What it really takes to deliver community based physical activity for people with severe mental illness Type: Research‑to‑practice case studySource: Published PhD studyExperiences of delivering community‑based physical activity for individuals with severe mental illnesses Overview High‑quality evidence is essential if sport and physical activity are to play a meaningful role in mental health support. This research provides rare, in‑depth insight into what enables, and limits, effective community‑based physical activity for people living with severe mental illness. Sport in Mind uses this evidence to shape safe, inclusive and effective delivery across its services and encourages partners within The Sport in Mind Network to do the same. Key learnings from the research Consistency, trust and relationships are critical to engagement Physical activity must be flexible and participant‑led Staff confidence and understanding matter as much as session design Partnerships with health services strengthen outcomes and sustainability What this means for the sport & physical activity sector Activity is not inherently therapeutic - how it is delivered matters Trauma‑aware, person‑centred approaches increase retention Long‑term impact requires collaboration, not short‑term interventions How Sport in Mind applies this learning Designing programmes that prioritise psychological safety Supporting staff and volunteers through training and reflection Embedding research insights into Network learning, webinars and resources Read the full academic article:Full article: Experiences of delivering community-based physical activity for individuals with severe mental illnesses. Back to insights Manage Cookie Preferences