The Daily Mile Foundation and Place2Be join forces to champion better mental health for children.

• The Daily Mile and Place2Be, together aim to make an impact, championing the crucial role that regular physical activity plays in supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing.
• This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week theme, ‘Moving more for our mental health,’ highlights the fundamental connection between physical activity and mental wellbeing.
• Place2Be and The Daily Mile are today launching a new resource which provides practical guidance for parents, caregivers, and teachers to promote children and young people’s mental wellbeing through physical activity.

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Today, as part of Mental Health Awareness Week, The Daily Mile Foundation a charity supported by INEOS, and Place2Be announce their commitment to supporting better mental health and wellbeing for children and young people.

The theme for this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week, ‘Moving more for our mental health,’ highlights the crucial role of physical activity in supporting improved mental wellbeing. Children’s mental health charity Place2Be highlight that regular movement can boost self-esteem, improve sleep quality, and reduce feelings of anxiety. Even brief periods of activity can lead to increased mental alertness, heightened energy levels, and a more positive mood.

The partnership aims to raise awareness of the vital link between regular physical activity and positive mental health outcomes for children and young people. As part of Mental Health Awareness Week, Place2Be and The Daily Mile Foundation have teamed up to launch a new resource which provides practical guidance for parents, caregivers, and teachers to encourage and promote children and young people’s mental wellbeing through physical activity.

Gordon Banks, Global Director of The Daily Mile Foundation, INEOS, said “Place2Be are leaders in the field of children’s mental health, so we are delighted to be working with them to highlight the importance of regular physical activity for children’s health and wellbeing. We know that children are healthier and happier when they are active, and we know that happy and healthy children learn better and achieve more. Our mission is to help schools create environments where regular physical activity becomes part of school life, and we will do that more successfully by working in partnership with great organisations like Place2Be.”

Catherine Roche, Chief Executive of Place2Be, said: “At a time when building resilience is so important, we know from research and our own experience that movement helps with building positive wellbeing. In our schools, we see the value that daily activity has and how it contributes to creating school environments where children flourish and thrive. This Mental Health Awareness Week, Place2Be is delighted to work with The Daily Mile Foundation, to launch our practical resource for children, young people, families, and schools. Together, we’re encouraging schools and families to get on the move to better support children and young people’s mental health.”

Media Contacts

Hannah Oakes                  hannah@thedailymile.co.uk
Abi Aldridge                      Abi.Aldridge@place2be.org.uk

We are a Kindergarten in Lithuania and have 150 children that do The Daily Mile every day in our local park! We haven’t experienced any obstacles since implementing The Daily Mile in our setting.

As we have the status of an “Active school”, it is an added benefit for us to participate in The Daily Mile where we can provide children with the joy of movement, physical activity, and naturally this has had only a positive impact on our environment: happy children who have access to daily activity.

We want to share a story about child who is visually impaired, he shared his excitement that he was able to participate alongside his classmates! We have noticed that he is so happy and full of laughter when he takes part. Also, children on the autism spectrum fit into The Daily Mile with ease which is very important to us.

We are so glad to have had the chance to introduce The Daily Mile in our Kindergarten, and parents have also always supported the participation. When doing The Daily Mile, our children always shout “We run for fun” and “We are as fast as birds”!