Christians Against Poverty - Monthly Advice Column - MAY 2023

By Christians Against Poverty on 16/05/2023

Miles Picknell

 Manager of the Christians Against Poverty Debt Centre, 

 Upminster

Five ways your sports community can improve mental health and money troubles

National Sports Sunday, facilitated by Sports Chaplaincy UK, is taking place on Sunday 14 May. To mark the event, Christians Against Poverty (CAP) is celebrating our local sports teams and individual sporting athletes whilst raising awareness of the link between mental health and debt.

There’s a great community spirit at many sports clubs, but there isn’t always a focus on or opportunities to talk openly about everyday issues that impact us. Here are five ways to improve life for people in your sporting community.

1. Open up a conversation with a teammate or someone you know. Starting a conversation doesn’t mean that you’re offering to counsel them through all their deepest secrets and fears, it can simply mean checking in with someone and letting them know you are around to chat.

1. Seek free professional help if you are struggling with a particular issue. If you or a friend is struggling with their mental health, gambling, alcohol or substance abuse, there's free help available, including Mind, GamCare, AA or UKNA. If you have debt or money issues, contact a free, reputable debt advice organisation such as CAP at capuk.org.

1. If you’re looking for something in between those two options, try chatting with your sports coach or club chaplain if they have one. A coach’s role includes supporting their athletes to receive mental healthcare, and sport chaplains offer a confidential space to chat, down-to-earth with no airs or graces, and no expectations.
    
2. Consider going on a budgeting course. Sport is an amazing thing to be involved in, but it can be costly. It's important that we’re able to budget well so we can continue to enjoy our hobby without getting into financial difficulty. CAP offers free money coaching in local communities like yours.
   
   
    
3. Make encouragement part of your routine. In competitive environments, it’s easy to default to a critical mindset – whether the criticism is aimed towards others or yourself. Make a point this week to encourage a teammate, cheer that runner on, or even give a shout-out to a fellow sports person on social media. Give yourself the praise you deserve too. Small positive encouragements can make a real difference to a person’s mental wellbeing.

Christians Against Poverty (CAP) is a UK charity working with over 580 churches to deliver debt help, budgeting guidance, support to find work, life skills groups and more. Visit capuk.org to find out more.

Sports Chaplaincy UK (SCUK) is a UK charity supporting over 700 chaplains pastorally supporting the community of sport. Visit sportschaplaincy.org.uk to find out more.