A MENTAL health charity is urging Dorset residents to get involved in a new fitness challenge to 'Move Your Mind'.

Dorset Mind has launched its 'Move Your Mind' campaign, encouraging people to have a positive start to the new year by getting active and completing at least 30 minutes of any form of physical activity every day throughout January 2021.

The charity says that taking part in some form of physical movement every day will improve people's mental wellbeing at a time when many people often experience the 'January Blues'.

Hannah Garrett, events and fundraising coordinator for Dorset Mind said: "Here at Dorset Mind we know that regular physical activity has positive benefits on mental health. It can help to manage stress levels, reduce anxiety and make you feel happier.

"We wanted to create an activity-based event that was made for the people, by the people, and ‘Move Your Mind’ has had the community at the heart of it since the beginning when we created a focus group to shape the campaign.

"Our hope is that by signing up, participants will encourage each other to become more active and therefore more mentally healthy. It also gives Dorset Mind a great opportunity to run a fundraising event that shouldn’t be affected by lockdown restrictions. Anyone can take part in any location, which makes it the perfect challenge in such uncertain times. And for our charity, this will raise vital donations which will enable us to deliver support locally to people that need it."

Marianne Storey, chief executive of Dorset Mind, said: "Getting active, connecting, learning, taking notice and giving back are the 5 Ways to Wellbeing that were researched and developed by the New Economics Foundation. Taking part in ‘Move Your Mind ‘is a fun way to follow these evidence-based steps and improve your mental wellbeing. Getting active also gives people opportunities to connect with others taking part. We hope people will enjoy learning new ideas to increase their fitness whilst fundraising for local mental health."

Dr Andy Mayers, patron for Dorset Mind and principal academic at Bournemouth University, said: "I am delighted to see how this important campaign will address both physical and mental health. We know that January can be a challenging time and may be more so this year following what is likely to be an unusual Christmas. Getting active is so important to maintain wellbeing. Yet again, Dorset Mind is leading from the front to help promote good mental health in the community right across Dorset. This campaign ticks so many boxes by raising awareness about mental health, generating more income for Dorset Mind to provide services, and helping us all keep healthy."

If you want to take part in the challenge, visit dorsetmind.uk/move-your-mind/ on October 31 when registration goes live.