12 May 2025 • 6 min read
Local rail company Trenitalia c2c has announced that its recent Kick4Kindness 7-a-side football tournament raised over £7k for local mental health and support charities.
c2c rail has today announced that its inaugural Kick4Kindness football tournament, which took place on Wednesday 7 May at Southend United’s iconic Roots Hall stadium, helped to raise over £7k (£7404.10) for Basildon Mind and local Samaritans.
Watch our short feature film of the Kick4Kindness tournament.
Twenty teams took part in Kick4Kindness, including rail industry companies Govia Thameslink Railway, East Midlands Railway, Southeastern, Elizabeth Line and the Rail Delivery Group, along with c2c’s security partners Amulet, local mental health group Run Free Official and a Southend United staff side.
Also joining in the tournament was ‘Team Platt’, a special group playing in memory of their close friend James Platt (husband of c2c’s Head of HR, Gemma Platt) who sadly lost his life to suicide five years ago.
Speaking about the tournament, Iain Palmer, c2c’s Head of Revenue Protection & Security and Kick4Kindness Event Director, said:
“Although we joined together to play and enjoy football on a famous pitch which has been graced by some of football’s biggest names, more importantly we raised awareness and vitals funds for two dedicated mental health and support charities, Basildon Mind and Basildon & Thurrock and Southend Samaritans.
“I would like to say a big thank you to all our participating teams, Southend United Football Club for their kind and generous hospitality, our army of match officials, sponsors and volunteers, and everyone else who gave their time to ensure our first Kick4Kindness tournament was a huge success.”
Iain added:
“To have raised nearly £7.5k in you just one day is simply incredible and shows what can be achieved when we join together as one.”
In addition to the football, players and visitors to Roots Hall also enjoyed a fun penalty shootout and crossbar challenge, as well as taking part in a special pitch side auction and raffle where some great sporting memorabilia and match tickets were up for grabs.
c2c’s Head of HR, Gemma Platt:
“It is estimated that one in four adults in England experience a mental health problem at some point each year, and the work and availability of services provided by organisations like Mind and Samaritans has never been more vital to so many people.
“To be able to bring the rail industry and many of our industry friends and partners together to play football and help raise awareness and funds for two charities which hold a close place in my heart is just brilliant.
“I’d like to thank all those who have been involved on both the playing and organisational side, and to everyone who has dug deep into their pockets to help us raise a phenomenal amount of money.”
The Kick4Kindness tournament was won by Southern Engineers (from Govia Thameslink Railway) who defeated Amulet 3-0 in the final match.
Commenting, Denise Kent, CEO, Basildon Mind, said:
“At Basildon Mind, we are incredibly grateful for the continued support shown by c2c, to improve mental health for everyone. Mental health affects so many people, and the work of charities like ours is only possible thanks to events like the Kick4Kindness tournament where the power of football brings people together to make a positive impact.
“As an independent charity, the funds raised will make a real difference to those struggling with mental health challenges in our community. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to c2c, Southend United, and all the participants for their generosity and commitment to supporting mental health services.”
Southend United Chief Executive Officer, Tom Lawrence, added:
“We are delighted and honoured to have hosted our partners from c2c and their industry colleagues at Roots Hall today for the very first Kick4Kindness tournament.
“Southend United and c2c remain fully committed to working closely together to help benefit the communities and charities we both serve, and it is great to see that our partnership, and the power of football, has allowed us to come together to raise awareness and a substantial amount of money for two important charities.
“I look forward to doing it all again next year.”
Ends
Notes to editors
- c2c is the award-winning train operator running services between Fenchurch Street and Shoeburyness, serving 26 stations in East London and South Essex.
- Owned by Trenitalia, c2c is one of the UK’s most punctual and popular train operators and nearly 35.8 million journeys are made on its services every year.
- Italian-based Trenitalia is one of Europe’s leading rail operators and the passenger rail arm of FS Italiane Group.
- Samaritans is a registered charity aimed at providing emotional support to anyone in emotional distress, struggling to cope or at risk of suicide throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland.
- Basildon Mind is an independent mental health charity working in Basildon, Billericay & Wickford which is affiliated to the national Mind charity.
- For more information email mediaenquiries@c2crail.net
Images
Featured Image: ‘Our Kick4Kindness teams’
Second Image ‘The representative c2c teams’
Third Image ‘Sammy the Shrimp and Pip’
Fourth Image ‘Kick4Kindness tournament winners Southern Engineers’
Fifth Image ‘The trophy presentation team of Sammy the Shrimp, Rylee Doe (Commercial Manager, Southend United), Alice Shimali (Head of Communications, c2c) and Pip!’