A football group set up in Stoke-on-Trent to bring people together and foster positive mental health is continuing to go from strength to strength. 

Headspace FC CIC was set up by brothers Kenny Bartonshaw and Cliff Barton in 2024 and the group has been awarded £8960 from Sport England so they can continue to grow as a non-profit. 

The group combines the love of football with mental health support through inclusive, pressure-free sessions for men and women. 

In just over a year, Headspace has grown from eight regular players to over 120 with the group also donating money to mental health charities Man Time and Mind North Staffs. 

Kenny said: "The numbers steadily started to grow and we got to Christmas last year and we thought let's do something to support a local mental health group as we had a couple of people who moved to the area and didn't know anyone, some with no friends or family here. 

"Man Time was set up by one of our friends a couple of years ago in memory of our cousin who committed suicide, so we thought it would be quite a nice way of raising awareness of mental health in the area. 

"Sports are a really good way of doing it and bringing people together. People often don't like sitting around a table and talking about feelings but you can run around the football pitch and have a laugh, a joke and have a moan about jobs and everything else."

Headspace FC CIC runs three weekly sessions in north Staffordshire. (Supplied)

Each week, Headspace runs sessions at The Kings C.E. Academy in Kidsgrove, Longton Rugby Club and Powerleague Trentham Lakes. 

The groups are open to all abilities with some members taking to the pitch for the first time ever or after a break away from playing.

Kenny added: "Just getting out and active again is so beneficial. For some people who haven't played sport or done any sort of activity for 10 years, it gives us a good health kick to get fitter again. 

"And we have a couple of older members too so it's quite nice to do something that's not competitive, but we can still enjoy it and play. 

"And then if you want to talk about anything, we've had a few people that have or we've then been able to link them to the mental health groups we are supporting. 

"I think it's just that social side and having some people to talk to and meet up with as we know the camaraderie playing football brings. 

"It's that sort of side that people have missed once they stop playing or have not been part of it before - we have a few lads who have never played football in their lives.

"We are getting new members every week so it's quite good to think how it started as a few friends meeting up to what it is today."

Headspace FC weekly sessions are held on Tuesday 8-9pm at The Kings CE Academy, Kidsgrove; Wednesday 8-9pm at Longton Rugby Club and Sunday 7.30 - 8.30pm at Powerleague Trentham Lakes.

Find out more about Headspace FC CIC here.