Helston’s rugby values launch a legacy for Steve
When Jack Yates lost his dad Steve to suicide 16 months ago, Helston rugby club teammates were there to support him, the whole squad turning up at the clubhouse for the wake after Steve’s funeral.
Mum Leigh says: “The tremendous support from Jack’s coach ‘Podge’ Padraic Williamson, teammates and the club helped us so much as a family and showed me as a parent just what rugby is all about.”
Leigh was so grateful for the help of the rugby family that she stepped up from rugby mum to Committee member and became an ambassador for mental health support. She set up a Men’s Mental Health Support Group run by her registered charity The Sparkle Foundation UK, to honour Steve and work with the Helston club to make a difference in their local community.
Jack, now 16, who is about to start an RFU coaching course to help coach the club’s U11s, ran five miles a day for a month to honour his dad, raising £2,000 for Looseheadz who are working to place a mental health lead at every rugby club around the world.
Invited to watch the All Blacks train
Jack and his dad were huge All Blacks fans and, with New Zealand taking on South Africa at Twickenham, the RFU contacted the New Zealand Rugby Football Union, who invited Jack and his family to their captain’s run the day before their match.
“The kindness from the RFU and New Zealand was really inspirational, it is the kind of rugby family support that is helping us all to heal and keeping Jack close to his dad,” said Leigh.
“Jack started playing for Helston when he was 11 and Steve and I were just rugby parents, happy to see him having fun and learning rugby values. I didn’t really know much about the sport but since Steve’s death by suicide the support we have had has been unbelievable and it made such a difference that I wanted to get more involved and give something back.”
Leigh’s charity Sparkle Foundation UK, a registered charity which, among other initiatives, provides a men’s mental health support group at the Helston club, which is also attended by players from other local rugby clubs. The group is supported by trained therapists and run by mental health professionals.
It’s OK not to feel OK
Says Leigh: “Steve was an amazing dad, but unfortunately, he didn’t talk about his mental health and how he felt. It was a complete shock when he died and a dreadfully challenging time for all of us. The weekly group therapy sessions are structured for all to talk about how they are feeling and to get a better understanding of their feelings. For Jack, as a teenager, rugby’s support has been inspirational and he wants to raise awareness of mental health challenges and the fact that it’s OK not to feel OK.”
The Sparkle Foundation UK has also supported the local community during difficult times. Leigh says the Helston club is today a truly inclusive part of their community. They host diabetic clinics and Sparkle helped provide a £18,000 kitchen at the club with support from Chris Jones CEO of The Middleby Group, a multi-national supply company. From there, chef Joe Roussel makes meals for community groups, the homeless and those struggling in the cost-of-living crisis. They also sell artisan street food to help raise club funds.
Club officers terrific advocates
“This is a really mixed demographic, and the club is involved in helping those struggling to feed their kids,” she explains. “Our chair Justin Shuttlebotham, who is still playing for the Vets, and our President Ross Williams are very involved in all the mental health and community work, they are terrific advocates. I have never before been involved in something so positive that crosses multiple generations.”
The club had Jewson support with materials for a clubhouse refurbishment, with students from Helston Community College studying construction helping with the job. The Sparkle charity, along with support of Toby Hart at AirWave, funded new big screen TVs to draw supporters into the clubhouse and raise revenue, and the club have also received a grant from the RFU to refurbish the women’s and girls’ facilities, with plans to start a women’s mental health group this season.
Leigh says the club has been very much helped by Rachel Miller, RFU club developer and Jason Bowers, facilities development manager, Rachel helping with volunteer recruitment, GMS and first aid training, and Jason assisting with their grant application.
Rachel is certainly impressed by the club, saying: “Helston are a brilliant example of a club being proactive in their local community. The way they are highlighting mental health challenges and supporting therapy is fantastic and a tremendous legacy for Jack’s dad, Steve.”
For anyone who would like to sponsor or donate to Steve’s Legacy and other mental health groups, click here.
