People with Mental Health problems in Oxfordshire will have more opportunities to get involved in sport after Oxfordshire Sports Partnership received £262,928 of funding from Sport England’s Inclusive Sport fund.

The new Active Body, Healthy Mind project is one of 44 across England that will benefit from £8.06 million of National Lottery investment from Sport England to open up more opportunities for disabled people to play sport.

The Oxfordshire Active Body, Healthy Mind project will help 1250 people with mental ill health take up a wide range of sports through one to one mentoring and group support.

The project is led by the Oxfordshire Sports Partnership working with a consortium of mental health and other community organisations, including Restore.

Oxfordshire Mind, will be playing a leading role in the ‘Active Body, Healthy Mind’ partnership and will be hosting a Sports Coordinator to manage the project.

Restore will host sports sessions and activities led by Active Body, Healthy Mind volunteers.

Chris Freeman, Managing Director of the Oxfordshire Sports Partnership, said:

“Active Body, Healthy Mind is an example of the positive benefits we can bring to Oxfordshire with partnership working. It’s a fantastic opportunity to engage individuals with mental ill health in sport providing a wide range of sporting opportunities to increase participation in disability sport and make a positive impact on people’s lives.”