Active Cheshire, on World Mental Health Day 2017, launched a £30,000 to combat poor mental health and wellbeing through physical activity.
Approximately 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health condition each year, with 75% of all adult mental health conditions starting before the age of 18. Research shows that 30% of people with long term physical health conditions also have a mental health illness. Public Health England suggests that physical activity can reduce conditions such as dementia and depression by up to 30%. Yet we still have approximately 166,000 adults locally doing less than the recommended level of 30 minutes a week of physical activity.
Anne Boyd, CEO of Active Cheshire, said: “We are very pleased to launch the Active Minds Investment".
She added: “Active Minds is one of five work pillars identified in the Blueprint to Tackle Physical Inactivity in Cheshire and Warrington which aims to embed physical activity into all aspects of everyday lives”.
£30,000 has been made available to support the Active Minds Pillar. The fund will be divided into 3 tiers;
- Tier 1 – one investment of £10,000
- Tier 2 – one investment of £5,000
- Tier 3 – 15 investments of £1,000
Nont Iamkamphaeng, Strategic Lead Mental Health, said: "we want to hear from organisations who feel their work fits with the investment’s objective of using physical activity to combat poor mental health affecting people in Cheshire and Warrington".
Active Minds Investment is looking to invest in projects which can show;
- positive changes in behaviour towards embedding regular physical activity;
- increasing access to regular physical activity as a prevention mechanism or coping strategy from as early as primary school age;
- sustainability beyond the investment period;
- the application of insight to identify needs and demands; and
- reduction in stigma and discrimination associated with mental health issues.
Application deadline: Friday 24th November 5pm
For more information and to apply click here
