Barrow Raiders have joined forces with Mind in Furness to help increase mental health awareness through rugby.

The Barrow rugby club will be holding a series of events next year to promote good mental health among their players and supporters.

And it will be taking part in Mind’s RED January event, which will officially launch on November 1.

Raiders will be looking at tackling and educating on bullying and holding events in schools around the area.

Mind in Furness chief officer Karen Dobson said she was excited to have the club on board as official partners for 2019.

Club chairman and former Raider’s player, Steve Neale, said he was looking forward to a year of planned events working in conjunction with Mind and Dan Webber from Kick Out 4 Mental Health.

He has also picked Mind as his charity for 2019 with a planned rugby match between police and fire crews, a Teddy Bear’s Picnic, an adult sports day, a singing competition and a comedy night involving stars from Britain’s Got Talent.

Steve said: “One in four people will experience a mental health problem in a year and Barrow Rugby want to help try and tackle the stigma around mental health among our players, staff and supporters.

“We want them to know it’s okay to not be okay."

This year The Raiders supported Mind in Furness when they were chosen as one of 10 UK Minds to pilot RED January.

The charity, based on School Street, Barrow, is once again spearheading the national mental health campaign as one of 25 Minds turning January RED with many local businesses, schools, colleges, teams and individuals already signed up to take part.

RED is a community initiative that encourages people to support their mental health by doing something active every day. All achievements are celebrated, no matter how big or small and the RED community is there to support in every step of the way.

Anyone interested can register from November 1 at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fund/REDjanuary2019mindinfurness

For further information contact suzanne.murphy@mindinfurness.org.uk or call Mind in Furness on 01229 827094.