ATHLETE SUPPORT NETWORK

The Athlete Support Network (ASN) is an independent and confidential service using trained volunteer Athlete Mentors to support fellow athletes with anything they are going through.

It was created by us through the recognition of there being a gap in the way athletes are supported. We see the need and benefit of peer-to-peer support because we respect that not every issue an athlete is going through is one they feel comfortable sharing with their direct support network (friends, family, teammates, coaches, etc). We appreciate the benefit of talking to someone removed from a situation, but who can directly relate to the athlete lifestyle.

Our service consists currently of a Programme Lead, a supporting Mental Health Professional and our Athlete Mentors.

When you use the service, you will be primarily interacting with your assigned Mentor. Please be aware our Athlete Mentors are not mental health professionals and should not be treated as such. Instead, they are here to listen and where appropriate, help sign post you towards further support. Our Mentors are here to provide support both on and off the field of play.

Overseeing the work of the Mentors are the Programme Leads, who are supported by a Mental Health Professional. The involvement of the Mental Health Professional is to offer guidance and input with recommendations towards volunteer training to help them develop their skills on handling a whole variety of circumstances; as well as being a signposting route should the Mentor or Programme Lead feel their professional help is required with supporting a specific case.

Ultimately, the programme was created and is run by a team of active and retired athletes to ensure it really is for athletes, by athletes.

1) Complete the Support Request Form. As part of this step, you must download and sign the Athlete Agreement Form which must be emailed to athleteinteractions@gmail.com .

2) The Programme Lead will review the information you have provided and will allocate you a mentor based on this information.

3) Your mentor will be in contact with you by email (make sure to check your spam folder just in case) to arrange a call either over the phone or via Zoom, whichever you prefer.

4) Your first call will then take place, after which any agreed further calls will take place until you and your mentor agree you no longer need our support.

What can I use the Athlete Support Network for?

Literally anything, other than an emergency! We are really here for you and no problem is too small. So many different things can affect our physical and mental well-being. If anything is on your mind, we are here to listen. Having a conversation with someone can really make a difference and help you work through what you are feeling.

How bad do things need to get before I reach out to the Athlete Support Network?

The sooner you reach out and have a discussion about what you are experiencing, the better. This avoids the problem worsening and helps you address it. If you’re recognising something is affecting your well-being, we are here to listen.

Can I use this service in an emergency?

No, we are not set up to handle emergencies. If you think that your safety, or the safety of someone else is at risk, contact the emergency services immediately.

How are Athlete Mentors paired with athletes?

Once you have submitted your Support Request Form, the Programme Leads will look at your responses and using the list of Mentors, they will have a look at who they think best matches your case based on the information you provided.

What happens if I personally know the Mentor I have been assigned?

There is always a chance you may personally know your assigned Mentor. To get the most out of the service we provide via the Athlete Support Network, we feel it is better that the Mentor allocated to you does not personally know you. The whole concept is based on the Mentor being someone removed from your personal life but who directly knows and understands the demands of the athlete lifestyle. Therefore, if you do discover you personally know your assigned Mentor, please contact the Programme Leads immediately so that they can re-assign your case to someone else.

Why can I not speak to someone immediately?

As this is a programme relying on the input of volunteers, our Athlete Mentors are primarily whatever fuction they hold in their daily lives. They could be working, studying, competing or training and therefore it is not always possible for them to immediately contact you. However, they will do their best to respond to you as soon as they are able to. We will always aim to make initial contact within 48 hours.

What if I don’t want to speak to the Athlete Mentor who has been assigned to me?

If, once you know who has been assigned to you, you no longer wish to proceed or you would like somebody else instead, you can directly tell the Athlete Mentor you no longer wish to proceed or you can contact the Programme Leads and ask for a reallocation!

In the context of peer support, like our Athlete Support Network, signposting refers to the process of giving the peer who is receiving support details of other organisations that will be able to help them. Our trained volunteer mentors are peer supporters only and not mental health professionals. When a mentor feels concerned about an athlete’s well-being they may feel they need to signpost their athletes to external support options to act as additional support on top of what an athlete receives within the framework of the Athlete Support Network. If our mentor is concerned about the well-being of their athlete but assesses the situation as a non-emergency, they will raise their concern with the Programme Leads; who will then offer the mentor support. Together, they will generate signposting options which will be tailored to the athlete’s individual needs. The athlete will be informed and support will still be given from their mentor, whilst additional support is sought through an agreed signposting route.

Safeguarding athletes who use our services and protecting them from harm is at the core of the work we undertake.

A copy of our Safeguarding Policy can be found here.

Our Safeguarding Policy provides details of how to contact our Safeguarding Officers.

If you want to report a safeguarding concern, you may do so by downloading our Incident Report Form and returning it by email to athleteinteractions@gmail.com.

We are not a crisis support service, nor are we mental health professionals. In an emergency (UK only), dial 111 and select option 2, where you can speak directly to a mental health advisor who can provide further support.

If you need help from a trained professional in a non emergency situation, you can reach out to the following organisations:

• HelpGuide- a major international mental health resource website that can guide you on where to find help urgently thanks to it's extensive resource database.