Reducing health inequalities for people with severe mental illness in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin

News from our partners at Shropshire Council

Key health, public and charity sector organisations across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin (STW) have come together to help reduce health inequalities for those living with a Severe Mental Illness (SMI).

The Wellbeing, Belonging and Moving for Mental Health Project represents a collaborative effort to address the physical and mental health needs of adults living with SMI.

Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (MPFT) is working in partnership with Energize Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, Shropshire Council, Telford & Wrekin Council and Telford Mind, to utilise the expertise, resources, and networks of each partner to create inclusive, safe, and supportive environments where individuals can engage in a range of free tailored physical activity sessions that promote both physical health and mental wellbeing.

Supporting the 10 Year Plan for the NHS in its key ‘shift’ of moving care from hospital to community, the project follows the success of a previous scheme delivered by MPFT’s Adult Community Mental Health (CMH) Service in Shropshire to support service users with an SMI to become active by providing regular opportunities to receive coaching and play tennis.

Claire Parrish, CMH Service Manager, explains: “The tennis sessions we delivered last year were a great success. They offered a fantastic opportunity for our service users to try a sport that they may not have had access to previously with no commitment or costs to them and in a no pressure environment. We saw service users improve their physical health, fitness and mental state.

“People with an SMI who are prescribed antipsychotic medication are likely to have a life expectancy of 15-20 years less than those who aren’t. They are prone to high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and cholesterol, cancer and liver disease, and we know from population health data that Shropshire and Telford have some of the highest incidence of deaths related to these, so it’s really important that local services come together to address this and support people with SMI to stay healthy. We are committed to improving the lives of our SMI population and are excited to be working with our project partners to reduce health inequalities.”

The project will also provide a sense of belonging for individuals living with SMI by developing a sense of community; by connecting with peers who share similar experiences and interests, participants will feel valued, supported, and included, reducing feelings of isolation and loneliness.

The clubs and organisations facilitating activities will receive training to increase awareness and understanding of mental health issues among their staff and volunteers, enabling them to better support participants with SMI, creating more inclusive and welcoming environments for individuals to engage in physical activity.

The sessions are available now and will continue into 2026:

• Tennis – Thursday, 9.30am – 11am, Oakengates Leisure Centre, Telford.
• Football – Tuesday, 10.30am – 12pm, AFC Telford United, SEAH Stadium and Monday, 12pm – 2pm, Shrewsbury Town Foundation, The Croud Meadow.
• Gentle exercise group – Wednesday, 2.30pm – 4pm, Hadley Community Centre, Telford.
• Multi-sports – Tuesday, 2pm – 3.30pm, Harlescott Grange Community Hub, Shrewsbury.

Registration is for patients who are 18+, considered to have an SMI (prescribed antipsychotic or mood stabilising medication) and registered with a GP in STW, via email: ActivitiesSMIPH@mpft.nhs.uk.

Michelle Pullen, empowering communities manager at Energize STW, said: “We’re really pleased to be part of this project. Our focus is on supporting communities who face the biggest barriers to getting active and making sure they have opportunities to take part. Being active is such a powerful tool — it helps our physical and mental health, and it’s also about fun, connection, and community. The providers we’re working with are very passionate about supporting this group, and it’s been such a positive, collaborative project for the benefit of everyone involved.”

Councillor James Owen, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for leisure and housing, said: “The council is excited to be part of this project, however it could not be delivered without the support from Telford and Wrekin Council, Midlands Partnership Foundation Trust, Energize and the project providers who are delivering sport and physical activity sessions across Shropshire. The benefits of being physically active are well documented so it’s good to see this project is targeted at people with an SMI who may not have access to regular activity sessions.”