Sport in Mind have supported over 30,000 individuals with their mental health and physical activity levels. Thanks to players of The Health Lottery, earlier this year The Health Lottery Foundation awarded a grant of £15,000 to Sport in Mind to help fund their Hampshire weekly sport and physical activity programme.
14 years working with people impacted by mental illness
The adults benefiting from the organisation’s work are those with serious mental illness or other mental health problems, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, psychosis, anxiety, depression and PTSD. They also support pregnant women and new mothers.
Tom Crowe, Head of Operations for the South East said,
“Often our participants struggle with the confidence to join mainstream sport. The welcome and support they receive from our sessions gives people the encouragement they need to get involved and begin to see, and feel, the positive connection that looking after their physical health has on their mental wellbeing. We regularly ask people what helps to get that first step in the door and adapt our sessions accordingly.”
The results are impressive. Of those that participated in adult sport sessions over a 6-month period:
- 94% had improved mental wellbeing
- 86% displayed reduced levels of stress and anxiety
- 82% had reduced symptoms of depression
- 91% highlighted improved levels of self-confidence / self esteem
A participant said,
“Depression robbed me of a normal life for 10 years, I’ve heard people say, ‘playing sport changed my life’ but for me Sport in Mind didn’t just change my life, they saved it.”
£15K from players of The Health Lottery to deliver sessions in Hampshire
£15,000 has been given to fund sessions including tennis, yoga, badminton, table tennis and a recent addition of Pickleball. The grant will help the organisation to specifically support a mother and baby unit, as well as generally offering more help for adults and young people who are struggling with their mental health.
A participant said,
“Sport in Mind’s sessions helped me remember how to have fun, enjoy myself and not worry about every little thing. I attended for over a year and that gave me the positive focus I’d been missing. It helped me rebuild my self-esteem and realise that life was still worth living.”
Sport in Mind projects in action
If you would like to know more about Sport in Mind, visit their website and follow them on social media.
Website: www.sportinmind.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sportinmind
X: www.x.com/sportinmind
Insta: www.instagram.com/sportinmind