The Prince of Wales has launched On Your Side, a nationwide suicide-prevention toolkit for the sports sector, calling on clubs and organisations at every level to make suicide prevention part of everyday sporting life. The toolkit was unveiled on World Suicide Prevention Day at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium and is backed by a wide range of sporting organisations and athletes.
- Prince William and the Royal Foundation launched 'On Your Side' on World Suicide Prevention Day to make suicide prevention part of sporting culture.
- The toolkit, developed with the BSI and Chasing the Stigma, uses a five-step GOALS framework to help spot signs, start conversations and signpost support.
- The FA, Premier League, Team GB and other organisations have been reported to commit to embedding the guidance; rollout will be via partner networks and Hub of Hope publication.
What On Your Side is and who is backing it
The Royal Foundation produced the toolkit in partnership with the British Standards Institution (BSI) and the mental health charity Chasing the Stigma. It is intended for use across sport — from local clubs and volunteers to professional teams, coaches, staff and spectators — and will be published on Chasing the Stigma’s Hub of Hope, described by reporting outlets as the UK’s largest mental health directory.
Reporting identifies more than 70 organisations supporting the initiative, including the Football Association (of which the Prince is patron), the Premier League, Team GB, British Cycling, England Rugby and the British Horseracing Authority. High-profile athletes appear in a short film to promote the resource: England captain Harry Kane, Formula 1 driver George Russell and Women’s Rugby World Cup winner Rochelle ‘Rocky’ Clark are among those named in coverage; other listed contributors include Dame Kelly Holmes, Gabby Logan, Jill Scott and Dame Laura Kenny.
What the toolkit contains
On Your Side provides practical guidance aimed at helping people recognise warning signs, start conversations about suicidal thoughts and connect someone to support. Coverage from multiple outlets describes a central five-step framework given the acronym GOALS: Get ready; Open the conversation; Ask the question; Listen and respond; Support and signpost. The resources also include suggested conversation starters, guidance on appropriate language, and advice on putting policies and procedures in place for crisis situations and post-incident support.
Reports note the toolkit addresses the misconception that asking directly about suicide will put the idea into someone’s head; it states that asking such questions can instead open the door to support.
Why sport is being targeted and the scale of the problem
The Royal Foundation commissioned research, reported alongside the launch, which found sport can be a powerful platform to reach people who might not access mental health services but that the sector faces stigma, particularly among men and elite athletes, and inconsistencies in skills, knowledge and provision — especially at grassroots level. Coverage cites figures from UK statistics agencies and public-health commentary to highlight that suicide remains a leading cause of death for men under 50 in the UK.
Organisers say the toolkit builds on the National Suicide Prevention Network launched by the Royal Foundation in autumn 2025, part-funded with more than £1m over an initial three-year period, and is intended to translate that work into practical, everyday steps within sporting settings.
Who has committed to using the toolkit — confirmed implementations and ambitions
Media reports state that a number of major bodies have committed to embedding the toolkit: the FA will use it across its organisation and community and grassroots football network; the Premier League and British Cycling have signalled they will prioritise suicide prevention; and Team GB plans to make the resource available to athletes and staff. Outlets also list a further 18 organisations that will use the guidance immediately, though the exact roster varies across reports.
Coverage distinguishes these institutional commitments from wider endorsement by individuals and athletes featured in the campaign film. Reporting describes the launch event programme as including reflections from sporting organisations and a session hosted by Everton in the Community.
Why this matters for football and what comes next
For football clubs and grassroots groups, the toolkit offers an evidence-based, sport-specific set of actions to complement existing safeguarding and welfare measures. Clubs that adopt the guidance will have access to conversation starters, response steps for someone in crisis and signposting to national support services — tools designed to be used by non-experts such as coaches, volunteers and teammates.
Next steps reported by outlets include immediate publication of the resources online and planned roll-out through partner organisations. The Royal Foundation says the initiative is not a single-day campaign and is intended to leave a lasting legacy; reporting indicates the foundation spent about two years developing the toolkit with health charities and the BSI.
Differences in reporting and attribution
The evidence packet used for this article comes from multiple national news outlets. Details are consistent on the toolkit’s name, the Prince’s role in the launch, the GOALS framework and the involvement of major sporting bodies. There are small variations between sources on the number of organisations publicly backing the toolkit and the exact list of athletes featured in the launch film; where sources disagree, this article attributes claims to the reporting outlets rather than asserting a single definitive roster.
“On Your Side” is described in coverage as a set of resources intended “to make suicide prevention as much a part of sport as warm-up, training and performance.” (Source: BBC)
Practical links for clubs and people in need
Reports say the toolkit will be hosted on Chasing the Stigma’s Hub of Hope. Outlets covering the launch also list national helplines and support services that are available in the UK, including Samaritans and other charities; readers seeking immediate help should contact local emergency services or the helplines and organisations listed by national providers.
Quick timeline
- Autumn 2025 – Royal Foundation launched the National Suicide Prevention Network with initial funding reported at over £1m.
- September 10, 2026 – On Your Side toolkit formally launched at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium on World Suicide Prevention Day (reported launch date).
- Post-launch – Toolkit to be published on Chasing the Stigma’s Hub of Hope and rolled out through partner organisations, with implementation commitments reported from the FA, Premier League, British Cycling and Team GB.
Key takeaways
- On Your Side is a sport-focused suicide-prevention toolkit launched by Prince William and the Royal Foundation on World Suicide Prevention Day, reported as 10 September 2026.
- Developed with the British Standards Institution and Chasing the Stigma, it uses a five-step GOALS framework intended for everyone involved in sport.
- Major organisations including the FA, Premier League and Team GB are reported to have committed to embedding the guidance; the exact list of early adopters varies across reports.