Sunday 30th November 2025
Festive fun, community spirit, and raising vital funds for local mental health services.
Mental Elf is a festive fun run for everyone – whether you’re a seasoned runner, a gentle jogger, or prefer a stroll in the park. You can walk, jog, skip, or run the distance at your own pace. Bring along your little ones or four-legged friends and don’t forget – fancy dress is positively encouraged!
First created by our friends at Lancashire Mind more than a decade ago, Mental Elf has now grown into a much-loved annual event. Each November and December, communities across England and Wales come together to celebrate, get active, and raise vital funds for their local Mind.
As well as promoting the benefits of physical activity, Mental Elf is about connection, joy, and the warm glow of giving back. Best of all, all the money raised through ticket sales, sponsorship, and fundraising stays local – supporting the unique services that each Mind provides in its community.
Event Details
Location: GWR Park, Faringdon Rd, Swindon, SN1 5DJ
Date: Sunday 30th November 2025
Start time: Race starts at 12:00 and warm up at 11:00, with the registration desk open from 10:00.
This is a 5km fun run (walk, jog, run – all welcome). Festive Elf fancy dress strongly encouraged with a prize for best dressed elf!
Special Thanks to Our Partner: National Trust
We’re delighted to announce that, through our partnership with the National Trust, we’ve been gifted free family passes to support Mental Elf 2025. These will be given to:
- every volunteer, and
- every participant.
It’s our way of saying thank you for helping make Mental Elf such a special event – and for supporting your local mental health charity.
Terms and Conditions
Entry & Registration
- There is no minimum age for participants.
- Participants under the age of 14 must be accompanied at the event by their parent or legal guardian or by an over 18 year old who has the permission of that participant’s parent or legal guardian.
- Participants are only eligible to take part in the event if they have paid the entry fee.
- Entry fees are non-refundable and non-transferable, except where the event is cancelled by the organiser.
Health & Fitness
- By entering, I confirm that I am physically fit and able to take part in the event.
- I understand that it is my responsibility to seek medical advice if I am unsure about my ability to participate.
- Swindon and Gloucestershire Mind is not responsible for any injury, illness, loss, or damage sustained during or as a result of participation.
Event Safety
- Appropriate footwear and clothing must be worn.
- The use of bicycles, roller skates, scooters, or pets on the route is not permitted (unless otherwise stated in advance).
- We reserve the right to refuse entry to the event in our absolute discretion if for whatever reason we consider a person unfit to take part. We may also ask you to withdraw during the event if we have concerns about your ability to complete it due to fitness, injury or otherwise. If you continue, you do so with the understanding that you absolve us of all and any responsibility and progress entirely at your own risk.
- We take all reasonable steps to minimise the risk of injury to participants during fundraising events.There is a risk assessment process in place for the Event, which aims to minimise or eliminate the risk to everyone taking part. However, by taking part in the event, you acknowledge that it is potentially hazardous and that there may be conditions or circumstances beyond our control that can lead to unforeseen risks.
- All participants, volunteers and spectators enter and attend the event entirely at their own risk.
- All participants must run with care and attention and abide by the UK Highway Code and any other rules stipulated by the event organiser, Event marshals, police and officials.
- First aid facilities will be provided. Any major incidents should be reported to 999.
- By taking part in the event, you consent to receiving medical treatment administered by medically qualified personnel during the event if required in any circumstances where you are unconscious or otherwise incapable of making a decision regarding medical treatment.
- As the event is taking place in late November, we will be taking the weather conditions very seriously and in the case of severe ice and snow, we will ensure the route is safe before going ahead. In the event that the route is not safe, we reserve the right to postpone/cancel the event for participant safety. See section ‘Postponement and Cancellation’ for further details.
Photography & Media
- By taking part, participants, volunteers and spectators agree that they are happy for their names and any video footage, stills or photographs taken of them during the Event by the Volunteers or Swindon and Gloucestershire Mind (or by their service providers or
agents) to be used by the Volunteers and Swindon and Gloucestershire Mind to publicise the Event and for commercial and/or fundraising purposes including, but not limited to, television broadcasts, advertising, publications, marketing material, merchandise, social media, personalised direct mail, social media and other documents that may be made available to the public.
- If you do not wish to be photographed, please notify a member of staff on the day.
Liability
- The Volunteers and Swindon and Gloucestershire Mind shall not be liable for any injury or loss to persons
or their property that might occur as a result of their participation in or attendance at the event.
Conduct & Respect
- This is a family-friendly event; participants are expected to act respectfully towards others at all times.
- Any participant who is suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs will be refused
entry and will not be allowed to participate in the event.
Postponement and Cancellation
- The organiser reserves the right to cancel, postpone, or alter the event if circumstances beyond our control make it necessary (e.g., severe weather).
- In such cases, Swindon and Gloucestershire Mind will notify participants as soon as possible.
