Men across London were invited to act on their mental health, relationships and personal development at a football event created to bring men together through sport, self-improvement and positive conversation.
The Intellimen Football League Finals took place on Bank Holiday Monday 25 May, from 2pm to 5pm at Dagenham and Redbridge FC, offering men the chance to enjoy football, meet like-minded people and discover more about Intellimen – a men’s development project that uses practical challenges, mentorship and community support to help men become more disciplined, resilient and responsible.
The event came immediately after Mental Health Awareness Week, which this year focused on the theme of taking action – encouraging people to move beyond awareness and take practical steps to support their own wellbeing and the wellbeing of others.
It also followed wider public discussion about the pressures facing men and young men today – from mental health and isolation to relationships, role models, online influence and expectations around behaviour.
Intellimen aims to offer a positive and constructive space where men could be supported, encouraged and challenged to take responsibility for their own lives, while building healthier relationships with partners, peers, families and communities.
The football league combined competitive sport with the wider Intellimen programme, which is built around 53 practical challenges designed to develop men in different areas of life, including discipline, character, relationships, faith, responsibility and resilience.
Bishop Allan Passos, spokesperson for UCKG, said: “Mental Health Awareness Week rightly reminds us that awareness is not enough – men need to take action. For many men, opening up is easier when it happens naturally – through shared activity, mutual respect and being around others who want to grow.
“Partners, friends and peers often tell us they want to see men communicate more, manage pressure better, take responsibility earlier and become more self-aware of how they treat others. Intellimen exists to help men do exactly that – through practical challenges, positive example, faith, sport and community.”
One of the men whose life has been transformed through faith-based support is Mark Higgins, 28, from Hertfordshire.
Mark grew up in East London without his father, while his mother battled drug addiction. By his early teens, he had fallen into crime. At 14, he was arrested and sent to a Youth Offenders Institution for assault and robbery. After his release, he became involved in drugs, knives and gang activity.
After being moved out of London for his own safety, Mark fell into depression and attempted to take his own life. His turning point came after he was invited to the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, where support from pastors and Intellimen helped him rebuild his life.
Mark said: “The church became my place of direction and Intellimen a new level of discipline. Every service taught me what steps to take and Intellimen taught me to finish things once I had started them. A pastor saw I was struggling, kept me close to him, and involved me in youth work. That gave me discipline, something I had never had before.”
Today, Mark says his life is unrecognisable from his past. He has rebuilt family relationships, found purpose, is happily married and now uses his experience to help others.
He added: “We’re often taught to just ‘cope’ with our struggles, but there is a way to overcome them completely. You just have to want it enough to take the first step.”
The Intellimen Football League was created to use the power of sport to bring men together in a familiar, positive and accessible setting. Matches included moments for discussion and reflection, with teams encouraged to build discipline, respect, leadership and accountability on and off the pitch.
Bishop Allan Passos added: “Football is often where men feel comfortable connecting with others. It gives them a reason to show up, compete, laugh, listen and be part of something positive.
“We wanted men to come down, watch the finals, meet people who are serious about becoming better, and see that personal growth does not have to happen alone.”
Men, partners, families and anyone interested in finding out more were invited to attend, enjoy the football and meet the Intellimen community.
