ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the initial design and development of an on-going sport and education-based mental health programme – Tackling the Blues (TtB) – which was introduced in January 2015 for primary and secondary school-aged children and young people (CYP) who are experiencing, or are at risk of developing mental illness. It examines how participants were identified, recruited and engaged, and the features of the selected theoretical framework, that is realist evaluation, which underpinned the programme. The chapter explores the lessons learned from using the brand of a professional football club to engage CYP and the training and use of university student peer mentors. It describes the inevitable limitations of the programme imposed by the various inequalities which beset the participants’ lives. TtB is an on-going programme which at the time of writing was nearing the end of its second year of delivery.
