A new inclusion project based in north London aims to help LGBT+ people with both their physical and mental wellbeing…
By Lizzie Hughes
RainbowSports@Mind is part of Outcome, the pan-London LGBTQ+ provision of Islington Mind.
We provide a therapeutic drop-in space every Tuesday, and are open to LGBTQ+ asylum seekers and refugees on Wednesdays.
RainbowSports@Mind utilises accessible physical activity and sport to improve mental health and wellbeing. We connect with local community centres and parks to create safe and supportive LGBTQ+-only environments wherein individuals can enjoy the benefits of sport whilst also being supported.
It’s also a really important goal of ours to improve the perception of sport amongst our clients: a lot of LGBTQ+ people can feel alienated by mainstream sport, and this is especially true for individuals who identify as non-binary or trans who feel that the gendered nature of sport can be exclusionary.
Thus, we want to integrate LGBTQ+ people into local sport groups etc., so that they continue to feel the benefits of being active outside of our groups.
The project began in November 2019. At the moment, we offer a variety of physical activities, including a walking group, yoga, QiGong, Stretch’n’Sing, gardening, football, and dance groups. In the near future, we will host cricket, badminton, tennis, and boxing sessions.
For further details about RainbowSports@Mind and/or Outcome, including referrals, activities and/or if you would like to help with this project, please contact us on 020 7272 5038 (Tuesdays only) or email sigal.avni@islingtonmind.org.uk
Or find out more information on our website – https://www.islingtonmind.org.uk/our-services/outcome/