BREAKING NEWS: Sport Walk and mental health charity Sport in Mind have established a formal partnership.
Some time ago, we formed a collaborative association with Sport in Mind to promote Sport Walking and the charity’s work helping people with their mental health through sport. But despite our joint resolution, the world conspired against us. Covid hit before we really had a chance to get going and that, pretty much, was that.
We each had our own needs in building back after the pandemic and it just wasn’t possibly to bring our aspirations of working together to fruition. But this year, following some detailed meetings, we agreed the structure of a comprehensive partnership, which we can now reveal.
The partnership has a fundraising focus, in terms of what Sport Walk aims to do to help Sport in Mind, while the charity will be promoting Sport Walking to its own audience, its partners and, more widely, to organisations that can really help to raise the profile of the activity.
Sport Walk will support Sport in Mind fundraisers with guidance and support to help them in their challenge preparation, while there will be potential opportunities for Sport Walk’s supporters to participate in challenge events, as fundraisers for Sport in Mind.
Five A Day February
A key fundraising focus for us will be in dedicating ‘Five A Day February’ to Sport in Mind, as our charity partner. This Sport Walk Personal Challenge is now established in our schedule and we’re eager to take it forward and to grow participation with a fundraising focus. In fact, Five A Day February is the perfect way to continue a ‘new year new you’ activity run, following a plethora of virtual challenge options in January.
A great fit
Sport Walking is hugely beneficial for mental health. In fact Sport Walk’s founder Roger Burlinson started Sport Walking in response to his own mental health challenges in 2016.
While Roger’s struggles were minor in comparison to some peoples’, he was still at a low point and sought to try and work things out by going walking and this led him to challenge himself by walking across the National Park where he lives.
Sport Walk was born from that experience and from the benefit Roger found in working through his issues by walking strongly and the positive transformation that followed has convinced Roger ever since that Sport Walking can be a really powerful tool in supporting positive mental health.
Sport Walking for mental health
Sport In Mind and Sport Walk are a really good fit but our relationship isn’t just about fundraising or raising the profile of Sport Walking. By collaborating, we will be able to draw upon their expertise to help us develop specific programs and information to support mental health and wellbeing through Sport Walking.
We’ve had plans for some time to formulate specific programs around Sport Walking for mental health, not least because developing mental resilience is so important in being able to sustain a fitness ambition or challenge goal.
While our plans are not about supporting people with diagnosed mental health conditions, we hope that we can provide encouragement and inspiration to help anyone build their own resilience through Sport Walking.
The best charity you’ve never heard of!
You may not have heard of Sport in Mind or be aware of them on social media but the work they do is invaluable and they are growing fast!
They may not yet have a profile comparable to other charities like Cancer Research or Oxfam but they punch well above their weight and their innovative work with organisations like the NHS is delivering real results. They’re a dynamic agile organisation and we’re looking forward to working closely with them.
More information on specific projects will be released in due course and collaborative projects will be announced as the year progresses.