The Sport for Development Coalition and Mind have issued a joint call for evidence and case studies on the contribution of sport and physical activity to mental wellbeing, and the recovery from the pandemic.
The evidence will contribute to a policy briefing and round-table over the next two months. The call follows the two organisations working together this week to host an online forum, entitled 'Sport tackles the Wellbeing Crisis’. Watch the forum again below.
NETWORK
The forum was led by Ollie Dudfield, Executive Director of the Coalition, and Hayley Jarvis, Head of Physical Activity for Mind.
It examined how sport and activity can be used to improve mental health, wellbeing and resilience, and featured projects focused on improving and maintaining mental wellbeing from the Coalition's growing network of more than 180 organisations.
During the forum ConnectSport founder Simon Lansley, who also oversees marketing and communications for the Coalition, spoke to Callum Kwasnik, local co-ordinator for Mind's 'Get Set to Go' programme in Hertfordshire, and Hannah Marsh, from the Stevenage FC Foundation, which supports the programme. The project is funded by the EFL and Sport England.
Simon also spoke to author and freelance journalist Hannah Green, who participated in the 'Get on Track for Wellbeing' programme from the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust after experiencing homelessness and PTSD. Hannah, who has written a book about her experiences, describes how she also participated in 'surf therapy' with the Wave Project.
CONTRIBUTION
‘Sport tackles the Wellbeing Crisis’ is part of the Coalition’s over-arching ‘Adapt, Support, Respond’ initiative which aims to support, evidence and advocate for sport and physical activity’s contribution to the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
More than one in four young people surveyed in the Prince’s Trust 2021 Youth Index said they had felt unable to cope with life since the start of the pandemic, increasing to 40% of young people who are not in employment, education or training (NEET). Half of 16 to 25-year-olds said their mental health had worsened since the start of the pandemic.
To submit your evidence, email coalition@sportfordevelopmentcoalition.org. Read more at sportfordevelopmentcoalition.org.
