New matchday mental health hub launches at St. James’ Park
A dedicated mental health support hub is launching at St. James’ Park this weekend, as part of a Premier League-wide campaign to support fans affected by suicide or suicidal thoughts.
The pop-up hub will be situated opposite Shearer’s Bar at all home league games throughout the 2026/27 season. It launches ahead of Saturday’s match against AFC Bournemouth, coinciding with the Premier League’s Together Against Suicide initiative.
Open three hours before kick-off, the hub at St. James’ Park will be facilitated by specially trained staff from Newcastle United Foundation and Samaritans.
Alongside offering a safe space for confidential conversations, staff will connect fans to the club’s One of Our Own campaign page - home to a comprehensive list of local mental health support services.
Together Against Suicide was developed in partnership with Samaritans to harness the collective reach of Premier League clubs. With someone in the UK taking their own life every 90 minutes, the campaign uses the power of matchdays to start life-saving conversations.
The campaign will run across Premier League fixtures between 4–14 September, a window that includes World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September.
The matchday hub builds on the One of Our Own initiative - a joint project launched during Mental Health Awareness Week 2026 by Newcastle United, Newcastle United Foundation and Newcastle City Council. Eleven black-and-white benches now sit in communities and parks across Newcastle, each carrying prompts designed to turn casual ‘terrace talk’ into meaningful conversations about wellbeing.
Together, the matchday hub and community benches aim to break the silence surrounding mental health in a region where suicide remains the leading cause of death for men under 50.
Read more about One of Our Own resources here: Newcastle United and Newcastle City Council launch the One of Our Own campaign
In addition to dedicated matchday support, fans can join free sessions designed to improve physical and mental wellness delivered by Newcastle United Foundation in North East community venues each week.
The charity provides opportunities for people of all ages to access physical activity, peer-to-peer support and sessions combining sport and social inclusion. Sessions available include Football Talks, Walking Football, health checks, 12-week personal development programmes, wellbeing workshops and more.
For more information on support available, visit the Foundation’s website: nufoundation.org.uk
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