3 minutes
Having experienced depression first-hand, Matthew Williams is determined to help others fight back with the launch of his boxing-focused mental health support initiative, Knock Out Depression.
From as young as 10, Matthew has had a passion for the combat sport and has gone on to have various roles within the boxing industry.
From being a National Development Manager of the governing body, England Boxing for over a decade running national coach and club development programmes, to leading the development of its Box In Mind mental health awareness programme.
It wasn’t until 2006 that his own mental health took a turn for the worse and severe depression knocked him off his feet. After years of battling mentally, Matthew hit back and began using his experience to help others.
With that came the launch of his first book (Something Changed – Stumbling Through Divorce, Dating & Depression), supporting major national mental health campaigns such as Time for Change and his latest venture, the launch of digital start-up, Knock Out Depression.
Knock Out Depression is a unique online support programme designed to help individuals, community groups and businesses to ‘knock depression on its back’. Acting as your cornerman, the programme helps participants to fully understand depression including the impact it can have on all aspects of life and the ways in which we can overcome it.
Despite creating a powerful online mental health support service, Matthew lacked the digital tools to really shout about it and looked to the DigitalCity initiative for support where he landed a place on the ERDF-funded Accelerator Programme.
Describing the Accelerator Programme as “A MASSIVE HELP!” Matthew reveals he’s now in a much stronger position to develop and scale Knock Out Depression’s online offering.
He comments: “The main thing I have taken away is much greater clarity on my value proposition, helping me to craft more powerful marketing messages. The funding and contacts gained have also been hugely beneficial. I have been able to invest in new branding and a new online course platform which will help me to take my digital offering to the next level.
The level of support was fantastic too – from the various programme mentors, past programme participants and the other businesses that were on the programme. I learned so much and I am very grateful for the contacts I have made. I have benefited hugely from my participation in the programme and would highly recommend it to any new digital business in the Tees Valley.”
Check out Knock Out Depression and it’s all-new branding at: https://www.knockoutdepression.co.uk/
