Support the Gratitude Games, highlighting the mental health struggles of emergency responders

The Gratitude Games is coming to Manchester in June 2026!  Supported by Manchester City Council, it is a new major sporting event aiming to put the mental health of emergency responders at the centre of public attention and spark a national conversation about the issue.

The Gratitude Games will take place for the first time from 5–14 June 2026 and will bring together emergency responders from the police, fire, ambulance, the prison and probation service, NHS and the various emergency services organisations – 17 in all – to compete across 11 sports, from archery to trail running and cycling.

The aim is to raise awareness of the pressures responders experience and fund specialist support services. The UK’s emergency responders operate in some of the most demanding environments imaginable and this work can have a serious impact on their mental health. Sixty-six per cent of fire service personnel and 70% of police officers have grappled with mental health issues, according to research from the charity, Mind. For ambulance workers, this figure rises to 76%.

Meanwhile, anxiety, stress, depression and other psychiatric illnesses were the most reported reasons for sickness in the NHS, accounting for more than 610,500 full time equivalent days lost and 27.5% of all sickness absence in March 2025.

Founder of the Gratitude Games, Mike Downard, is a Buckinghamshire firefighter and he says there is urgent need for specialist mental health services for emergency service responders and NHS workers. “Anyone in the emergency services or NHS is one incident away from having a mental health crisis and more needs to be done to help them. We need to ensure that all emergency service responders and NHS staff have access to specialist mental health services no matter what position or level they are operating at.

Dave Russel, Chief Fire Officer of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service is delighted to be involved in and support the inaugural Gratitude Games which will take place in Manchester next year. The courage, commitment and professionalism of firefighters and other emergency service responders deserve to be recognised and celebrated.

“A key focus of these games is the mental health challenges emergency responders face in their work to make communities safer – something which is often overlooked. I hope that the impact of these games in raising awareness and funds will not only improve the lives of emergency responders, thus enhancing the service they provide to the public, but also be an example to others that reaching out for help is often the bravest thing that you can do.”

Through sport, community engagement, and partnerships, the Gratitude Games is building a lasting legacy that honours those who keep us safe, while inspiring the wider public to come together in recognition and support. The objective is to raise £1 million in year one to partner with six key charities: Police Care UK, Fire Fighters Charity, Blue Light Foundation, Ambulance Staff Charity, 999 RE:SET and PTSD999.

Councillor John Hacking, Executive Member for Skills, Employment and Leisure, Manchester City Council said: “Manchester is immensely proud to host the inaugural Gratitude Games, a celebration of our emergency responders and the vital role they play in our communities. This event not only reinforces Manchester’s reputation as a leading global sporting city, but also champions mental health, inclusivity, and civic pride.

pro-manchester members can get involved and back the Gratitude Games through a charitable donation to support the cause. For more information you can visit the Gratitude Games website at gratitudegames.uk or email the Gratitude Games team directly at [email protected].