Mental health inpatients will find it easier to reach their fitness goals thanks to a donation of sports equipment.

Sport England has made a £11,000 grant from its National Lottery income which has been shared among Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust’s (LPT’s) 19 inpatient mental health wards, including those at The Bradgate Mental Health Unit, the Herschel Prins Unit, The Willows (all Leicester), and Stewart House (Narborough).

It has gone on hula hoops, swingballs, and equipment for table tennis, cricket, football, bowls, and more.

Samantha Wood, head of service for mental health inpatients at LPT, said: “We are deeply grateful to Sport England for their generous donation of £11,000 towards this sports equipment. Access to physical activity is a vital part of recovery and wellbeing, and this support will allow our patients to experience the benefits of exercise in a safe and supportive environment.

“Alongside this, our patients benefit from a broad range of support including our dedicated physical health nursing team, GP, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, enhanced therapy garden space, smoking cessation services, and substance use workers.

“Together, these resources provide a holistic approach to care – helping patients reduce anxiety, build confidence, and foster social connection. This investment is not just in equipment. It is in hope, resilience, and the future health of our community.”

Our Meaningful Activities Coordinators have added sports sessions to ward timetables, giving patients something new and exciting to look forward to. These sessions encourage movement and social interaction, vital for recovery and wellbeing.

Here’s what some of our patients have said:

  • “Playing cricket on the ward has been brilliant – it gives us something fun to do together and lifts everyone’s spirits!”
  • “I love swingball! It’s simple but gets me outside and laughing again!”
  • “The table tennis has made such a difference. It helps me focus, gets me moving, and it’s great for socialising too!”

LPT’s inhouse charity, Raising Health, submitted the successful grant application. This is just one example of how Raising Health supports projects that go above and beyond NHS funding to improve patient care.

Find out more about the work Raising Health are doing here: www.raisinghealth.org.uk

Sport England is a public body and invests up to £300 million National Lottery and government money each year in projects and programmes that help people get active and play sport.

It wants everyone in England, regardless of age, background, or level of ability, to feel able to engage in sport and physical activity. That’s why a lot of its work is specifically focused on helping people who do no, or very little, physical activity and groups who are typically less active – like women, disabled people and people on lower incomes.