Morning to you all,

How exciting! Our last day before we can come back to some degree of normality with some of the restrictions lifting. Looking forward to being able to support our local businesses and be able to see some people, I’ve not seen for a little while, a shame we’re heading for some wetter weather for the next week or so, after a nice day today, enjoy the sun though if you can.

As you would have recently seen, we’re partnered with OTLR (Outside the Locker Room), the first sporting in club to do so. The program 100% funded by the Victorian Government.

At Ballarat City Football Club, as a board, we are committed to helping remove the stigma associated mental health and emotional well being to ensure all members of our community feel free to reach out for help without fear or shame.

OTLR not only provides resources for those who are seeking to learn more about their own mental health and emotional well being, it also provides terrific guidance on how we can help those around us who we identify may be struggling. BCFC have engaged in a partnership with OTLR because we recognize that having external avenues to support can be vital in ensuring people reach out and seek assistance when required.

I have personally sought to engage with Caitie from OTLR as have others, which has proven to be highly beneficial, certainly for me. In seeking to manage this COVID-19 environment, which for me has been quite challenging, I’m managing OK, however to have had the chance to talk it through was quite powerful, I’d highly recommend you engaging with the program. I think we’d need to be “super human” to have come through this period without being impacted in some way.

Outside the Locker Room were very proud to share a pic from last weeks session, pictured is their VIC Welfare Coordinator, Caitlin Bleeker and their Program Manager, Todd Morgan.

https://www.facebook.com/OutsideTheLockerRoom

All at Ballarat City FC are welcome to download the OTLR App. Which is suitable to all above the age of 13, completely up to the individual on what you deem appropriate, for parents, try it first, put that you’d like a contact and you can talk through any concerns you may have or further understanding. Here is a quick tutorial on how to download the app, also some instructions on how to use the App. Attached also, is some tips Caitie shared on the night.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1m6GfnZlmIYx6Nve6rWsVXvdXdtZ4pOXx/view?usp=sharing

Our Health and Well-being Board Director, provided some great comments on the night, supporting the OTLR program. Reminding us all, that we are “Brilliant’. We are all “Loved” and important. His words were profound and important.

If you’d like to get a snippet of Caitie, Todd and Constantine, have a look at our clip in the lead up to the event.

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/uMV-dr-o-mo3GNPDtgSDV6coW46-Lq6s0Cke8_cLzUm2AXNSYVKnYrIUNLNA9iKdNZfsBmNpWzVYSlp3?startTime=1597642901000&fbclid=IwAR2pdMuxA5WmgP2sMQzXr778PHBvKV_OgkcikYbn0-SIIH6Au1wqv_LAfoY

The club’s new and inaugural Health and Well-being Board member, Constantine Osuchukwu has also provided a transcript from the night, for those that weren’t able to attend. Some great words, which was so eloquently put on the night. I’d strongly recommend anyone within the club to reach out to Constantine.

Thanks again to all that attended, for those that weren’t able to get there, you’re very much encouraged to download the app and to engage in the OTLR program, which the club is proud to be part of for the next 12 months. We are also working on other programs, with a view to provide more to the club, if you’d like to become more involved in any of these initiatives, please let me know.

We’re also soon to launch a revamped website, which Paige Daly has been working hard on over the past little while. A huge thanks to Paige. Additionally our Football Department continue to work on our coaching team for 2021.

If you need anything from me, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Cheers,

David Sproules I Chair
E – chairman@ballaratcityfc.com.au
M – 0417162674