Students on the Year 2 Travel and Tourism BTEC diploma, have organised a charity event, Kind Minds, that will take place this Sunday [May 15], to raise money for Sunderland Mind. The charity works to provide confidential support for people in their city, their carers and families who are experiencing emotional or mental health problems.
The event, which the students have worked on in their own time, will provide taster sessions of popular fitness classes like zumba and karate, as well as fitness classes for children aged 18 months to 11 years to encourage them to get fit and active. The organisers hope that by raising participation in sport, they can play a role in improving mental health in the city.
Laura Tomlin, who is in her second year of her travel and tourism course, said: “We are delighted to be able to do something to support Sunderland Mind, because it is a charity we know makes a huge difference to lots of people’s lives.
“Being active is one way of improving mental health, and that is the message that we really hope people who attend the event will take away from it. There is something for everyone, with fitness classes, carnival games and messy play for little ones, and the more people who come along, the more money we can make for a charity that is so important to so many people in our city.”
The event takes place between 10am and 4pm on Sunday at the college’s Bede Campus.
Sunderland College principal and chief executive, Ellen Thinnesen, said: “It’s fantastic to see the students doing something so incredibly positive, and that will benefit the Sunderland community.
“A key part of our programme at the college is focused on creating responsible young adults, who can play an active role in their communities, and to see them doing so while they still have the pressure of their studies to deal with, really does serve to prove how hardworking they are.”