Swansea City collaborate with Jac Lewis Foundation to set up new wellbeing hub

Swansea City are collaborating with the Jac Lewis Foundation to develop a new hub in the city which aims to provide a preventative wellbeing and mental health service to the local area.

The new hub – which is being funded by the club’s investors Steve Kaplan, Jason Levien and Jake Silverstein - will offer Swansea City supporters, along with local residents, the opportunity to attend fortnightly drop-in sessions facilitated by qualified counsellors to receive professional help and support for mental health difficulties.

The announcement comes on the same day as world suicide prevention day (September 10).

The overall aim of this project will be to decrease mental health difficulties and increase the wellbeing of members of the community in what has been a hugely challenging 18 months for everyone.

The hub will also offer the opportunity for people to attend free mental health first aid courses to learn tools and techniques to increase wellbeing and resilience.

Swansea City have also made a donation to the Jac Lewis Foundation, which was set up in 2019 following the death of 27-year-old Jac Lewis, a popular and much-loved player for Ammanford AFC.

“As a club, we wanted to do something to aid mental health in our area and offer our support wherever possible,” said Silverstein.

“We are conscious that we have lost several supporters in recent months due to mental health challenges and we want to make a difference to anyone who might be struggling. We are grateful for the opportunity to play a part in providing tools and resources to support mental health and psychological wellbeing in the community.”

Liz Thomas-Evans, the foundation’s counsellor, added: “The Jac Lewis Foundation is looking forward to collaborating with Swansea City to provide a mental health hub for the local community.

“Jac was a huge Swansea City fan, a season ticket holder and often travelled to away games in the UK and abroad. Providing this hub in his memory is extremely important to Jac's family, the Foundation and Ammanford AFC.”

The initial dates for the wellbeing hub are listed here, with more to follow in due course.

Friday, Sept 17: Drop in 12-2pm

Friday, Oct 1: Mental health first aid course 12-2pm.

Friday, Oct 15: Drop in 12-2pm

Friday: Oct 29: Mental health first aid course 12-2pm.

For more information on the Jac Lewis Foundation and to book onto training days please call 07368828515 or email jaclewisfoundation@gmail.com.