There’s an exciting new initiative coming to Brent this week.
Brent on the Ball is a community event designed to bring people together and spark conversations about health and wellbeing through sport.
Mental and physical health are inextricably linked, yet people with the most complex needs often experience fragmented care across mental health, physical health, and social services.
Brent on the Ball is about bridging that gap in a way that feels natural and human - through shared activity, conversation, and community.
The NHS in Brent is a key partner, working with Integrated Neighbourhood Teams to reach people with serious mental illness.
By combining mental health and assertive outreach expertise, the aim is to make sure everyone can access the physical healthcare they need, without falling through the cracks.
At the heart of the day at Hendon FC is a mixed-ability football match involving residents, service users, carers, and NHS staff, delivered in partnership with the Silver Jubilee Park Charitable Foundation (SJP).
It’s less about competition and more about participation - creating a space where everyone feels welcome on the pitch.
Alongside the match, attendees can join fitness sessions, take part in mural-making, and drop into workshops on health, diet, exercise, and lifestyle run by Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL) and SJP.
These activities give people a chance to explore local services, pick up practical tips, and try something new in a low-pressure environment.
The event also supports the wider neighbourhood health programme in north west London, where integrator arrangements are now in place and CNWL is leading this work for Brent.
Brent on the Ball helps lay the groundwork for stronger neighbourhood partnerships by building relationships, encouraging collaboration, and creating space for people to connect informally.
Events like this shift the focus from services ‘done to’ people, to services ‘done with’ people.
By meeting in a community setting like Hendon FC, we break down some of the barriers that keep people from engaging with support, and start building trust where it matters most - locally.
The event takes place on Thursday, June 4 June at Hendon FC, Silver Jubilee Park. It’s free and open to all.
Whether you want to play, watch, or take part in activities off the pitch, there’s something for everyone.
Come and join in and help us make Brent a healthier, more connected place.
- Dr Ketan Sheth is lead governor for Central and North West London NHS Trust.
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