Published: 9th October 2020
Mental Health can affect anyone, anytime of the year. At HGCT we actively encourage people to talk/ show support or look after their own well-being.
Throughout 2020 with the lockdown and global pandemic, research shows that over 60% of people have felt their mental health has deteriorated through the COVID-19 pandemic. Now more than ever its important to prioritise our mental health.
This year more than ever we need to actively encourage to speak out that our mental health is as important as our physical health, making time to share feelings, make small changes or take small actions.
Our delivery into schools not just offers sport but we support teachers and staff while promoting health and well-being to pupils and their families.
We use the power of sport to actively engage, raise awareness and support children to become more active.
We caught up with teachers from our partner schools who share their benefits of the schools programme and even their own struggles.
India Whitfield, from Skelmanthorpe Academy shares the benefits that coaching has in their school:
“Skelmanthorpe Academy follows the ethos of promoting a ‘Healthy Mind, Healthy Body, Healthy Future’. We follow the Growth Mindset phrase of ‘I can’t do it…yet!’ Working alongside sports coaches, children get active, learn new skills and their self-esteem and confidence is boosted through completing personal achievements.”
Kathryn Robinson, teacher at Lee Mount Primary, admits the benefits of being active through lockdown helped with her daily routine:
“At the start of lockdown, I found it hard not having a routine to my day like I do at school. I knew I was still working but trying to make it not feel like the holidays was hard. Then I found PE with Joe. That was just the tonic I needed. I set an alarm and started my day with energy. I found the rush that it gave me set me up to for a day of online learning. When it ended, I carried on doing his training videos every day as I loved the way it made me feel. Now I have signed up to his 90 day challenge and I honestly feel so positive about everything. I am eating better, working out more and feeling great with it. Thanks to Joe, I am doing the best I have been (physically and mentally) for years.”
Our Head of Sport Dan Wilczynski adds:
“Sports coaches and the sports industry play a key role in supporting people’s mental health throughout each community. There’s plenty of evidence that taking part in physical activity can have a profound and positive impact on mental wellbeing and at Huddersfield Giants Community Trust we are dedicated to offering that to all aspects of our community through the vehicle of a professional rugby league club. I am personally a firm believer that a “problem shared is a problem halved” and that speaking to people is a positive and strong step and not a sign of weakness.”
At Huddersfield Giants Community Trust our support network is always available, including active classes or just a member of our team.
