On Your Side
Football first.
Conversation next.
On Your Side is about helping sports communities recognise when someone may be struggling, start conversations and help keep support within reach. PowerShot is proposed as a football engagement mechanism that could potentially help those resources travel further.
Proposed campaign integration
PowerShot × Together Against Suicide
Football creates thousands of conversations every week. PowerShot could provide a simple reason for fans to stop, play, talk and check in on each other.
The aim is not to turn football into a mental-health campaign. It is to use football as the starting point for a conversation that might otherwise never happen.
The shot gets the fan to stop.
The conversation is the point.
Concept integration — any campaign partnership, messaging and support pathways would be developed with the relevant partners and subject to approval
On Your Side — who is it for?
Everyone has a role.
On Your Side is designed for sporting environments — helping people recognise when someone may be struggling, start conversations and connect people with support.
Players
Coaches
Staff
Families
Fans
Player pack concept
What if every player had it?
An illustrative view of a digital pack — Your On Your Side pack — that could potentially sit alongside the football experience.
On Your Side toolkit
Conversation guide
Check-in guide
Support & signposting
Club resources
Community resources
- Players
- Staff
- Fans
- Community
- Grassroots
Illustrative concept — subject to club / partner approval
Starting the conversation
Not sure what to say?
You don't need to have all the answers.
Ask
“How are you really doing?”
Listen
Give them space to talk.
Be there
Let them know you're there.
Five ways to listen
- Show you careGive them your full attention.
- Have patienceIt takes time to open up.
- Use open questionsAsk “How are you feeling?” rather than “Are you okay?”
- Say it backCheck you have understood, without judging.
- Have courageDon't be afraid to ask how they're really doing.
Concept content written in plain language from publicly shared listening guidance. Any use of official Samaritans material would be subject to their approval.
Support when it matters
Samaritans
Samaritans provides support for people who are struggling and someone to talk to when things feel difficult.
Potential Samaritans involvement, messaging, branding and support pathways would be developed directly with Samaritans and subject to approval
Back to the football.
Concept prototype — not an official Aston Villa FC or Samaritans product. Branding, imagery, messaging, and support pathways are illustrative and subject to relevant partner approvals.
Concept prototype. Any integration, distribution or use of On Your Side or Samaritans resources would be subject to permission, safeguarding, legal review and relevant partner approval. Official toolkit content should be presented exactly as authorised by its owners.