On World Mental Health Day, leading sporting organisations from across the UK have penned an open letter to the leaders of all political parties, sounding the alarm on the intensifying mental health crisis among young people.
Federations, event providers and campaigning groups are asking political leaders to ‘unlock the power of sport’ to play a significant role in supporting the physical and mental well-being of the nation, starting with our children.
As the letter states;
The letter also emphasises: "A lifetime of activity, leading to a happier, healthier population needs to start and be embedded throughout our school years."
It ends with a potent call to action: "We’re calling on all party leaders to put physical and health literacy at the heart of the future school curriculum, giving all children and young people access to high-quality PE, co-curricular activity, and community provision."
The letter is jointly signed by England Athletics, Welsh Athletics, Scottish Athletics, Athletics NI, Youth Sport Trust, Sport and Recreation Alliance, Run 4 Wales, London Marathon Events, The Great Run Company, The Daily Mile and parkrun.
The signatories are urging politicians to respond and actively integrate sports and physical activity into the nation's mental health and education strategies to provide a long-term solution to this growing crisis.
Nominations for the Alliance’s annual Spirit of Sport and Recreation Award are open ahead of the organisation’s 90th anniversary celebration event, which has been confirmed for St James’s Palace in November.
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