Sport in Mind is a charity dedicated to improving the lives of anyone experiencing mental health challenges across the UK, including those with disabilities and long-term health conditions, through sport and physical activity.
Background
Working in partnership with local authorities, NHS services, and community organisations, Sport in Mind delivers free, inclusive sessions that empower individuals to build confidence, reduce isolation, and improve physical and mental health. By removing barriers to participation and creating safe, welcoming environments, the charity has helped thousands of people reconnect with their communities and lead healthier lives, demonstrating the power of sport as a tool for recovery.
The challenge
Every day lives are lost, families are broken, people are suffering and businesses struggle to recruit and retain staff… and the reason? Mental health problems.
Mental health problems are one of the most pressing issues we face in the UK today, and not enough is being done to help!
- Suicide is the biggest killer of young people in the UK (Under 35s) and men under 50. It is also the leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds in the EU.
- five million+ people were referred to mental health services in England in 2024 (up 37.9 per cent from 2019)
- People with serious mental illness die on average 15-20 years premature due to preventable physical health problems (NHS England)
- Economic and social costs of mental ill health in the UK are estimated to be £300 billion
- Stigma surrounding mental illness presents significant barriers to people seeking help and connecting with society
- The number of young people not in work in the UK is at a 11-year high, with poor mental health cited as the primary reason for preventing young people from working
- Mental Health is a global issue affecting over a billion people worldwide (WHO)
The solution
Sport in Mind is the UK’s leading mental health sports charity. Formed in 2010, our trailblazing work harnesses the power of sport to save lives and transform the futures of children, young people and adults struggling with their mental health.
Our work uses sport to connect with marginalized communities to educate, influence and inspire social change. We achieve this by creating safe, supportive environments that improve mental, physical and social health. In 2019, Sport in Mind’s services gained recognition from the UK Royal Family and Government, winning the Queen’s Award (the highest honour awarded to charities here in the UK).
Sport in Mind’s nationally unique programmes have gained international acclaim due to the outcomes achieved and our ability to engage underserved, hard to reach communities.
Our programmes are codesigned by leading healthcare professionals and the communities we serve, ensuring they fully meet the needs of our audience. They support:
- Children and Young People (8-16 years)
- Adults (16 years +)
- Targeted Communities: Men, Women, Refugees, Mums & their babies, LGBTQ+ communities and Specific Ethnic Minority Groups
All programme are insight driven and delivered based on the needs of local communities.
In the past Sport in Mind has worked with Buckinghamshire and Wokingham Public Health teams and Bracknell Forest Council and London Borough of Brent.
The impact
Over the last 14 years, Sport in Mind has supported over 40,000 people across the country and given people hope. Through our weekly sport sessions, 94 per cent of participants displayed improved mental health, 91 per cent improved levels of confidence and self-esteem, and 86 per cent had reduced levels of anxiety. Through the educational workshops, 97 per cent of children said our workshop inspired them to do sport to help their mental health, and 94 per cent said the workshops helped to improve their understanding of what good mental health is.
How is the new approach being sustained?
Through the educational workshops, we are teaching children about the benefits of physical activity for their mental health, resilience and embedding healthy habits into everyday life. Through our sessions we are creating a sense of community to support people through their recovery journey.
Lessons learned
Through a PhD study investigating Sport in Mind’s services, the study highlights the critical role of stakeholders’ experiential knowledge in delivering community-based physical activity. We found three areas that make our services unique:
1. Awareness of challenges to initiating physical activity
Stakeholders displayed deep awareness of barriers to physical activity for people with Severe Mental Illness (SMI), including anxiety, fear of leaving the house, and difficulty entering unfamiliar spaces. Stakeholders acknowledged that even with support, the first step into a session can be daunting. For example, a coach and former service user, described how obsessive thoughts and anxiety left him housebound: “I wouldn't even leave the house. I don't touch things. It was a really hard time for me.”
2. Setting expectations and providing a safe space
To alleviate anxiety, staff shared detailed information about sessions, selected accessible venues (e.g. community halls), and used welcoming practices like “watch first” approaches and personalised introductions. Coaches built trust through consistency and collaborative relationships, sometimes escorting users into the venue and gradually building their confidence. For instance, a coach, described how she helped a woman overcome her fear of entering the venue: “I made it a point to meet her at the reception…and we go inside together.” Weeks later, the woman waved goodbye to the receptionist, a small but powerful sign of increased confidence.
3. Maintaining physical activity engagement
The programme prioritised flexibility and consistency. Service users could attend at their own pace, without judgment. Stakeholders highlighted the importance of structure for users’ mental health and used consistent routines and adaptable activities to foster predictability. A participant explained “You know you're coming into the same space, the same coach… That is what's providing that safe environment.”. Social support and peer connection were facilitated by group settings, while clear boundaries ensured psychological safety. Coaches were trained through experience to manage challenging behaviours and support emotional wellbeing.
We support, unite and transform the lives of some of the most vulnerable, disengaged members of society, creating sustained social impact.
Contact
Beth Marriott – National Partnerships Manager