THE connection between fitness and mental health has rarely been as important as it is at the moment as the country begins to recover from the impact of Covid-19.

Through the dark months of 2020 and 21 many people will have found their inner demons growing as the impact of lockdown has piled huge pressure on what may have already been burgeoning problems.

In Stanford-le-Hope an organisation based on more than 40 years of experience of the importance of sport and fitness is set to play a role in helping people cope.

The man behind Combat Academy for Sport Ltd is Scott Mallon, 45, who is well known in local sporting circles, particularly through his family's long association with martial arts. Almost 40 years ago his mum and dad Gill and Brian started the Stanford Warriors club with only six students. Today they have almost 600 students, and it is growing every year.

Scott was one of those first students but he developed a passion for all sport, particularly football and he became a notable local player who numbers East Thurrock United among his former clubs.

Scott has recently taken on a lease from Thurrock Council for the former Bowls Club at the Billet Recreation Ground in the town and has turned it into a centre of sporting excellence, not just for martial arts, but also for fitness training.

It is the latest staging post in a journey that was documented in 2019 when Scott was interviewed for the Thurrock Independent, when he talked about how important sport was for young people's well-being.

Now he is also focusing on older people and is well aware that work at the centre concentrates as much on the mind as the body.

Scott, himself a 4th Dan Black Belt, founded Combat Academy for Sport as a not for profit organisation with the aim of helping the local community cope with issues including mental health, PTSD, anxiety and not excluding recovering alcoholics and addicts.

Scott says the venture is a team effort and he is bringing in not only enthusiastic people willing to help others, but also experts in their field.

He says: "We are gradually building a team. Before Covid we did have a team bu coronavirus has hit us hard, like it's hit everybody. Now though, through the Kick Start scheme we are starting to employ again and get some youngsters back in.

"We have got a new coach coming in and we have a lady specialist in social media.

"The link between mental health and fitness is huge. With my background in sport, I have done martial arts for more than 40 years, I have done football for 30 years - mental health and sport go hand in hand.

"When you are doing your fitness and exercise, that kind of thing there is a feel good factor. It releases endorphins and makes you feel good.

"And we have found that the link with mental health really helps people focus and gives a clarity to where they are. We will be working with people who are suicidal, through to recovering alcoholics and drug addicts, fitness gives them a drive and determination that they never had."

If you would like to know more about Combat Academy for Sport visit its website here or you can speak to Scott directly by calling 07890962455 or emailing [email protected].