The sport and physical activity sector has made significant progress in the last five years in creating an environment that is fair and inclusive to those of us with mental health problems. This conference will celebrate what has been achieved since the Mental Health Charter for Sport and Recreation was published in March 2015.

Although we have come on leaps and bounds over the last five years, there is still work to be done. The conference will also be an opportunity to look towards the future, and to learn and grow as a sector.

Join the conversation online using #SportMinds.

We are excited to announce the creation of nine Regional Networks, bringing together sport, physical activity and mental health organisations at a local to regional level. The Networks will work to increase the number of groups within their region who are equipped with the skills to support and engage people with mental health problems in physical activity. The Regional Networks will achieve this by:

This course is aimed at everyone who delivers coaching in clubs, community sport and physical activity – such as coaches, activators, sports administrators, front of house staff or volunteers.

Complete the course and you will gain the confidence to be able to support people experiencing mental health problems, and help them to thrive inside and outside of your sessions.

You are twice as likely to be inactive if you have a long-term health condition. However being active can help to manage over 20 long-term conditions such as depression. It also reduces the risk of developing some conditions by up to 40% and can delay the onset of and reduce the severity of many long-term health conditions.

For the first time ever, 15 leading health and social care charities are launching a national campaign and movement to inspire and support people with long-term health conditions to be active.

Each month, we send a monthly newsletter to update our partners from across the sport, physical activity and mental health sectors about a variety of topics. Our newsletters provide updates on our work, share good practice from across the sector, and opportunities for you to get involved with. To date, over 530 people have signed up to receive our newsletter.

Thriving at Work is an independent review that outlines what employers can do to better support all employees, including those with mental health problems, to remain in and thrive through work. We’re collaborating with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, the Sport and Recreation Alliance, and Sport England to help employers across the sport and physical activity sector to understand and implement the Thriving at Work standards.

In 2018, we launched our game changing partnership with the English Football League (EFL). This partnership is a brilliant opportunity for us to promote awareness and understanding of mental health amongst football fans. We want to show everyone within the football community that Mind are always #OnYourSide when things get tough.

Get Set to Go helps people find the physical activity that's right for them so that they are able to enjoy the physical, social and mental benefits of being active. The programme is funded by Sport England, the National Lottery and our ‘On Your Side’ partnership with the English Football League (EFL). Explore this page to find out more about the programme and details on how you can get involved.

From elite sport through to grass-roots participation, sport can be used to reduce stigma and start positive conversations about mental health. Sport should also be accessible to people with mental health problems. That’s why we’re supporting the Mental Health Charter for Sport and Recreation.

We’ve worked with the Sport and Recreation Alliance and the Professional Players Federation to create the Charter. We’ve also developed resources and case studies to support signatories, along with a dedicated LinkedIn page to help you keep track of what is going on across the sector.

Looking to increase your activity levels but don't know where to start? We've put together some information pages to help you on your way. You can explore different types of activity to find what's right for you, and read inspirational stories from others who have experienced the benefits of getting active for their mental health. You can also join our online platform, Elefriends, and link up with others who are just starting out too.

Sports coaches play a key role in supporting people with mental health problems to become active. That’s why we have developed some handy resources to help support coaches on their journey to making their classes and training sessions more inclusive. We’ve teamed up with partners including UK Coaching, along with Mind ambassador Duke McKenzie MBE, to bring you some top tips.