As part of a three-year grants programme delivered on behalf of the Mental Health Collaborative, Heads On invested £630,000 into community organisations in Sussex supporting people with mental health problems and / or learning disabilities. Funded by Sussex Health & Care Partnership, the Mental Health Community Grants are part of a county-wide programme to improve the lives and life expectancy of people with serious mental illness in the community. We funded a total of 32 projects that delivered suicide prevention programmes and community mental health support.
One of these projects was Sporting Memories, a programme developed and delivered by Sussex Cricket Foundation Sporting Memories which brings people together to talk about great sporting moments and their own experiences of playing and enjoying sport. The group is open to all, but many members are older, are living with depression, are experiencing loneliness or are living with dementia.
The group is free to attend, but contributions towards the cost of tea, coffee and biscuits are welcomed. Members have access to events run by Sussex Cricket Foundation which are also free, with an option to make a contribution for those who feel able.
John shares his experience of Sporting Memories:
"I was first told about Sporting Memories through my son, Jonathan, who wanted me to go along because of my increasing loneliness since the death of my wife. At that time, the nearest group to me was in Worthing, which was not very convenient. However, the Chichester group was subsequently set up and I went along to one of their meetings and have now attended most weeks ever since, for over 15 months. It has been a Godsend to me.
"The group meets on Mondays between 10am and 11:30am and there are usually between 12 and 16 of us. We are an all-male group* from different backgrounds and, due to our common interest in Sport, get along with each other very well. Our ages range between mid-sixties to eighties and I am the oldest! Discussion within the meeting of non-sporting matters is discouraged! We have two leaders.
"We start with an informal discussion of Sports events that have taken place over the past week, which is brought to a close at about 11 am for coffee. During that time a 'spot the ball' photocopy is passed around for us to mark the spot and another 2 photos of sporting personalities from the past, for us to identify. The winner of 'Spot the ball' is adjudicated by the Chairman. After that we have a formal quiz and give or guess our answers until the correct one is given. This is followed by a series of past comments made by 4 sports personalities, where we have to name the people who made the comments. When this is over, there is a general discussion, and the meeting is usually wound up at about 11.45 p.m. The meetings are conducted in a very convivial atmosphere.
"We play live sports as a group from time to time, on Tuesdays, e.g. pitch and putt; 10 pin bowling; mini curling.
"We attend events which are arranged and funded by Sussex County Cricket Foundation e.g. first day of a county cricket match (including lunch and tea); Christmas lunch at the County ground; plus, an additional sporting event during the year. We pay a small contribution for some occasions.
I wholeheartedly endorse the group and would recommend it to anyone thinking of coming along. "
*Although the membership is currently all male, Sporting Memories Clubs are for men and women.
