Community projects you're supporting

This year, your fundraising will support vital movement and mental wellbeing projects across UK communities. 

The National Academy for Social Prescribing

In partnership with The National Academy for Social Prescribing, this year your donations will support local projects that people can access through social prescribing.

Many things that affect our health can’t be treated by doctors or medicine alone - like loneliness, debt, or stress due to financial pressures or poor housing. Social prescribing connects people to non-medical support to address these issues and other unmet needs. Social prescribing often begins with a referral from a GP, hospital, charity or other organisation to a Social Prescribing Link Worker. The link workers work with each individual to understand their situation, and what matters to them, then ‘link’ that person to organisations and information that can help. 

Tracey Lines, National Lead for Physical Activity for NASP, said;

“The organisations that REDers will help fund provide physical activity programmes – including mental health swim programmes, therapeutic walking groups and gardening – that people can be referred to by Social Prescribing Link Workers and other health professionals. There is a clear need for people to be able to access high quality physical activity provision within their community to support them to live healthy, active lives. These amazing projects need support more than ever.”

Mental Health UK

We know that movement is just one part of supporting better mental health. That’s why from this year, we’re proud to be partnering with Mental Health UK, who challenge the causes of poor mental health and give people the tools they need to live their best possible life at home, school and work. They run programmes to target some of the biggest societal challenges to our mental health including a Mental Health & Money Advice service and an online peer support programme to help combat loneliness.

As community is at the heart of RED January, your fundraising efforts will support Mental Health UK’s online support groups, Clic, and their Mental Health and Money Advice service.

Tom O’Connor, Head of Programmes at Mental Health UK, said;

"At Mental Health UK, we understand that a shared sense of belonging and feeling connected to others  has a huge impact on our mental health and wellbeing. That's why we deliver services like Clic, to provide people who may be feeling isolated and alone with  a safe, supportive online community that supports everyone's mental health. Thank you to the RED January community for your fundraising efforts. Together, we can challenge the causes of poor mental health and provide people with the tools they need to live their best possible life".

[10% of funds raised during RED January 2024 will go to Mental Health UK]

Sport in Mind

During RED January 2024, funds will also be raised for Sport in Mind through our ongoing partnership with Decathlon UK. Decathlon customers can make a donation to Sport in Mind at tills throughout January, and 100% of profits from their official RED January merchandise goes directly to support Sport in Mind’s community projects. These include school workshops which educate young people about the benefits of movement for their mental wellbeing, mother and baby dance and movement sessions focussed on supporting mental health recovery, and guided allotment sessions, a wonderful way to get moving and keep connected.