Realising Potential – How Sports Psychology can challenge Homelessness

Join Dr Jennifer Cumming to find out how sports psychology techniques are being used to improve outcomes for young people experiencing homelessness or at risk.

Working with local housing charity St Basils, the team at The University of Birmingham has developed and implemented a mental skills training programme, My Strengths Training for Life™ (MST4Life™), which has improved well-being and increased employability outcomes for homeless young people. MST4Life™ has influenced policy and commissioning at local and national levels, and has been delivered to over 600 homeless young people with complex needs.

Dr Jennifer Cumming is a Chartered Psychologist and expert in developing the mental skills of athletes, exercisers, and dancers for improving performance and well-being. Originally from Montréal, Canada, Jennifer joined the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences (University of Birmingham) in 2002 after completing a PhD at the University of Western Ontario. As a competitive ice skater, she first became interested in sport psychology training and developed an appreciation for the mental side of sport. After further studies and gathering more than ten years of professional coaching experience, she now researches and lectures on the applied aspects of exercise and sport psychology.

“Homelessness is a huge societal challenge, not just for Birmingham but the whole of the UK. The MST4Life programme, developed in partnership with St Basils uses positive imagery to help young people imagine and realise their potential. We are seeing encouraging results from the programme, and now working with policy makers and practitioners to see how it might be rolled out further throughout the UK.” - Dr Jennifer Cumming