Get Moving and dance!

Sophie Mei of Britain's Got Talent fame, wows the Get Moving crowd

In 2009 Time to Change got 27,000 people active to challenge stigma and discrimination during Get Moving week (3 to 11 October). Events were held all over the country, ranging from yoga, caving and historical walks to conservation, football tournaments, wellbeing festivals and much more. 

It started with a kick .  . .

Get Moving supporters, chef Gordon Ramsey and cricketer Alec Stewart, headed to Chelsea's Stamford Bridge to launch the week and presented a trophy to the winning team of Hammersmith and Fulham Mind's Get Moving 5-a-side tournament.

Also hot off the blocks to challenge the stigma surrounding mental health was sporting legend Sally Gunnell, who joined in dance lessons with Carlisle Mind, while football hero Bobby Charlton spoke to Blackpool residents about his experiences of mental distress.

Later in the week, a new report entitled Leveling the Playing Field was launched to acknowledge the role of sports people, including Dame Kelly Holmes and Ronnie O'Sullivan, in helping to change public preconceptions about mental health.

Get Moving and dance!

World Mental Health Day (10 October) was marked by Get Moving with events all over England, including Get Moving appearances on the BBC Headroom stages at Hull, Norwich, Portsmouth, and Waltham Forest and Get Moving and Dance, a free public dance festival at London's Regent's Park where hundreds of people flocked to the outdoor dance floors to learn new moves and meet lots of new smiling faces.

The crowd gets moving to the Natyafunk workshop On the main stage, Dave Benson Phillips entertained everyone as he undertook an impromptu dance lesson with Britain's Got Talent's Sophie Mei, while choreographers teaching everything from Ceroc to MJ's Thriller, got the huge crowds active to help boost their mental wellbeing. At the end of the day everyone was treated to a sneak preview of material from the new album from classic band Blake.


Get Moving and Dance was one of hundreds of events taking place all over the country for Get Moving Week 2009 and 2010 looks set to be even bigger! Find out how you can get involved.