My mission is to help organisations create inclusive, supportive environments for people experiencing mental health challenges. I’m passionate about enabling more people to find connection and understanding through physical activity, I champion peer support and mental health awareness to help make physical activity spaces feel welcoming, safe, and supportive.

I was previously the Founder and Managing Director of Mental Health Swims, an award-winning peer support community that created inclusive, low-barrier pathways into physical activity for people experiencing mental health challenges. Through this work, I developed a deep understanding of the physical activity and mental health landscape, and how systems, services, and communities can work together more effectively.

Under my leadership, Mental Health Swims grew from a single outdoor swimming group in Swansea into a nationally recognised movement. Over six years, we trained hundreds of volunteers and established more than 100 swim groups across the UK, supporting thousands of participants with lived experience of mental health challenges. Our Swim Together sessions opened up access to wellbeing-focused swimming in indoor leisure centre settings, particularly for people referred through social prescribing routes and in collaboration with healthcare professionals.

I worked closely with Swim England and a wide range of leisure providers to embed mental health-informed practice across the UK, and I sit on Mind’s Mental Health and Movement Alliance, contributing to the sharing of best practice nationally. My experience of working with statutory and third-sector organisations, combined with my lived experience of mental health recovery, gives me a unique perspective on how to design inclusive, compassionate, and effective physical activity pathways.

I was awarded an MBE in 2024, received a Prime Minister’s Points of Light Award, and won the Inspiring Individual Head Outside Award in 2022. I have written for Mind and Therapy Today, and my work has been featured by The New York Times, BBC World Service, Happiful, and Stylist.

Hi, I’m Rachel!

Recommendations

I had the pleasure of working closely with Rachel through the Swim Together project, where her passion for mental health, inclusion and the power of physical activity was evident in everything she did. Rachel has an exceptional ability to create safe, welcoming spaces that enable people to connect, move and improve their wellbeing. Her collaborative approach, professionalism and genuine care for communities made our partnership both impactful and enjoyable. All my team were inspired by her vision, kindness and creativity. She brings clarity, warmth and credibility to the mental health and physical activity space, and I would wholeheartedly recommend her to any organisation seeking meaningful, people-centred change
- Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi - GP, Lifestyle & Physical Activity Lead, RCGP

I’ve had the pleasure of working with Rachel since 2021, and throughout that time she has made an outstanding contribution to raising awareness of, and improving access to, physical activity as a way to support mental health. Through founding Mental Health Swims and leading its growth across the UK, Rachel has helped create safe, compassionate spaces where people feel seen, supported and able to connect through movement.
Rachel is an authentic, humble and deeply compassionate leader, bringing both professional expertise and lived experience to everything she does. It has been a real privilege to work alongside her on initiatives including the Mental Health and Movement Alliance, the development of the Safe and Effective Practice guidance for physical activity, contributions to CIMSPA’s professional standards, and global campaigns such as our work with ASICS’ New Personal Best, where Rachel shared her story with honesty and courage. Her integrity, empathy and commitment to improving mental health through physical activity shine through in all her work, and I wholeheartedly recommend her.
- Hayley Jarvis, Head of Physical Activity, Mind

I first met Rachel soon after starting as CEO at Swim England in February 2024. It quickly became obvious to me that this was one of the most people-centred and deeply caring individuals I have ever met. Her passion and drive in setting up Mental Health Swims, entirely for the benefit of others, has been remarkable. So much so, when the opportunity arose to become a non-executive director, I jumped at it. I have learned a great deal from Rachel in a short space of time and I would recommend her wholeheartedly to any organisation seeking a professional with deep expertise and lived experience in the role of being physically active in improving mental health.
- Andy Salmon - CEO Swim England