On Monday evening participants from the Trust’s Comedy For Thought course took to the stage to perform in front of their friends, family and loved ones.

Brentford FC Community Sports Trust is committed to tackling the stigma around men’s mental health and Comedy for Thought is an innovative example of this commitment.

Supported and run in partnership with Dr Maria Kempinska, founder of Jongleurs Comedy Club, Comedy For Thought is a 8-week course which has focuses on personal empowerment, listening, performance skills, and finding your unique comedic voice.

Providing a relaxed and trusted environment for participants to learn comedy whilst also expressing how they have been feeling, the course concludes with a Stand-up at the Trust’s Community Stadium Hub.

Taking to the Stage

As the room filled on Monday evening, it would have been easy for the participants to shy away from delivering their Stand-up routines. However, with the skills and confidence gained during the course, all of the performers had the room entertained, laughing and smiling.

The performances not only provided entertainment on the evening but were a testament to the journeys that each of the participants had been on during the course.

Commending the Performers

Ollie Leslie, Health and Wellbeing Project Coordinator at Brentford FC CST said, “I am pleased to express my deep appreciation for the recent Comedy for Thought showcase event that took place on Monday. Over the course of the past seven weeks, the participants dedicated themselves to honing their craft, creating their own stand-up comedy material. Witnessing their growth and development from week one to their impressive performances was truly remarkable. Each individual demonstrated a unique comedic style that thoroughly entertained the audience.

“I extend my gratitude to Maria for her exceptional guidance and leadership throughout the course. I would also like to acknowledge the invaluable support and efforts of Emily Donovan and Jamie Holme in facilitating the smooth execution of this session. Their dedication was instrumental in ensuring the success of this event.”

“Moreover, I would like to commend the performers, namely Grahame, James, Jarvis, Jaswant, Kristian, Michael, and Tom, for their outstanding performances and dedication to the course. Their contributions added immeasurable value to the overall success of the event.

“Once again, my sincere thanks to all involved for their commitment and hard work, which made this showcase a truly memorable and enjoyable experience for all.”

Head over to the Health and Wellbeing section of the Trust website for more information about Comedy For Thought and other programmes we offer.