A group of charities, policymakers and educators with a passion for using sport to improve the health and wellbeing of children are supporting efforts for physical activity to be socially prescribed through primary care networks.
The Children’s Coaching Collaborative is a collection of organisations including Sport England, Mind, Unicef and Street Games who are working together to create a nation of “child-first” coaches who place children’s rights, enjoyment and wellbeing at the centre of coaching through the Play Their Way campaign.
Nationally, more children than ever need mental health care as NHS figures show nearly half a million are awaiting treatment. This is a trend that is showing little sign of slowing down. The number of children referred to emergency mental health care in England has soared by more than 50 per cent in three years – if we are to say we are doing everything we can to support the wellbeing of our young people, we must completely rethink our approach to care.
Unlocking potential
Pioneered by StreetGames, via the creation of a Social Prescribing Youth Network, we want to further unlock the potential of coaches to directly support the wellbeing of children and young people. We believe coaches and providers of physical activity can play as vital a role in supporting the health and wellbeing of young people as doctors and nurses.
Social prescribing is an approach to healthcare that connects individuals to activities that supports them in managing or addressing their health, social and emotional needs. When it comes to young people and as the mental health crisis worsens, “youth social prescribing” is now being used as a form of early intervention and to support young people with a range of mental health needs.
The approach to physical activity sessions and how they are coached becomes even more integral when working with those who are experiencing poor mental health. It works through coaches collaborating actively with young people to co-create activity that helps them as an individual, embedding a child-first approach to best understand their individual needs and respecting their voice.
Socially prescribed activity for young people is already making a positive difference (see case study). We are working with several primary care networks (PCN) with the aim of supporting all 1,200 PCNs across England.
When we observe growing NHS waiting lists for mental health treatment, this now is an opportunity for the children’s play and sports sector to add more layers of support for young people and ensure that whatever the activity they are taking part in, every child’s individual needs are met.
The Children’s Coaching Collaborative are leading Play Their Way, a campaign to champion the profound positive impact child-first coaches can make on the lives of young people amidst growing concerns of a mental health crisis.
Case study: Physical activity sessions help children thrive
Rachel’s children have benefited from a socially prescribed physical activity sessions run by Your Trust in Greater Manchester.
“I have had four children attend the Thrive sessions, two of which benefited and developed so much that they are no longer reliant on specific support.
“Sessions like this are invaluable for parents. It has helped my children be seen and supported quicker, compared to long waiting lists for mental health support and medical attention.
“I have had children recommended to sessions by practitioners, and the benefit gained from them has been remarkable. They have helped deal with their ADHD and socially they are more engaged and more confident thanks to coaches who treat them as individuals.
“A big part of what makes this effective is how the sessions are delivered – this isn’t sport in the usual form, it’s all about being led by the child, completely open and focused only on every child’s wellbeing. There is a need for this more widely.”
Hannah Crane is director of charity Street Games and chair, The Children’s Coaching Collaborative. More from www.playtheirway.org
