Take a look at the video of the ‘Get Set To Go’ programme in action at EFL clubs. Participants benefit both physically and mentally from playing football but also from meeting up regularly with a group of people who, like them, have experienced mental health problems.

Why not have your mate’s back and contact a friend who you think would benefit from a kick about, a walk or a run with you? Click here for Mind’s suggestions on how to Get Active.

‘Get Set to Go’ is a nationwide physical activity programme run by Mind (and funded by Sport England and the National Lottery) which aims to support people with mental health problems to get more active as a way of improving their mental wellbeing. It was expanded, thanks to fundraising from the EFL and Mind’s ‘On Your Side’ partnership, to include nine EFL clubs: Charlton Athletic, Millwall, Carlisle United, Derby County, AFC Wimbledon, Stevenage, Newport County, Sheffield Wednesday and Sunderland AFC. These clubs and their Community Club Organisations partnered with their respective local Minds to deliver the ‘Get Set to Go’ programme.

The video shows the ‘Get Set To Go’ programme in action at Stevenage and AFC Wimbledon and features participants talking about the benefits to them, the coaches describing the sessions and the training they received to deliver the programme and a representative from a local Mind describing the benefit physical activity can have on mental health.

Although Covid-19 interrupted face to face delivery of the programme, social contact between many of the participants was maintained during lockdown, with some online delivery of physical activity taking place. The programme has been extended to February 2021, with results published in the Spring.

For more information on Get Set to Go please visit mind.org.uk/about-us/our-policy-work/sport-physical-activity-and-mental-health/get-set-to-go/.