Cricket and mental health program inspired by former England cricketer coming to Guildford
Thorpey’s Bat and Chat aims to get men opening up about their wellbeing, using sport as a way to start conversations.
A cricket-themed mental health programme inspired by former Surrey and England player Graham Thorpe is coming to Guildford.
Thorpey’s Bat and Chat aims to get men opening up about their wellbeing, using sport as a way to start conversations.
The program was founded last year by the mental health charity Mind using funds raised from "A Day For Thorpey", which returned for it's second year last month
This year a Day for Thorpey took place at the Oval cricket ground during England's test match against New Zealand.
The day not only raised funds Mind, but also encouraged people to start conversations about mental health.
Off the back of the second edition of A Day For Thorpey, Mind have now announced Thorpey's Bat and Chat will be coming to Guildford
This 10-week programme combines cricket activities with supportive group conversations, helping to improve mental wellbeing and reduce social isolation.
Hayley Jarvis, Head of Physical Activity at the charity says having Graham Thorpe as a centre piece of the program is very powerful
"It helps people to understand that sort of connection and makes it real for people. But also I think, when we hear celebs talk about their mental health or sports stars, we know that it encourages people to go and get help themselves with their mental health."
Hayley told us what she thinks makes the program most effective
"You get that fun, those skills, you build those connections, you have your cup of tea and then there's a real sort of safe space that you can start opening up about mental health and it's really surprising and quite humbling to see how people form those relationships really quickly."
With the program only just going into it's second year, Hayley says there's big ambitions for the program
"Our ambition for the work with Thorpe's Bat and Chat and Cricket is really to spread the message across the game. So we would love to be in a position to support every cricket club that would like to run Bat and Chat to do that in their local community and bring together cricket clubs and their mental health providers.
But also we are really keen to support every grassroots club to better understand mental health."