''A really lovely, friendly, exercise session, with positive training and advice. Its good fun and great to chat over coffee with everyone afterwards. Great to meet new people''
“Thank you, Laura and everybody, for making me so welcome yesterday on my 'debut' - really enjoyed meeting you all and parading my wholly inadequate skills! I am looking forward to seeing you all again”
''Good fun, keeps you fit, gets you out and meeting new people. Great time!''
“The progression and enthusiasm in the players has been great to see and they never fail to make it a happy Wednesday”
This project has focused on SASPs priority group of older people and is also in an area of high deprivation in Sedgemoor District Council, Somerset. This ward represents significant health inequalities resulting in people living there likely to die on average 5 years earlier than other areas of Somerset. Recent Active Lives figures have shown significant downward trends in participation in Sedgemoor and together with the insight about significant decreases in participation in the lower socio-economic groups, this has become a priority to invest resource.
Sydenham is the most deprived ward in Somerset and nationally ranks in the bottom 20% with an IMD score of 36.4. Finance for sport and activity is often not prioritised hence the need to increase activity through the natural environment at low or no cost. Local insight was carried out through 5 focus groups, questionnaires and attending non-activity-based sessions, e.g. pensioners lunch clubs etc.
This project has supported local infrastructure to sustain community activity at a doorstep level as a low-cost model. It has a significant partnership element to it and has attracted a large amount of partnership funding.
We are highlighting one activity in particular, walking football, from the overall project to increase participation in sport and physical activity through community empowerment. Other activities, for the older population, as part of this project, have included Boccia and laser pistols, seated Pilates, Pilates, social badminton and fitness walks.
Somerset Activity & Sports Partnership lead on this project on behalf of The Sydenham, Bower and Eastover Family Health and Wellbeing Steering Group, with secretariat provided by Knightstone Housing. The project partnership includes Knightstone Housing, Somerset County Council Public Health, Sedgemoor District Council and many other agencies. The particular partners that have been key in the success of the walking football project has been Redgate Medical Centre, Sydenham Together Team (includes the police, salvation army etc), Sydenham Community Centre and the Job Centre.
At the start of this project, 4 participants attended, there are now 22 on the register with a core 10-12 people that attend on a regular basis. Most of these people had never kicked a ball before and now they attend rain or shine. The 4 originals have been there nearly every week since, one being the oldest participant at 80 years old. This weekly session is not only about the physical activity, but also provides the social element with tea and coffee afterwards and also supports with mental wellbeing and social isolation. The session has seen a throughput of 460 visits throughout 2017.
The group have become a very close unit with many relying on it for them to get out and interact with others each week. One member has even made some proper goals for the session, so they no longer have to use cones. Before Christmas they travelled to Taunton to play their first fixture and although they finished second that didn’t matter, they thoroughly enjoyed it and can’t wait for the next one!
Up until now the activity has been free for all participants. As an ongoing project, in April 2018, a small charge will be introduced per person to cover the minimal facility hire. Consultation has been done with participants to gather their views on this and all are more than happy to pay on a weekly basis. SASP are currently supporting and training a community champion to facilitate these sessions going forwards.