Mayor in £7m fitness drive to boost local economy

York and North Yorkshire Mayor David Skaith hopes encouraging exercise will help boost the local economy

Encouraging North Yorkshire residents to prioritise their physical and mental health will help boost the region's economy, the mayor has said.

York and North Yorkshire Mayor David Skaith has launched a campaign to help people keep fit - partly inspired by his own mental health challenges.

The Moving Forward scheme, backed by £7m of mayoral money, will see the combined authority work with county-wide charity North Yorkshire Sport, whose data indicates more than 175,000 people across the region are classed as inactive.

Skaith said investing in sport and mental health would help keep people in work, adding: "That keeps our economy going but takes the strain off our healthcare services as well."

Earlier this year, Skaith spoke about his struggles following the death of his father, as he backed plans to create a men's mental health task force.

He said he shut himself off after losing his father Bob in 2021, but said speaking about his feelings, sports and socialising helped him come to terms with his loss.

Launching the Moving Forward project, Skaith said: "We're bringing together movement, activity and sport, men's mental health and active travel."

He said the figures from North Yorkshire Sport - which suggested nearly two thirds of residents were overweight or obese - were "going in the wrong direction".

The mayor said North Yorkshire's size - it is England's largest county - could contribute to people feeling isolated and their mental health getting worse.

He added: "We know so many people have fallen out of work because of health challenges.

"So getting investment into sport, and also into helping with mental health, isn't just good for people's health and wellbeing, but it helps keep people in work."

Jack Woodhams, chief executive of York mental health charity Menfulness

In the run-up to the campaign launch, the mayor joined men's mental health charity Menfulness at one of its regular five-a-side football games in York.

Chief executive Jack Woodhams said the "social" sessions aimed to help players improve their skills and fitness in an atmosphere of "positive encouragement".

He said: "We think at Menfulness it's a bit of a myth that guys don't talk.

"Create the right environment - like football does - and it's a domino effect - one person talks then the rest talk.

"Guys start talking and they realise they're not alone.

"Don't man up, speak up - there's usually someone in the room that is going through something similar."

Neal Jackson outside Selby mental health charity The Big Communi-Tea

Neal Jackson, a client of Selby mental health charity The Big Communi-Tea, said cycling was "my entire life" until he suffered a serious stroke.

Mr Jackson said the stroke left him unable to ride a standard bicycle, but - after months of practice - he was now riding a specially adapted racing trike.

Mr Jackson welcomed the mayor's campaign, saying he supported anything that broke down the barriers for people wanting to be fit and active.

He said: "It's absolutely fantastic to be riding again.

"Not being able to do it destroyed my mental health.

"This is a massive thing, because physical activity, especially cycling, is really good for the mental situation.

"It builds up fitness which is very important, particularly if you're disabled, as you need to be as fit as you possibly can."

Ricky Morton, also a client at Communi-Tea, said he had found it "difficult" to find work because of his epilepsy.

He said: "They just see that word 'epilepsy' and it's like they can't see past it.

"It made me very depressed, I was more or less written off because of my disability.

"Getting back into work would make a radical difference.

"I'd feel more pride in myself, other people might have a more positive opinion of me.

"I'd like to see more group activities and more activities with potential employers, letting them know we're here and we're capable. We're not a write-off."

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