Devon FA are delighted to announce Pete’s Dragons as our charity partner for the 2019/20 season.

Pete’s Dragons are a charity based in the Exmouth area, covering the whole of Devon. Pete’s Dragons supports all those in Devon who have had bereavement by suicide, whether it is an individual or whole families and there is no age limitation. The death could be recent or historic and the charity never holds a waiting list.

ONS statistics report that there are around 6,000 suicides in the UK each year, 89 of which are in Devon. Each death can affect between 10-50 people, often more if that person is well-known or a pupil at school or college. This impact can take a number of forms but can include having to leave work, or school, strained relationships with those around the person, and a worsening of mental health conditions.

Sixty-five percent of those bereaved by suicide have their own suicidal thoughts so Pete’s Dragons actively undertake suicide prevention work through the support they offer.

The charity currently supports around 300 individuals and this number has continued to rise over the recent year. Each person who enters our service is different, we offer a bespoke service to each client but most commonly it includes the following; information packs, specialists support from trained Suicide Bereavement Liaison Officers, counselling, holistic and wellbeing treatments, comfort grants, hampers at Chirstmas, mindfulness sessions and Family Fun Days.

Upon being selected as Devon FA’s Charity of The Year 2019/20, Sarah Elliot from Pete’s Dragons had this to say:

“We are honoured to have been selected as The Devon County Football Associations charity partner of the year and look forward to this relationship enabling us to jointly continue and expand our valuable work within the community”

All the staff here at Devon FA are delighted that Pete’s Dragons has been selected as our charity partner for the 2019/20 season as mental health in football is an important subject to support.

Paul Morrison CEO of Devon FA had this to say “We are delighted to be working with Pete’s Dragons for the 2019/20 season, it is a charity close to the hearts of many within our company and hopefully our passion and drive to support mental health within football will lead to a successful partnership.”