Content warning: mental health, self-harm, eating disorders.

Throughout Roses Unlocked (both before, during and after) it is the aim for York Sport Union to raise as much money as possible for York Mind to really support the work they carry out. It is our hope that this will build a strong relationship with the charity so that we can look to partner with them in future to provide other fundraising efforts as well as the opportunity for the charity to showcase their work on the University of York campus.

This year we will be carrying forward the system from Roses Online 2020 where clubs are able to fundraise for other charities. Whilst York Mind are an amazing charity which we hope everyone will join in supporting, we are aware that hundreds of other amazing mental health causes exists, some which sit very closely to the hearts of individual clubs.

The big question is, Why though? Why should we, sports teams in York, fundraise to help individuals who are struggling with their mental health? Around 60% of individuals' mental health worsened throughout the last year. In addition individuals became less common to access support through a feeling of un-entitlement. In York terms this means:

-There are 67 sports clubs in York, 40 clubs worth of members have had increased negative mental health due to the pandemic.

-In a 5-a-side football game 3/10 players don't think they're entitled to support with their mental health (regardless of whether it is good or bad).

-Socially isolated and lonely, without exercise and sport as a form of release, around 2/9 of the individuals who will take part in Roses Unlocked 2021 turned to over-eating, under-eating, alcohol and substance misuse and self-harm over the past year.

That is why fundraising for mental health charities is important this year - together we can help our teammates get support they need from charities like Mind, Student Minds, BEAT, The Hut and all the other wonderful organisations that exist.

This Roses, think about the ways you can help your teammates and consider donating to a mental health charity.