Colchester United Community Foundation’s weekly Team Talk sessions are built around a simple idea: give people a space to play football, have a chat, and be around others who understand. For some, it’s about getting active at the end of a long week. For others, it’s something much bigger.

The sessions bring together people from all walks of life, many of whom have faced their own challenges with mental health.

What stands out isn’t just the football, but the environment around it. There’s no pressure to share more than you want to; some come for the game, some for the conversation, and most for a bit of both.

That balance is what makes Team Talk work. Having football as a common ground helps break the ice. It gives people something to focus on, something familiar, and often makes it easier to open up — or simply feel part of the group without saying much at all.

For those involved, it’s become more than just a weekly kick-about. It’s a chance to take a step away from whatever might be going on outside of the session, surrounding themselves with like-minded people.

Programmes like Team Talk are a reminder of the role football clubs can play in their communities. It’s not always about what happens on matchday. Sometimes, it’s about creating spaces like this, where people can come together, support each other, and feel like they belong.

Head of Health and Inclusion at Colchester United Community Foundation, Louis Garbett, said: “It is set up to combine social interaction with the football side. Having that common ground, and having something that can take your mind off what’s right in front of you, is massive.

“The confidence that I've seen in people; the ability to talk about challenges they're facing or challenges they've overcome, it's really transformed some people and we've really seen the difference.”

More than just football: Inside Colchester United’s Team Talk sessions

More than just football: Inside Colchester United’s Team Talk sessions