The Mental Health Game Changer: Why Donorfy Champions Sport in Mind

Mental health challenges affect one in four people in the UK.  

Since 2010, Sport in Mind has transformed the lives of over 31,000 of those people, championing the benefits of physical activity and making sport accessible to all. They’re revolutionising mental health recovery and education, while proving that sport can be a powerful part of overcoming mental health challenges.  

Working hand-in-hand with the NHS, the team creates communities where everyone belongs. Their programmes span football sessions for people experiencing anxiety to cycling groups for those managing depression. Each activity is designed with therapeutic outcomes in mind, delivered by trained staff who understand both sport and mental health. 

Operational innovation  

But what struck us most was, at the root of the changes they wanted to make, their genuine care for supporters. They weren't just looking for something that would make their lives easier, but for something that would help them make sure every single supporter feels valued – because they are. 

Supporter Care Manager Aysha Naziri captures this perfectly:  

"It was hard to track engagement or follow-ups, and opportunities to deepen relationships were sometimes missed. Our supporters mean everything to us, so we needed a system to centralise everything, give us better visibility and enable us to give everyone the best experience we can.” 

It’s not just about efficiency; it’s about ensuring that no supporter falls through the cracks. They understand that their supporters enable the life-changing work they deliver, and they're committed to treating supporters with the care and attention they deserve. 

Their recent management of the London Landmarks Half Marathon exemplifies this transformation, what was once scattered spreadsheets is now a streamlined process that benefits everyone. Aysha particularly values Donorfy’s supporter timeline feature to help with this: "Seeing a complete history of someone's interaction with us in one place is a game changer. Tagging and segmentation are also great."  

This comprehensive view enables truly personalised supporter stewardship that strengthens long-term relationships. 

What’s not to love? 

Sport in Mind's programmes create environments where mental health conversations happen naturally, reducing shame and isolation that prevent people seeking help. 

Participants often describe their programmes as the first place they've felt understood without having to explain their mental health challenges. This peer support extends beyond organised sessions, creating lasting friendships and support systems that sustain recovery. They bridge the gap between medical intervention and social support, creating pathways for people who might not engage with traditional mental health services. 

From our perspective as a technology partner, they represent the very best of what charities can do with the help of purpose-built technology. Their investment in proper supporter management infrastructure reflects understanding that sustainable impact needs professional operations. 

Support Sport in Mind 

Giving to Sport in Mind means you’re backing a charity that's proven sport really can change lives, and one that cares about you, as much as they care about their mission. 

Your support can enable a passionate team to expand their proven model across the UK. Every donation helps fund new programmes, train additional staff and develop partnerships necessary to embed sport-based mental health support within existing health systems. But nobody can say how much your support means more than the people they’ve helped: 

“Sport in Mind sessions helped me remember how to have fun, enjoy myself and not worry about every little thing. I attended for over a year, and they gave me the positive focus I’d been missing, helping me rebuild my self-esteem and realise that life was still worth living.” 

Guest blog by Lisa Newhouse, Content Manager at Donorfy