In February, Welsh Athletics joined forced with Mind to co-design a mental health champion role to improve mental health within running communities across Wales.
This is the first partnership of its kind in Wales and our aim is to train mental health champions in each of our 100 affiliated running clubs and 60 Run Wales social running groups so that those involved can talk openly and be supported.
Jozie Postles, Head of Marketing and Communications and Project Lead at Welsh Athletics shared:
“We are delighted to share that, in partnership with Mind, we have now trained 34 Mental Health Champions in 23 running clubs and groups across Wales.
The support and training delivered by the team at Mind has been fantastic and I feel confident our first cohort of champions are equipped to support their local running communities with their mental health.
I am excited to see more clubs and groups across Wales attended the training over the next couple years.”
Hayley Jarvis, Head of Physical Activity at Mind added:
“We have really enjoyed training and getting to know the champions. They each have very personal reasons to championing mental health whether that’s due to their own personal experiences of mental health problems or supporting family and friends.
Through promoting the positive benefits of running on our mental health and getting mental health on the agenda in clubs and groups through ‘run and talk’ events and social activities, they will help break down stigma and ensure no mind is left behind.”
Sally Heywood, Mental Health Champion at Môn Milers Social Running Group shared:
“The Mon Milers Social Running Group are delighted to be a part of the Welsh Athletics and Run Wales pilot project with Mind to establish trained Mental Health Champions in social running groups and clubs across Wales.
We know that a significant number of people choose running as a way to support their mental health, to have volunteers who are trained to spot, support and signpost those who may benefit from a little extra help is hugely valuable to our members.
We are grateful for the opportunity to be able to provide such a valuable resource, and enormously thankful to our volunteers.”
Current Affiliated Clubs & Social Running Groups with Trained Mental Health Champions
To date, 34 champions have been trained across Wales in 14 running clubs and 9 social running groups with more clubs and groups already committed to participating in the scheme.
| Trained Affiliated Running Clubs | Trained Social Running Groups |
| Aberystwyth AC | Just Run Penybont |
| Buckley Runners | Môn Milers Social Running Group |
| Caerleon Running Club | Run Grangetown |
| Cardiff Athletics | RUNNewport |
| Chepstow Harriers | She Runs: Cardiff |
| Health Massive Run Club | Swansea Striders |
| Lliswerry Runners | The Black Cloak Runners |
| Meirionnydd Running Club | The Running Social |
| Monross Trailblazers | Vale Runners |
| North Wales Road Running Club | |
| Paul Popham Running Club | |
| Penarth and Dinas Runners | |
| Pencoed Panthers | |
| Prestatyn Running Club |
We would like to say a big thank you to all of our Mental Health Champions for completing the training and supporting your club or group with mental health support. Together, we really can make a difference and save lives.
How can more clubs and groups get involved?
We will be hosting our next face-to-face training session at the Welsh National Pool in Swansea on Sunday 17 November from 10am – 2:30pm.
Other virtual sessions will also be held over the coming months and dates for these will be released before Christmas. If your club or group would like to participate in this exciting initiative, we have an online process for submitting nominations for the role, which can either be completed by a club representative, or by the nominees themselves. For any questions or queries on the role, please email irun@runwales.org.uk.
