Case studies
We've captured learnings from across the sector to help you to consider what more your organisation could be doing around mental health.
Click on an organisation to find out more.
Mind and Activity Alliance formed a strategic partnership to help put inclusion and mental health support at the heart of sport and physical activity. Activity Alliance harnessed Mind’s expertise to support their own staff’s mental health
Mindful Sport provides the opportunity for 12-18 year olds to be active in an informal and non-clinical space alongside CAMHS* professionals. The sessions are run in partnership with Mind BLMK, East London Foundation Trust’s CAMHS* and Team Beds and Luton Active Partnership.
Bright Star Boxing is a charitable organisation that uses boxing to help improve people’s mental health. Counterpunch, the charity’s free sessions, offer the opportunity for people to get active and receive informal mental health support from coaches – many of whom have experienced mental health problems. Bright Star’s community programmes offer training for people experiencing mental health problems through coaching and support.
Mind, the British Horseracing Association and Go Racing Green worked together to pilot sessions where people who use local Mind services could meet racehorses and their trainers. Twenty people took part in the pilots, where they met the horses, learned how they were looked after and got to socialise with others.
The Chartered Institute for the Management of
Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) launched a
Wellbeing Committee in 2019 or Wellbots as it’s
now affectionally know.
It’s a forum for a panel of team members to support
mental health in the organisation.
Support offered includes a wellbeing newsletter,
self-care tips, mental health champions, access to an Employee Assistance Programme support and a
calendar of engagement events to get the team
active.
The Wellbeing Committee have also completed
training in Active IQ Level 2 Award in Mental Health
Awareness. This has helped to ensure they
understand what can be helpful for staff, how to
speak about mental health and create a ‘safe space’
for conversation.
Cycling for Recovery is a collaborative programme
between Devon NHS Community Forensic team,
Active Devon and Ride On that uses cycling to
help improve mental health
Devon Community Forensic Team support people
discharged from a secure hospital to develop
community skills.
The programme was co-designed by people with
lived experience who wanted to get involved in
cycling to boost mental and physical health.
The project has helped improve the group’s
physical and mental wellbeing and sense of
belonging.
#RunAndTalk running clubs and groups recruit Mental Health Champions to help raise awareness of mental health. #RunAndRevise aims to reach young people and spread the wellbeing benefits of physical activity.
England Boxing developed a bespoke mental health workshop in partnership with Mind called Box in Mind.
The course aims to upskill the boxing workforce to identify and support those within the sport experiencing mental health problems.
When the pandemic hit, Mind and England Boxing worked together to design a ‘bitesize’ version that would work online.
Get Set to Go was a programme funded by Sport England, the National Lottery and our ‘On Your Side’ partnership with the English Football League (EFL). It used a peer support model so people with mental health problems could inspire and encourage each other. The programme was delivered in 2 phases by 27 local Minds across England and Wales. Phase 1 ran from 2014-2017. Phase 2 ran from 2018-2021.
Mid & North Powys Mind’s Mums Matter service provides practical tools and support for new mums with mental health problems.
The group offered online Zumba sessions for those finishing the course after requests from participants who wanted to get active in a non-judgmental space.
Each session provides mums with a sense of community as well as the feel-good benefits of exercising to uplifting music.
100% of participants reported improved mental health and felt better able to deal with future challenges.
Following the success of their men’s On the Ball initiative, Notts County Foundation created Goals for Life.
The project harnesses the power of physical activity through co-produced workshops to improve the health and wellbeing of young people aged 10 to 18.
After being inspired by their experience of boxing, staff at Oxfordshire Mind developed a successful four-week course for adults blending a mental health workshop with boxing skills.
They worked with local schools to adapt the course for young people, attracting hard-to-reach students who might not be aware of the link between physical activity and wellbeing.
Walking for Wellbeing provides gentle, accessible walks for people experiencing severe mental health problems.
It is seen as a trusted and well-used service within the Oxfordshire Mental Health Partnership.
Participants have nearly doubled their average activity minutes per week.
Roshni Ghar have created a bustling community hub providing culturally appropriate, responsive services for South Asian women experiencing mental health
problems.
Roshni Ghar offers person-centred support to their clients through a variety of services including physical activity.
They designed and delivered physical activity opportunities directly with the participants.
Physical activity programmes hadn’t been tried with
homeless people in London, despite the potential
benefits for beating isolation and boosting physical and mental health.
In 2017 the Single Homeless Project secured funding from Sport England to pilot a physical activity scheme through their London hostels.
The pilot took a while to achieve its aims, but after nine months of shaping the project through their feedback, the participants were reporting improvements to their physical and mental health.
Now the project runs in 12 London boroughs.
Springfield Mind and Think Active created a joint staff post responsible for running their Get Set to Go project.
This ‘hybrid’ approach helped each organisation learn from the other and built new relationships that weren’t possible before.
The FA identified an opportunity to lead the national conversation and raise awareness around mental health at all levels of the game.
They worked with Mind to create a series of bespoke guides offering clear support and practical signposting.
An office move inspired ukactive to reflect on how they supported mental health throughout the organisation.
They responded by forming a Mental Health Steering Group as part of a broader wellbeing action plan to win senior buy-in and drive forward new initiatives.
London firefighter Dean Corney was part of a team looking at how to encourage men to ask for help with their mental health.
Inspired by a local ‘walk and talk’ led by a counsellor, he organised a regular event where male firefighters could connect during a 45-minute stroll round a local park.
The sessions don’t involve counselling, but signposting is available, and being out in a group in nature helps the men feel part of a community.
The sessions have helped at least three firefighters return to work after being signed off for mental health problems.
Further reading
Mental Health Charter for Sport and Recreation
The Charter provides a selection of good practice examples from a range of signatories.
Sport for Development Coalition
The Coalition have gathered case studies from a range of projects using sport and physical activity to support people’s mental health and wellbeing.
