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Play Their Way backs Youth Social Prescribing to tackle mental health crisis through child-first coaching

kids soccer team in huddle

On National Social Prescribing Day, StreetGames as part of the Play Their Way campaign are recognising the role of coaches delivering socially prescribed activity to support the mental, physical, and emotional health of young people – amid a concerning increase of poor mental health and growing waiting lists for mental health services.

StreetGames, are part of the 17-strong Children’s Coaching Collaborative – a collective of like-minded organisations, who want to create a nation of child-first coaches.

Child-first coaching, where coaches focus on championing every child’s voice, choice and journey in sport and physical activity, aims to ensure positive experiences for every young person through the people who know them best – their coaches.  The approach is seen as critical to increasing enjoyment levels for all children and young people and helping them stay active for life but has particular benefits for young people experiencing poor mental health.