#RUN AND TALK
Burnden Road Runners now have members appointed within the club as Mental Health Champions, Carolyn Barker began the initiative for the club to get involved in the rewarding program Run and Talk created by England Athletics and supported by the Charity Mind. The program has been created by EA with the aim of improving mental health through running in England.
The aim is to get people talking about mental health, sharing their experiences and removing stigma. Also to provide support and guidance to raise awareness of mental health problems. Supporting people experiencing mental health problems to be physically active through running, whether that is to support them in starting, returning to or continuing to run.
Burnden Road Runners will shortly be announcing their group of volunteers who have been appointed as Mental Health Champions. Burnden Road Runners are now one of a network of volunteer clubs in England Athletics affiliated clubs and RunTogether groups promoting mental wellbeing through running and supporting the aims of #RunAndTalk.
So what do Mental Health Champions do?
Support - support Burnden Road Runners with an action plan
Engage - link with local mental health organisations
Tweet - using the #runandtalk
Share - share on social media using the #runandtalk
Talk - start conversations about mental health
Advocate - provide information and guidance about mental health
Volunteer - volunteer in wider mental health activity.