Six Moray sports clubs will receive their Mental Health and Physical Activity accreditation certificates at Cooper Park Wellbeing Festival on Saturday 11 May.
Moray Wellbeing Hub, in partnership with Moray Council’s Community Sports Hub & Active Schools’ Team and the Councils’ Library Services, is hosting the positive mental health and wellbeing festival from 11am to 3pm in the Elgin park.
The event, which is part of the Grampian Wellbeing Festival, is one of many taking place across Moray and Grampian throughout May.
Receiving their accreditation at a ceremony at 1pm are: Moray Mountain Bike Club; Moray Table Tennis Club; Badminton Moray; Elgin Duellist Fencing Club; Forres Bluefins Swimming Club; Elgin Sports Community Trust.
As many as one in four people experience a mental health problem at some point in their lifetime.
The Cooper Park Wellbeing Festival is a fun and informative way of promoting good mental health and wellbeing, and supports the Grampian Wellbeing Festival theme of supporting people to increase their personal mental health and wellbeing resilience.
Roy McPherson, Principal Active Schools & Community Sport Officer, explained:
“Moray Wellbeing Hub collaborated with our team to deliver a tailored programme of five mental health and wellbeing workshops over the last six months.
‘The workshops were made possible from the Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund administered by tsiMORAY and the accreditation course syllabus covered mental health first aid training, suicide prevention and trauma informed approaches.
“We’re delighted that what will hopefully be the first group of many sports coaches will be receiving their certificates on the day.
“Everyone should have access to physical activity and local sports clubs provide a warm welcome and a vital connection to those who may experience challenges in life.
“Club coaches are often the first to be aware that one of their club members are feeling anxious or depressed.
“Coaches therefore have an important role in supporting wellbeing and mental health in Moray.”
Heidi Tweedie, Champion & Director of the Moray Wellbeing Hub, explained that as part of this event, there will be a wide range of different activities in the vicinity of the Cooper Park Pond and within the Elgin Library for the whole family.
“Some of these activities will simply be about taking time out of our busy lives and having the opportunity to have a chin wag.
“We can talk about some of the benefits of wellbeing tools like Living Life to the Full and Chime for Wellbeing.
“We can also sign post people to appropriate mental health services that offer more support. Moray Wellbeing Hub will also be hosting the ever popular emotional eats cake shop”.
Gillian Heron, Senior Librarian Officer, added:
“Elgin Library is delighted to offer lots of activities in the Library that promote wellbeing for children.
“We have a lovely range of books for all ages on mental health and wellbeing, and research has shown that even 6 minutes of reading a day can improve your mood.
“At the Cooper Park Wellbeing Festival, we’ll have lego free play, colouring and a treasure hunt, a story time for three years old and up, and a Bookbug for parents and babies.”
Following the presentation of certificates, the Mental and Physical Activity Pathway will be launched.
This new online resource for anyone who wants to access sports clubs that are committed to supporting good mental health and wellbeing.
All of the activities at the Cooper Park Festival on 11 May will either take place outside near the Cooper Park pond or within the Library.
Activities are free except for Bookbug and Storytime.
To reserve a place for these two activities contact Elgin Library on 01343 562600 or elgin.library@moray.gov.uk.
