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Creative Minds and Barnsley Council launch Moving Mental Health Forward scheme

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In partnership with Barnsley Council, Creative Minds is launching an exciting Moving Mental Health Forward scheme.

The scheme aims to help local organisations, groups, and clubs involved in sport, physical activity and movement to create a positive mental health culture in their settings. With around 57% of Barnsley’s population considered active, many people are involved in or around these settings, whether as volunteers, participants, players, friends or parents.

In Barnsley, 1 in 3 people will require mental health support sometime in their lives, and as we try to recover from COVID-19, it’s important more than ever before that we look out for each other.

The key aim of Moving Mental Health Forward is to encourage organisations, groups and clubs to be more open to having conversations about mental health and help provide support to those who need it.

To become part of the Moving Mental Health Forward network, organisations, clubs and groups have to share what work they are doing at the moment and identify any support required. If successful, they will become recognised as providing a positive mental health culture. Those organisations, clubs and groups that are going above and beyond will achieve special gold recognition.

Carol Harris, director of operations at South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and director lead for Creative Minds, said: “Many people take part in physical activities and groups within their communities to help improve their mental health and wellbeing.

“The Moving Mental Health Forward scheme is therefore really important in helping local sport, physical activity and movement organisations, groups and clubs to offer inclusive and supportive spaces and activities, whilst opening up meaningful conversations around mental health and wellbeing outside of health or care settings.”

Cllr Jim Andrews, Cabinet spokesperson for Public Health, said: “It’s important that we talk about our mental health and that we’re not afraid of sharing how we feel.

“The past 18 months have been very challenging. Sport and physical activity have been a helping hand for many; however, it’s crucial to ensure that those settings can support their staff, volunteers, players and service users with appropriate mental health support.

“Hopefully, the Moving Mental Health Forward scheme will start these conversations and will pave a foundation for future work that will be possible when working together.”

Organisations, groups and clubs who are part of the scheme will have access to training, support events, messaging support and connections to mental health services. They will also be able to access an activation grant fund of up to £2,000 to support their efforts.

For more information about Moving Mental Health Forward, please visit: www.barnsleywhatsyourmove.co.uk/active-for-health/moving-mental-health-forward 

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Creative Minds is a registered charity in England and Wales number: 1055931-13. Registered office: Fieldhead Hospital, Ouchthorpe Lane, Wakefield, WF1 3SP