Will Vaulks has pledged to keep funding Oxford United's Can We Talk? suicide prevention campaign, even after leaving the club to sign for Tranmere Rovers in the summer transfer window.

The 32-year-old midfielder spent two years at the Kassam Stadium and used that time to build one of the most visible mental health initiatives in the third tier. He co-founded Can We Talk? with Ryan Maher in 2024, focusing on suicide prevention and mental health awareness in the workplace.

Vaulks departed Oxford in August, returning to his boyhood club Tranmere, but confirmed he would continue to bankroll the campaign he helped create. His commitment means the initiative can carry on for at least another 12 months.

What the funding will deliver

Oxford United confirmed that the fresh injection of money will go towards two specific areas. First, it will fund suicide prevention training for grassroots football clubs across Oxfordshire. Second, it will cover the cost of training for the club's season ticket holders.

Maher was unambiguous about Vaulks's role in the campaign's survival.

"None of this happens without Will," he said. "He's raised the profile of suicide prevention across Oxfordshire for two years, and even though he's moved on, his funding means we can keep training the community for the next 12 months."

Maher added: "Suicide prevention is part of who we are as a club. These next steps are about ensuring Oxford United creates a suicide prevention legacy, reaching our community of staff, supporters and non-supporters every single year."

The story behind the campaign

Vaulks has spoken openly about losing both of his grandfathers to suicide within a year of each other. He has said that personal grief made him want to go beyond sharing his own experience and actually put structures in place that could prevent further loss.

The deaths of Oxford United legend Joey Beauchamp and supporter Jack Badger also shaped the campaign's direction. Vaulks was awarded the Fifpro Players Voice award in 2025 in recognition of the work.

Earlier this year, the former Wales international said he had been pushing every other football club in England to adopt a similar model.

"I want football clubs to realise that it's out there, we can support you, we can put into place what we've done at Oxford and actually you have a responsibility to do it," he said. "You've got young men and women in your care that there currently is not enough support for. You need to be doing it."

A legacy that outlasts the contract

The announcement is notable precisely because Vaulks had no contractual obligation to continue. His decision to stay involved financially after leaving on a free transfer sets a rarely seen precedent in the lower leagues, where players moving on typically sever ties completely.

For Oxford, still adjusting after several departures in the summer window, the continuity of Can We Talk? represents one area of genuine stability off the pitch. The club now aims to embed suicide prevention as a permanent fixture of its community work rather than a project tied to any one individual.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, help and support is available at the BBC Action Line.

Frequently asked

What is Oxford United's Can We Talk? campaign?
Can We Talk? is a suicide prevention and mental health awareness initiative launched by Oxford United in 2024. It was co-founded by midfielder Will Vaulks and Ryan Maher, and focuses on training club staff, supporters and community members in suicide prevention.
Why did Will Vaulks leave Oxford United?
Vaulks left Oxford United in August after two years at the club, signing for his boyhood club Tranmere Rovers in the summer transfer window.
Will the Can We Talk? campaign continue after Vaulks left Oxford?
Yes. Vaulks has pledged to continue funding the campaign personally, covering 12 months of community training. The money will also go towards grassroots clubs across Oxfordshire and training for Oxford United's season ticket holders.