The John Sykes Foundation has awarded a £3,000 grant from their Reading Youth Fund to Sport in Mind, the UK’s leading mental health sports charity.
This grant will help Sport in Mind continue weekly football sessions for up to 12 children aged 10–14 at Palmer Park in Reading.
John Sykes, alongside his son, visited the popular session at Palmer Park to learn more about the charity and their offering to the young people in Reading and presented the cheque to Kieran Townsend, Youth Development Officer, and coaches Dan and Lucy.
The weekly sessions aim to improve the mental and physical well-being of young people through regular, inclusive football activities in a supportive environment.
The sessions are free to attend and are designed to boost confidence, promote teamwork, and encourage positive mental health through the power of sport.
The sessions are open to all abilities and are delivered in a safe, friendly environment by trained coaches who understand the mental health needs of young people.
Sport in Mind’s youth programme is an early intervention and prevention programme aimed at educating and supporting young people to use sport to manage their mental health.
In 2023, Sport in Mind delivered sessions for over 240 children and young people struggling with their mental health across 18 locations in Thames Valley and Hampshire.
Activities ranged from traditional sports such as football, tennis, and yoga to newer activities such as horse riding, squash, dance, and multi-sport sessions, with some sports sessions being devised by the children themselves. 91% of young people stated they are now more likely to be active outside of these sessions.
John Sykes expressed his admiration of the sessions and said: “Sport in Mind does incredible work supporting our community and we’re thrilled to fund this project, which provides young people experiencing mental health problems with a positive, active outlet right here in Reading. By funding these sessions at Palmer Park, we hope local children will continue to have a safe space to have fun, stay active, and build resilience through sport.”
The football sessions run term time at Palmer Park. Families interested in registering can visit www.sportinmind.org
To find out more about the John Sykes Foundation or to apply for a grant please visit www.johnsykesfoundation.org
