Wellbeing Toolkit
YOUR WELLBEING TOOLKIT
We all have mental health and some of us have mental health problems.
If you’re feeling low, there maybe something small you can do to improve how you feel.
We know that 75% of players, and 73% of volunteers, agree that boccia improves their mental wellbeing (Big Boccia Survey 2021) and can play a key role in helping individuals to feel better.
We want our players and volunteers to feel as supported as possible so we are creating a Wellbeing Toolkit, bringing together a range of resources, that we hope you will find useful.
A good place to start
This self-assessment helps you better understand how you’ve been feeling over the last fortnight, and points you in the right direction for helpful advice and information on anxiety and depression.
Wellbeing action plans are a simple and practical way to help you to support your own wellbeing or the wellbeing of your members. We have a brief template you can use, or create your own
Action Plan Template – Editable PDF
Action Plan Template – Downloadable PDF
Your Mind Plan (NHS)
Answer 5 questions to get top tips and tailored advice that work for you
Try our plan to boost your wellbeing today – and make sure to email it for quick access and to easily swap in new ideas.
1. Connect with People
Social relationships are critical for promoting wellbeing and for acting as a buffer against mental ill health for people of all ages. Try to do something different when you’re at your next club session or competition and make a connection.
- Speak to someone new
- Ask how someone’s session or competition is going and really listen when they tell you
- Put five minutes aside to find out how someone really is
2. Be active
Regular physical activity is associated with lower rates of depression and anxiety across all age groups. Exercise is essential for slowing age-related cognitive decline and for promoting well-being. It doesn’t need to be intense for you to feel good. This week, why not play some boccia:
- Attend a club session
- Enter a boccia competition
- Set up an activity at home to practice some skills
3. Take Notice
Being aware of what is taking place in the present enhances your well-being and savouring ‘the moment’ can help to reaffirm life priorities. Take some time to enjoy the moment and the environment around you. Here are a few ideas:
- Take notice of how players and volunteers in the club are feeling or acting
- Listen to the noise of boccia balls landing as people play
- Watch coaches and players interacting and enjoying the benefits of boccia
4. Keep Learning
Continued learning through life enhances self-esteem and encourages social interaction and a more
active life. Why not learn something new today? Here are a few more ideas:
- Find out something about boccia players and volunteers in your club
- Sign up to a Boccia England webinar or course
- Research something about boccia you’ve always wondered about
- Ask a coach or official to develop your skills or knowledge in boccia
5. Give
Individuals who report a greater interest in helping others are more likely to rate themselves as happy. Committing an act of kindness
once a week over a six-week period is associated with an increase in wellbeing.
Why not help at your club or provide support to a new member. Or consider volunteering at an upcoming Boccia England competition.
Many people experiencing a mental health problem will speak to friends and family, so the support you offer can be really valuable.
Mind offers a range of great advice about what emotional and practical support you can offer, as well as what you can do if someone doesn’t want your help.
Please visit their pages and don’t forget to look after yourself too.
Here are contact details of experts who can support mental health and wellbeing:
Mind
Mind provides confidential mental health information services. With support and understanding, Mind enables people to make informed choices. The Infoline gives information on types of mental distress, where to get help, drug treatments, alternative therapies and advocacy. Mind also has a network of nearly 200 local Mind associations providing local services
Telephone: 0300 123 3393 (9am5pm Monday to Friday)
Email: info@mind.org.uk
Website: www.mind.org.uk/help/advice_lines
Headspace
Free access to some of the Headspace app. It includes meditations, sleep, and movement exercises to help you out, however you’re feeling. It’s our small way of helping you find some space and kindness for yourself and those around you.
Click here for more information.
Samaritans
Provides confidential, non-judgmental emotional support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those that could lead to suicide. You can phone, email, write a letter or in most cases talk to someone face to face.
Telephone: 116 123 (24 hours a day, free to call)
Email: jo@samaritans.org
Website: www.samaritans.org
ChildLine
ChildLine is a private and confidential service for children and young people up to the age of nineteen. You can contact a ChildLine counsellor for free about anything no problem is too big or too small.
Telephone: 0800 1111
Email: www.childline.org.uk/Talk/Pages/Email.aspx
Website: www.childline.org.uk
Tips to Improve Your Wellbeing
Get Active!
Wheelpower host three free, live Zoom classes each week. Sign up now. You can attend with your camera turned off if you prefer and also watch videos instead of attending the classes.
Wheelpower offer a free set of resistance bands to any physically disabled person. The set includes hand grips, ankle straps and a door anchor.
And to help you when you receive your free bands, Wheelpower have also created a range of resistance band exercise videos.
NHS Top Tips to Improve Mental Wellbeing
We all need good mental health and wellbeing – it’s essential to living happy and healthy lives. Here are 7 areas of life where simple changes can make a big difference. Why not start today?
NHS mental wellbeing audio guides
On this page you can listen to a series of mental wellbeing audio guides to help you boost your mood. You can listen to them privately, in your own time, to help you through feelings such as anxiety or a low mood.
Mind’s self-care battery
As with a battery, there are things that may help us recharge our wellbeing. The tool below is a helpful exercise to explore what might be draining your inner battery and some new ideas to rechrage.
Mind – Money and Mental Health
Poor mental health can make earning and managing money harder. And worrying about money can make your mental health worse. It can start to feel like a vicious cycle. Click on the link below for advice from Mind about organising your finances, claiming benefits when you have a mental health problem, dealing with services, and looking after your mental health when you’re worried about money.
Mind – Claiming Benefits
We know that it can sometimes be hard to access the right benefits. Click the link below to view information from Mind on filling out forms, benefits assessments, and where to find out more.
The Positive IMPACT OF BOccia
Wheelpower host three free, live Zoom classes each week. Sign up now. You can attend with your camera turned off if you prefer and also watch videos instead of attending the classes.
Craig's Story
Sheila's Story
Vaibhav's Story
Roxanne's Story
(content warning: suicide is mentioned within this film)