Sport and Youth Mental Health Project
Empowering Young Minds Through Sport and Physical Activity
The Active Essex Foundation's Sport and Youth Mental Health programme is an innovative and important 3-year project, whereby sport and physical activity is used as a tool to support and engage Children & Young People (CYP) aged 5-18 years struggling with poor mental health and wellbeing.
Building upon what is already strong in our communities and developing this further, the delivery is place-based through a network of locally trusted organisations (LTOs), who are already rooted in their respective communities and understand the lived experience of the CYP they are already supporting.
According to an NHS England report published in November 2023, the prevalence of children and young people (CYP) experiencing poor mental health remains high, with 1 in 5 aged 8 to 25 having a probable mental health condition. This worrying trend of increasing need and health inequalities of CYP with mental health difficulties, especially those living in more deprived areas, has been recognised by the NHS and the Core20PLUS5 is an approach designed to support Integrated Care Systems to drive targeted action to help reduce health inequalities for CYP. Mental health is one of the 5 key areas of focus.
The Active Lives Survey (Academic Year 2023-24) demonstrated that poor mental wellbeing disproportionately affects CYP who are physically inactive. There was a positive association between the levels of engagement in sport and physical activity and mental wellbeing, therefore CYP with very poor mental health showed a greater likelihood of being less active, and CYP with a very high wellbeing are more likely to be active. Therefore, using sport and physical activity as a method to improve mental wellbeing, can help to support our younger generation to lead healthier, happier, and more balanced lives.
To support this work, the Active Essex Foundation appointed two new members of staff to lead on the project in April 2024. The aims of the project were:
- To create proactive mental health support for CYP across Essex, using sport and physical activity as a tool for engagement and intervention to improve emotional wellbeing.
- To bring together and grow a network of community-based organisations who use sport and physical activity to support CYP mental health.
- To work closely with the health and care system to ensure the needs of CYP mental health across Essex can be sustainably met at the point of need.
- To build the evidence to demonstrate the effectiveness of using sport and physical activity to improve and maintain CYP mental health and emotional wellbeing.
Engaging with new LTO’s and mapping out current LTO’s is vital to the success of this project, and a Sport and Youth Mental Health network meeting allowed the team to begin to build relationships. Understanding their delivery model, target groups and organisational needs/ gap has allowed the team to provide relevant training, to increase the knowledge, skills, confidence and resilience of LTO’s when supporting CYP.
These core delivery partners were specifically identified, based on the characteristics below:
- Supporting CYP with low levels of mental wellbeing through Essex Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme
- Working with CYP from lower income families / Higher levels of deprivation
- Established relationships and place-based partnerships with our Active Essex locality teams.
Working with each LTO has helped the team to identify bespoke training needs that will inform future planning and sustainable delivery.
The Active Essex Foundation embodies the values of working in partnership with all key stakeholders across multiple sectors to support true system change. The team have so far linked LTOs to local School Mental Health Support Teams, which has resulted in more collaborative working, supported MIND with the development of a national Safe & Effective Practice Framework for physical activity and mental health, and assisted Healthwatch Essex with youth engagement with the co-design of a CYP trauma card and resources.
Several initiatives so far, are making a significant impact on the lives of young people, helping them to navigate challenges and build a brighter future. Project Me have utilised their funding to set up ‘My Amazing Mind and Body’ Programme, which supports young people aged 10-12 in Mid and South Essex. The programme supports young people with the transition from primary to secondary school, which can provoke anxiety, and aims to promote and sustain participation in physical activity. Running for 12 weeks, activities include dance, yoga and football, and are combined with wellbeing coaching initiatives such as mindset and personal growth workshops.
Futures Limited are currently delivering a weekly art's group to young females, which creates a supportive, engaging, and fun atmosphere where participants can express themselves and develop their skills. Dance, drama, creative photography and craft activities are being used as tools for youth work, helping to develop social and communication skills, improve physical and mental health, and build self-confidence. Futures are also becoming an Arts Award Centre to deliver The Arts Award, whereby all students will have the opportunity to work towards this qualification if they choose to, giving them further skills and opportunities.
Rotary Club of Frinton on Sea & Walton Youth Club are currently delivering a funded programme called ‘Find Your Spark, Ignite Your Active’ for children and young people who are experiencing low levels of emotional wellbeing. The 20 week programme allows participants to learn skills through 5 different activities, which are collaboratively delivered with local sports clubs and supported by a youth worker. Branded clothing for all participants and an awards presentation is planned for the end of the programme, to give the young people a sense of belonging and achievement.
Working in partnership with the Centre for Mental Health, the Active Essex Foundation have been able to develop a project evaluation framework, which has multiple outcomes. Early evidence has shown that the short and medium term project outcomes are starting to be achieved and the feedback from LTOs and parents has been positive.
Within the first year of the project, a few challenges have been identified particularly around finance and sustainability. During a period of financial recovery, the health and care system is facing increasing challenges, which could lead to fewer opportunities for funding and collaboration between local NHS partners and the VCSE sector, as well as heightened competition among LTOs. Therefore, it is crucial for the project to place even greater emphasis on bringing LTOs together into a support network, to develop partnerships and share best practices.
In addition, for LTOs to be able to support their local communities and CYP with low levels of emotional wellbeing through sport and physical activity, longer term funding models will be required. 24% of the LTO network across the Active Essex Foundation, are concerned about their ability to sustain delivery beyond 6 months and survive the financial year.
There are several priorities and opportunities for the project, as it moves into year two:
- Further capacity building with increasing LTOs delivering CYP mental health support using sport and physical activity, with the appropriate knowledge, skills and confidence, focusing on areas of greatest need and gaps in provision across Essex, Southend and Thurrock.
- Build the evidence base around the outcomes and impacts of the project, including the Centre for Mental Health’s Year 1 Impact Report publication in March 2025.
- Look to expand the ‘Youth Mental Health – Sport & Physical Activity Network’ to include wider system partners, including representatives from CAMHS, School MHST’s, PCN CYP Mental Health Practitioners, etc.
- Explore possible referral or signposting pathways with health and education sector to LTOs supporting CYP with low levels of emotional wellbeing, through sport and physical activity. Also, opportunity to work more closely with Essex County Council Public Health Team to raise the role of the VCSE sector and explore longer term funding.
- Development of a transition age (17-25 years) mental health project, ensuring that as children move into adulthood, LTOs have the capacity and capability to provide consistent and important support, using sport and physical activity as part of the holistic approach.
