Walking Football

Our Journey

Age UK Blackpool & District

Terri Sawkill - CEO

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Blackpool’s Health (Taken from Health Inequalities Framework – H&W Partnership)

• Blackpool has the lowest life expectancy for males and females in the country and, of that, its residents can expect to spend less time in good health. Some of the other key health and well-being challenges include: – Blackpool has much higher rates of diseases of the circulatory system

(CVD) than North West and England & Wales. In 2007 CVD and cancers accounted for over 58% of the total deaths in Blackpool.

– Blackpool has the 15th highest (out of 152 PCTs) mortality from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

– Mortality from stroke is significantly higher in Blackpool than in England and the North West.

– Blackpool has the highest suicide rate in England. – Smoking is the single most important factor explaining the difference

in death rates between the most and least affluent areas, and is a major factor in ill health.

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Blackpool’s Health

• The rate of smoking in pregnancy is the worst in the country. • Blackpool has some of the highest levels of alcohol related harm in the

country, not only direct health effects such as premature death and chronic liver disease but other consequences such as disorder and violence.

• Based on figures produced by Glasgow University, Blackpool had the highest prevalence rate of problematic heroin and/or crack cocaine use across the region, and was in the top ten nationally.

• Blackpool continues to have amongst the highest prevalence of HIV in the North West, though the number of new infections is falling.

• Blackpool has amongst the highest teenage pregnancy rate in the UK. Although significant improvements have been made in the last three years, teenage pregnancy remains an important problem for Blackpool.

• Physical activity levels amongst the adult population in Blackpool are significantly worse than the England average.

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Where did it begin?

• Fit as a Fiddle - 2013

• My love for Football

• Connections to Blackpool FC via our President – Jimmy Armfield

• Health challenges for men in Blackpool

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Older Men Engagement

• July to December 2013

• 99 men surveyed

– Confidence

– Loneliness

– Support to engage

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December 2013 & February 2014

• December 2013

– Blackpool Council Leisure coaches

– 3 a side, 4 a side, 5 a side

• February 2014

– Blackpool FC Community Trust coaches

– 6 a side PLUS!

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Why has this worked?

• Kept it simple & kept control • A partnership with the local football club has been beneficial. It has

combined two different types of expertise: – The Football Trust delivers the session and then we are in the

background to signpost to health, wellbeing and other services available.

• We have a model that enables us to pass information on to the men who participate. For example, in the future there may be potential for health care staff such as a diabetes nurse to come and talk to the men.

• So far there have been some guests, “key people” to come and see the group in action.

• We are aware that there is more that we could do…

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Where we are now…

Numbers

• Since we started the Walking Football sessions, we have had almost 100 men register with us to attend at least one session.

• From 31st March 2014 – end March 2015, we’ve held 88 sessions

• We have 6 sessions a week now…

Charges

• £3.00 per session

• We pay for venue hire and the coaching

• We coordinate the session

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Thank you for listening

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