Minds Collective Football: A community-based program supporting people in their mental health recovery
Help us kick on. Minds Collective Football needs your support.
Minds Collective Football is a community-based sport and well-being program supporting people in their mental health recovery, through movement, connection, and peer-support.
Run by social enterprise Collective Leisure, this program is more than just a kickabout - it provides a supportive, inclusive space for people living with complex mental health challenges to engage in social sport tailored to their needs. All participants are referred through trusted mental health organisations.
The Challenge
Our Sydney pilot has been running on heart, commitment, and in recent months, volunteer effort delivered by Collective Leisure’s CEO David Burns. The program is currently running without funding, and without immediate support, we face the risk of pausing just as momentum is building. We don’t want to stop. The community doesn’t want us to stop.
Why This Matters
One in five Australians experience mental ill-health each year. Many face social isolation, stigma, financial constraints, and a lack of safe spaces to connect. While there is strong evidence that physical activity supports mental health recovery, by improving mood, reducing distress, and fostering social connection, access to tailored programs that meet people’s needs remains limited. Minds Collective Football helps fill this gap by providing a safe, welcoming, and non-judgemental space where individuals can participate on their own terms, supported by coaching staff who understand mental health.
Since launching we have delivered 42 weekly sessions with improvement in participants psychological distress and increase in connection, fitness and of course ball skills.
What We’re Raising Funds For
Your support will help us:
- Continue our free weekly program
- Train local football coaches and volunteers in Mental Health First Aid to build community capacity
- Lay the foundations for Australia’s first football league for people in mental health recovery
How You Can Help
We’re aiming to raise $12,000 to continue and grow the program. This will cover:
- Coaching and program delivery
- Venue hire
- Mental Health First Aid training
This is an ALL-OR-NOTHING campaign. We only receive the funds if we hit our target.
Every dollar gets us closer to kicking goals for mental health. And every share helps us reach someone who cares.
Partners
- Our research partner, UTS is evaluating the impact
- Boots and socks, Thread Together is providing equipment
- Referral Partners, we have over 25 referral partners including but not limited to Mission Australia, Bondi Junction Mental Health Centre, St George Community Mental Health, Breakthru, Maroubra Community Mental Health, Croydon Community Mental Health Team, Flourish Australia, Marrickville Community Mental Health Team, Euroa Community Mental Health, Merrylands Community Health Centre, Mattraville Community Mental Health Centre, Ryde Community Mental Health Centre, Onedoor, The Wayback Support Service, St Vincent's Hospital Community Mental Health, Camperdown Community Mental Health Service
Let’s Build This Together,
Help us show that community sport can be a powerful force for mental health recovery.
Who We Are
Collective Leisure is a certified social enterprise, proudly recognised as a “business for good” by the Australian regulator Social Traders and internationally accredited with the People and Planet First certification.
Our mission is to reduce health inequity through innovative programs that promote physical activity and well-being, tailored to underserved communities. These include:
- Assisting individuals in their mental health recovery
- Reducing social isolation and loneliness among seniors
- Supporting people with disabilities
- Delivering culturally responsive programs
As a Work Integration Social Enterprise (WISE), we are committed to creating meaningful training and employment opportunities for young people from refugee backgrounds in the sport and leisure sector.
