LONDON, UK. May 21st, 2026 – Men across the UK are being invited to take practical action on their mental health, relationships and personal development at a national football event created to bring men together through sport, self-improvement and positive conversation.
The Intellimen Football League Finals will take place on Bank Holiday Monday 25 May, from 1pm to 4pm at Dagenham and Redbridge FC, following weeks of league activity involving teams both inside and outside London.
The event is being led by Intellimen, a men’s development project connected to the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG), which uses practical challenges, mentorship, faith and community support to help men become more disciplined, resilient and responsible.
While the finals are being held in Dagenham, the message is national. UCKG has a presence across the UK, with 38 full-time branches, including Ireland, and eight part-time centres offering daily services, spiritual guidance and community-focused initiatives.
The event comes immediately after Mental Health Awareness Week, which this year focused on the theme of taking action – encouraging people to move beyond awareness and take practical steps to support their own wellbeing and the wellbeing of others.
One of Intellimen’s success stories is Mark Higgins, 28, from Hertfordshire, whose life was transformed after years of crime, gang involvement, depression and isolation.
Mark grew up in East London without his father, while his mother battled drug addiction. By 13, he was robbing people. By 14, he had been arrested and sent to a Youth Offenders Institution for assault and four robberies.
After his release, Mark became further involved in drugs, knives and gang activity. When violence caught up with him and a rival gang attacked his mother in her home, he was moved out of London for his own safety. Away from the streets and the life he knew, he fell into deep depression and attempted to take his own life.
His turning point came after he was invited to UCKG, where support from pastors and the Intellimen programme helped him rebuild his life through faith, discipline and consistent action.
Mark said: “I didn’t go expecting much. I had tried everything – money, crime, power – but nothing had filled the void inside of me. I was desperate for something to change.
“The church became my place of direction and Intellimen gave me a new level of discipline. Every service taught me what steps to take and Intellimen taught me to finish things once I had started them. That gave me discipline, something I had never had before.”
Today, Mark says his life is unrecognisable from his past. The depression that once consumed him has been replaced by a genuine sense of purpose and happiness. He has rebuilt his relationships with his family, is happily married and now uses his experience to encourage others to take the first step towards change.
Mark added: “We’re often taught to just ‘cope’ with our struggles, but there is a way to overcome them completely. You just have to want it enough to take the first step.”
The Intellimen Football League has been created to use the power of sport to bring men together in a familiar, positive and accessible setting. Matches include moments for discussion and reflection, with teams encouraged to build discipline, respect, leadership and accountability on and off the pitch.
Bishop Allan Passos, spokesperson for UCKG, said: “Mental Health Awareness Week rightly reminds us that awareness is not enough – men need to take action. For many men, opening up is easier when it happens naturally – through shared activity, mutual respect and being around others who want to grow.
“Partners, friends and peers often tell us they want to see men communicate more, manage pressure better, take responsibility earlier and become more self-aware of how they treat others. Intellimen exists to help men do exactly that – through practical challenges, positive example, faith, sport and community.”
The Intellimen programme is built around 53 practical challenges designed to develop men in different areas of life, including discipline, character, relationships, faith, responsibility and resilience.
Teams have been playing in leagues inside and outside London, while UCKG’s wider presence across the UK with 38 branches means men in different communities can access support, guidance and a positive environment where they can grow.
Bishop Allan Passos added: “Football is often where men feel comfortable connecting with others. It gives them a reason to show up, compete, laugh, listen and be part of something positive.
“We want men to come down, watch the finals, meet people who are serious about becoming better, and see that personal growth does not have to happen alone.”
The Intellimen Football League Finals will take place on Bank Holiday Monday 25 May, 1pm-4pm at Dagenham and Redbridge FC.
Men, partners, families and anyone interested in finding out more are invited to attend, enjoy the football and meet the Intellimen community.
Date: Bank Holiday Monday 25 May 2026
Time: 1pm-4pm
Location: Dagenham and Redbridge FC (The Chigwell Construction Stadium), Victoria Road, Dagenham, Essex, RM10 7XL.
ENDS