Scottish Volleyball are delighted to announce that we have joined the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) Sports Charter.
This is another important partnership for us as a governing body and we are proud to be working with SAMH to increase education around mental health to the volleyball community whilst ensuring we are breaking down barriers to participation.
Scotland’s Mental Health Charter for Physical Activity and Sport aims to improve equality and reduce discrimination for anyone with a mental health problem.
They Charter was launched by Sir Chris Hoy 2018 and Scottish volleyball today join an impressive list of sporting organisations using their collective power to ensure that there is no barrier to engaging, participating and achieving in physical activity and sport.
Sir Chris Hoy “Throughout my life I have benefitted from the positive impact of physical activity. My hope is that anybody can get active to improve their mental health and wellbeing whatever their level of fitness. I am a firm believer in the link between physical and mental health and I know from experience that if I don’t get out on my bike regularly it affects my wellbeing. I’ve been working with SAMH since 2009 and can see the difference that they and other mental health organisations are having on reducing stigma and helping people to open up. Of course, there is still a long way to go but initiatives such as this Charter will certainly help remove barriers, supporting people to increase their confidence and self-esteem”.
Scottish Volleyball CEO Margaret Ann Fleming MBE added “We are thrilled to be part of the SAMH family and recognise the important role our sport can play in the full system approach to improving Scotland’s mental health. I would like to thank Robert Nisbet SAMH Head of Physical Activity and Sport for supporting the staff in the application process and guidance around our own mental health action plan. I look forward to sharing more details with our membership on this exciting venture in the weeks and months ahead”
Scottish Volleyball Education and Participation officer Martyn Johnstone “This is a great new partnership, and I am looking forward to rolling out the SAMH mental health training to our staff, coaches and volunteers. This is an important step for us as a governing body to recognise that mental health will be at the centre of everything we do. We must ensure we all know how to support each other when help is needed or asked for.”
You can tune into to Scottish Volleyball TV at 7 pm tonight to hear from Robert Nisbet SAMH Head of Physical Activity and Sport who will give an overview of the work SAMH do and what being in the charter means for Scottish Volleyball and you!