With the Autumn upon us and a festive season forecasted to be a very different experience for everyone this year, mental health charity Dorset Mind are encouraging people to start planning a positive start to 2021.

‘Move Your Mind,’ is a new and exciting challenge due to take place in January 2021 aiming to encourage people to start the New Year by getting active and completing at least 30 minutes of any form of physical activity every day throughout the month.

Events and Fundraising Coordinator for Dorset Mind Hannah Garrett said: “Here at Dorset Mind we know that regular physical activity has positive benefits on mental health. It can help to manage stress levels, reduce anxiety and make you feel happier.

“We wanted to create an activity-based event that was made for the people, by the people, and ‘Move Your Mind’ has had the community at the heart of it since the beginning when we created a focus group to shape the campaign.

“Anyone can take part in any location, which makes it the perfect challenge in such uncertain times. And for our charity, this will raise vital donations which will enable us to deliver support locally to people that need it.”

This challenge is open to individuals, teams, schools and businesses and people can get active in any way they want, making it suitable for anyone who wants to plan a positive start to the year with a change in their usual routine or with a bigger challenge for themselves or a team.

This year has seen a strong community feel as people pulled together through the Covid-19 pandemic. It’s this ‘togetherness’ that ‘Move Your Mind’ hopes to continue by encouraging people to sign up together and help each other through the notoriously tough first month of the year.

CEO of Dorset Mind Marianne Storey added: “Getting active, connecting, learning, taking notice and giving back are the 5 Ways to Wellbeing that were researched and developed by the New Economics Foundation.

“Taking part in ‘Move Your Mind‘ is a fun way to follow these evidence-based steps and improve your mental wellbeing. Getting active also gives people opportunities to connect with others taking part.

“We hope people will enjoy learning new ideas to increase their fitness whilst fundraising for local mental health. By practicing the 5 Ways to Wellbeing, we hope our participants will feel happier and notice an improved mental and physical health too.”

Registration for ‘Move Your Mind’ started on Tuesday October 27. Everyone that signs up will receive a digital information pack that includes plenty of information and guidance to help you to get started, exercise safely and fundraise for Dorset Mind.

Participants will also be encouraged to join a private Facebook community group to share their stories, efforts and progress – which will also help encourage and inspire other people taking part.

If you want to get active and take part in the challenge, visit the Dorset Mind website at https://dorsetmind.uk/move-your-mind/.