawk FC, explained:

“The FEAR// LESS campaign is a superb and innovative direct-action initiative, that speaks to young men in a way that is easily accessible and understood, and we are delighted that YMCA Right Here are launching the campaign at Whitehawk FC.

Grassroots football has seen a massive resurgence in recent years as more and more people look to their local communities, and there is a new generation of young people attending matches, who want to connect with their local team. As Brighton’s second biggest Football Club we have the opportunity to showcase and tell the story to the right people, and I hope that the campaign message is read and appreciated by the fans here at the game today and throughout the project tour.”

Chas Walker, CEO of YMCA DownsLink Group, added:

“The FEAR//LESS exhibition is very much rooted in the local community, exploring what masculinity means to various young artists and seeking to de-stigmatise the negative and harmful language that often pervades the idea. The interactive element means that everyone attending the football match can get involved and add to our collective understanding of how we should talk about masculinity in 2019. I hope this exhibition helps young people to feel they are able to express themselves and their feelings, and ultimately encourage access to services and support.

We would love you to attend the multimedia exhibition on February 16, where you can speak to the FEAR// LESS team and some of the artists about their experiences with masculinity, identity and mental health. You’ll also be able to get hands on with our interactive exhibits – looking at masculinity from other people’s perspectives and sharing what masculinity means to you."

The exhibition will then move to MET College, Central Campus, for a week of events, workshops, and conversations with school and community groups from across the city. Read more at the club website, here.