South Lanarkshire College Launches Mental Health Partnership with East Kilbride Rugby Club
We are proud to announce a new and exciting partnership with EK Rugby Club (EKRFC), focused on promoting mental health, wellbeing and resilience both on and off the pitch.
The collaboration brings together education and sport in a shared commitment to supporting individuals’ mental health, with an initial pilot workshop already taking place with the Women’s Division at EKRFC.
Our Counselling Lecturer Pamela Orr recently visited the club to deliver the workshop titled How to Cultivate Good Mental Health Habits. The session was designed to introduce practical strategies for maintaining positive mental wellbeing, managing pressure, and building emotional resilience - skills that are increasingly important in both sporting and everyday contexts.
The workshop was supported through CLIC funding, enabling the college to extend its reach beyond the classroom and into the wider community. This marks the beginning of what we hope will be a long-term and impactful collaboration.
Participants engaged positively throughout the session, contributing openly to discussion and reflecting on their own approaches to mental health and wellbeing. The interactive nature of the workshop allowed players to explore real-life scenarios and consider how mental health strategies can be applied within a team environment as well as in personal life.
Pamela Orr praised the enthusiasm and engagement of the group, saying:
“The energy from the team was brilliant! The players were eager to learn and gave fantastic feedback to help us refine this pilot. A huge thank you to this fabulous group!”
She added that the insights gained from the session will be used to further develop and enhance future workshops, ensuring they continue to meet the needs of participants and deliver meaningful impact.
The partnership between South Lanarkshire College and EK Rugby Club reflects a shared commitment to community engagement and wellbeing. By combining expertise in counselling and mental health education with the values of teamwork, discipline and resilience found in sport, the initiative aims to make a positive and lasting difference.
Further sessions are already being planned as part of the ongoing collaboration, with both organisations keen to expand the programme and build on the success of the pilot. There is strong ambition to involve more teams and explore additional topics related to mental health, resilience and personal development.
This partnership highlights the importance of accessible mental health education and demonstrates how collaboration between education providers and community organisations can create meaningful opportunities for learning and growth.
As the project develops, both South Lanarkshire College and EK Rugby Club are excited about the potential to strengthen wellbeing within the sporting community and beyond, ensuring that resilience truly is built both on and off the pitch.