JOCA mental awareness video
Following the tragic loss of two young playing members through suicide, a few like-minded club members felt they had a social responsibility to offer support, guidance and a friendly ear in a time of need. And that steps should be taken to help destigmatise mental health amongst young men and women.
Mental illness is an often unspoken about issue and is sadly the biggest killer of young men in the UK aged 22 to 42. If you have a physical injury you report it to your coach and seek advice and go see the club physio, but with mental issues you soldier on and hope it goes away.
Helped by some other likeminded club members JOCA (Just One Click Away) was born.
JOCA is your welfare committee dedicated to promoting and ensuring pastoral care and general well-being for all members of our club. Our club is a family and like all families we look after each other. We aim to nurture a culture within the club where we talk to each other, and support each other rather than bottle things up and allow them to get out of control or to cause it isn’t a weakness to need a friendly ear (even if you’re a bloke) We start this with our minis buddy system and promote this ethos right from 7 to 70 across the club.
JOCA is a charity and it has been entered onto the Register of Charities with the Registered Charity Number 1171634.
JOCA was a massive help to me. They helped me when I was really low and was in a very bad place, when I needed someone to talk to while the NHS wasn’t a massive help and I needed someone to talk to who wasn’t in the friendship group or my family. They put me on the right path with information into how to deal with stuff, every time I had a JOCA counselling session I have always come out of it positive and always set a new goal for the next meeting.
JOCA helped me get job interviews and eventually employed again, sorted me transport and has helped me financially. Life is getting better now thank you JOCA. Helen my JOCA Buddy was excellent.
Absolutely! Anything you discuss with JOCA is strictly confidential. The only time anything will be shared is if we believe that you are a risk to yourself or others in which case we engage with the appropriate experts.
No! JOCA services are completely free of charge. We will offer you a choice of support services, the majority are free but occasionally you be offered the choice of a fee-paying service. In this case you will pay the service provider directly. However we will NEVER neglect to provide the option of a free service.
Whatever your problems, issues or concerns we are here to listen and help. The JOCA Welfare team can be contacted 24/7 via our email address joca@welwynrfc.co.uk or via the form below - we'll get straight back to you. We will respect your privacy at all times. One of the committee will offer a friendly ear and where necessary signpost you to other organisations for support and assistance.
Our Mission Statement
To create a better understanding of and to destigmatise mental health and mental well-being amongst the players and members of Welwyn Rugby Club.
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JOCA
Welwyn RFC
Hobbs Way
Welwyn Garden City
Herts
AL8 6HX
JOCA is a Registered Charity number 1171634