Sport in Mind

Sport in Mind were looking for delivery partners for their Waterside Event to mark and celebrate Mental Health Awareness Week June 2025. Sport in Mind are a charity whose values are based in the power of sport, movement and connection to improve people’s mental health at all stages of life.

The charity started locally in Berkshire and has strong links to The Goring Gap Boat Club.

Together with Sport in Mind and the team at the Boat Club, we created a fully inclusive day of paddleboarding and rowing on the River Thames.

"When seeking a delivery partner for one of our key Sport in Mind participant events, to mark & celebrate Mental Health Awareness Week 2025, The SUP Life aligned not only geographically with our Waterside Festival at Goring Gap Boat Club but also in purpose & values. The messaging on their website 'SUP (Stand Up Paddle boarding) is a really fun and inclusive way that people of all abilities can enjoy the beautiful waterways we have here in the UK…..We’re passionate about physical and mental wellbeing, and paddle boarding is an awesome antidote to the hectic lives we all seem to lead these days' aligned well with the mission & purpose of our charity" Kirsty Bowden, Senior Development Officer, Sport in Mind

On the day of the event, SUP Instructors Jodie, Lorraine & Harry arrived at the Boat Club and set up all the paddleboards, paddles and buoyancy aids and ran through our onsite safety checks. After a briefing with the teams from Sport in Mind and the Boat Club, everything was ready to welcome our participants.

There was some trepidation, lots of nervous pontoon chat & many smiles as people took to the water.  Some preferred to stay on land, watching the action and enjoying the peace and quiet of sitting in nature by the river. Others quite literally threw themselves into it, returning drenched and exhilarated. The beauty of this event was the total lack of judgement and pressure, with everyone gently invited to participate in a way which was right for them on that day.

“The care, compassion & fun brought by the SUP Life instructors provided the perfect environment for our participants to try the activity, often for the very first time. They were patient with people who were understandably nervous, offered support, encouragement & celebrated with our participants!”  Kirsty Bowden, Sport in Mind

Not wanting to be left out, The Sport in Mind Team asked us back in September to host a day for their own team.  And of course – we jumped the chance!

“A wonderful team building activity. And a chance for us to live & breath what we spend our working time creating for others! We’re looking forward to collaborating with The SUP Life for years to come!” Kirsty Bowden, Sport in Mind

The SUP Life create unique paddleboard experiences for you and your team. If you'd like to find out more, call us on 0118 207 2482 or email hello@thesuplife.co.uk