Brave Minds At Shiplake

Shiplake College has been working with Henley-based rugby charity, Brave Mind to talk about, and raise awareness of mental health in rugby and sport.

The Brave Mind team have been delivering sessions to pupils on the College’s athletic development programme and they have been well received.

With interactive sessions on dealing with pressure, setting goals, overcoming setbacks and communication, the pupils have been encouraged to work together and talk openly about scenarios which in the past have lacked understanding or have had a stigma attached to them.

Mr Ed Bowden, Head of Athletic Development, said: “It has been excellent to have Brave Mind delivering sessions to our Athletic Development group and the students have been really engaged with the information being presented. 

“The sessions have been engaging and creative and the students have been involved throughout. So far, the content has been focused on goal setting and communication and future sessions will look at dealing with pressure. The expertise and the messages from Brave Mind are clear and honest and the sessions have sparked the beginning of further conversations that will develop the students as individuals as well as sports performers. We are really looking forward to the next sessions from Brave Mind.”

Simon Trower, Founder of Brave Mind, said: “We've been working with the performance development group at Shiplake College. Our sessions have been focusing on performance and wellbeing aspects, allowing the students to engage, discuss and discover both elements about themselves and those around them. 

“So far, sessions have included work on dealing with setbacks, goal setting, enhancing communication and working on giving and receiving feedback, with future topics to come on dealing with pressure, transitions and a Q&A with professional rugby players.”

25% of rugby players, that are known about, experience poor mental health. Brave Mind provides a national platform to take action and help clubs and schools to improve their approach to supporting mental health in their community. 

To find out more about the work of Brave Mind, click here.

.   

.