05 November 2025 •
c2c Railway and Southend United Football Club have proudly joined forces with wellbeing expert, Julia Biles, to celebrate today’s National Stress Awareness Day, offering tangible hints and tips to support good mental health, fostering resilience in the workplace and beyond.
The national event serves as an important reminder that, regardless of roles or industries, stress affects everyone and prioritising mental wellbeing is essential to personal and professional success.
Since 2024, c2c has been the proud platinum partner of Southend United, with the logo featuring prominently on the front of the team’s home, away and third shirts. As part of this year’s initiative, c2c has produced a video featuring members of both the railway and football communities. The video encourages football fans, c2c employees, and our joint local community to prioritise mental health by recognising stress, seeking help, and talking openly. It includes advice from Wellbeing expert and Threesixfive Wellbeing founder, Julia Biles, as well as interviews with c2c Managing Director, Rob Mullen, and Southend United Football Club Captain, Nathan Ralph.
Julia shares her methods for managing stress by spotting warning signs and providing practical tips for dealing with pressure at home and work, while both Rob and Nathan discuss their own experiences, revealing useful strategies for coping and maintaining mental health in demanding situations, including the Shrimpers’ trip to Wembley last season. They emphasise the value of identifying stress, building coping skills, and seeking help when necessary.
c2c MD Rob highlights the significant responsibility leaders have in nurturing a supportive environment and says:
“Supporting our teams through challenging times is essential. Stress is something we all experience and talking about it helps us find solutions together. As leaders, it’s up to us to encourage open discussions, provide the right resources, and demonstrate empathy, ensuring that every team member feels valued and understood.”
Crucially, Julia Biles identifies why it is important to spot stress and shares some top tips and techniques to stress less:
“Spotting stress early is vital for our health. Checking in with ourselves and asking for support helps us handle challenges. Small actions like taking breaks, eating healthily, practicing mindfulness, or talking to someone can ease stress and build resilience.”
Southend United Football Club’s team Captain, Nathan Ralph, shares insights from the world of professional sport, where the stakes are often high and the pressure unrelenting. Nathan says:
“In football and beyond, pressure is constant. Finding balance and speaking up when things get tough is key to staying strong. It’s important to remember that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. By supporting each other, we build resilience as a team and as individuals.”
c2c has created a stress-relief poster, which provides stress-busting tips for colleagues and football fans to help individuals manage pressure during intense moments, such as crucial matches or busy workdays. The posters will be displayed at stations, depots and c2c’s HQ, as well as at SUFC’s Roots Hall stadium.
Over the past year, c2c has raised more than £17,000 for local mental health charities, including over £7,000 from its inaugural Kick4Kindness football tournament held at Southend United’s Roots Hall stadium. The event brought together twenty teams including participants from Govia Thameslink Railway, East Midlands Railway, Southeastern, Elizabeth Line, and the Rail Delivery Group.
The video is also available to view here: https://youtu.be/7NPmMUW8Tgc
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
About c2c
- Following a successful first season together, which saw SUFC make it to the Promotion Final at Wembley Stadium in June, c2c and the club announced in July the continuation of its Platinum Partnership, which saw c2c as the club’s front of shirt partner again for the 2025/26 season
- c2c is the award-winning train operator running services between Fenchurch Street and Shoeburyness, serving 26 stations in East London and South Essex.
- c2c is one of the UK’s most punctual and popular train operators and nearly 37.3 million journeys are made on its services every year.
- The operation of all c2c services transferred into public ownership on Sunday 20 July 2025 and is managed by DFTO (DfT Operator Ltd).
- For more information email mediaenquiries@c2crail.net
Images
Featured Image: c2c Managing Director Rob Mullen with Southend United Football Club Captain, Nathan Ralph
Second Image: c2c Managing Director, Rob Mullen and Julia Biles
Third Image: c2c Managing Director Rob Mullen and Southend United Football Club Captain, Nathan Ralph
Fourth Image: Julia Biles at Fenchurch Street station
About Julia Biles
- Julia is the founder of Threesixfive Wellbeing, and spent almost 20 years leading workplace wellbeing for global brands including Bupa, Saga, EasyJet and Save the Children
- Julia founded the company to help others create healthy, high-performing workplaces that go beyond the tick-box trend and brings strategic insight and coaching expertise to help you embed wellbeing into the way you work – every day of the year.
- For more information, visit www.threesixfivewellbeing.co.uk