Sport has the power to positively change and save lives. Penarth-based Speakeasy Club is on a mission to put FREE wellbeing & Mental Health resources in every community sports venue in the world.

The power of conversations and sporting communities has led its founder to create the Speakeasy Bench, in a bid to inspire people to take time out and talk more.

Simon Clarke, Founder of Speakeasy Club said: ‘’Sport has given me so much throughout my whole life; when I was struggling with my own mental illness, the rugby club clubhouse was my safe space and almost a refuge from reality. We must make these places as accessible as possible for their communities and show the next generations the power of talking with each other. That’s what we aim to do through Speakeasy Club and why I want to see pink benches across Wales and beyond.”

Simon aims to see a pink bench in every community sports club in the world. Each bench has two QR codes. When you scan one of the QR codes it’ll take you straight to the online clubhouse where you’ll be able to access free mental health support and resources that can support you or your teammates. The idea is that they do all the work by collating the fantastic help that is out there, so it saves people time and energy.

Simon added’’ If I’d have had access to these resources at the places I was going to regularly, maybe I wouldn’t have found myself on the edge of a cliff on Barry Island’’.

One key aspect of the work Speakeasy Club are doing is helping people to find their ‘’Clubhouse’’. The place where they feel safe, and free from judgement and a place where they feel like they belong.

Despite being born and bred in Penarth, Simon has been a Sheffield Wednesday fan for over 30 years, and his clubhouse is their home ground of Hillsborough Stadium.

Simon said ‘’ I’ve supported Wednesday some 1993 and haven’t been able to shake them. For over 30 years with my father, I’ve travelled up and done the M1 regularly to watch the matches.  During the darkest times of my depression and anxiety, watching Wednesday and wearing a hoody or a shirt was like my comfort blanket. It was the only thing that helped me at the time. Football is much more than just what happens on the pitch. ‘’

Speakeasy Club have partnered with the Sheffield Wednesday Community Programme to deliver two benches – one at Jubilee Sports and Social Club and one at Hillsborough Stadium – and free mental health support to thousands of people.

Ben Winter, Deputy Head of Community says: ‘’ It’s a privilege to link with the Speakeasy Club initiative. Connecting SWFC with a charity that aims to provide vital support for people within our community. The benches donated to us are perfectly positioned to allow people to access the resources they might need, in a non-judgmental and private way. Supporting people’s mental health is extremely important to SWFC and this partnership will only improve our ability to do that.’’

Simon recently appeared on the popular Sheffield Wednesday fan’s favourite podcast The Wednesday Week, and spoke about the plans to support fellow fans by providing the benches.

Simon was joined on one of the pink benches outside Hillsborough stadium by regular podcast panellist and host, Stevie Spence

Stevie Spence, The Wednesday Week Podcast says: ‘’ I’m born and bred in the Sharrow area of Sheffield which is a predominantly (Sheffield) United area of the city. I started Supporting Wednesday with my sister back in the mid-1980s and haven’t looked back. The time I get to spend with my 10-year-old daughter each Saturday at the match means the world to me. Being part of the podcast is like having a second family at times and my clubhouse is very much that group of people and Hillsborough itself. Personally, and as a podcast, we’re delighted to support Speakeasy’s mission, and it aligns perfectly with the community work the podcast team has been doing recently. Wednesday is a huge part of thousands of people’s lives, so it’s exciting to provide more opportunities for likeminded people to look after each other’’

Having launched in Penarth, South Wales on World Mental Health Day in October 2023, there are currently 15 benches in place with over 400 QR codes scanned, with several more benches across the UK in the pipeline.

The aim to put a Speakeasy bench in every community sports club in the world is certainly a lofty one, but one Simon and the team at Speakeasy Club are committed to.

For further information on how you can sponsor or support Speakeasy Club’s mission at your venue, contact Simon at [email protected]