Two Of The UK'S Biggest Charities Team Up To Boost Older People's Health Through Sport

Main Category: Seniors / Aging
Also Included In: Sports Medicine / Fitness
Article Date: 26 Jun 2008 - 6:00 PDT

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Two of the UK's biggest charities are teaming up to help address health issues for older people across the country.

The Football Foundation and Sport Relief are launching a £500,000 initiative aimed at helping the over-60s stay active and healthy. The initiative offers football club community schemes the chance to bid for funding which will enable them to develop and manage a community project aimed at getting older people in the community to take part in a local health and exercise programme.

Physical activity is one of the most important factors in maintaining a good quality of life, as those who are physically active have more energy and are far more able to cope with daily routines. Regular exercise can also help reduce stress. The project will also include helping participants to build social networks as part of the scheme.

One key focus of the programme is the link between physical activity and stronger bones and muscles. The exercise programme will improve participants' balance, strength, suppleness and mobility - therefore likely to give them more independence in later life.

Another key objective is to increase the social opportunities for older people. Isolation for this section of society is an increasing issue. This programme will not only improve the health and wellbeing of this group but also reduce the social exclusion that many face.
The Football Foundation and Sport Relief are each providing £250,000 towards the initiative.

Initially the programme will be delivered by community coaches at 15 professional football clubs, which, if successful, will be expanded to more clubs across the country. The Football Foundation will centrally manage the programme, as well as monitoring and evaluating it.

Community schemes from across the country have applied for grants and the assessment process is now ongoing. The successful applications will be announced in August 2008.

Paul Thorogood, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation said: "This is an exciting new venture which will help improve the quality of life for older people and provide important opportunities to stay fit and healthy."

Kevin Cahill, Chief Executive, Comic Relief added:

"For a number of years Comic Relief has awarded grants that help older people across the UK get access to the support they need. We are proud to be part of a programme that will provide a fantastic service for older people, improving their health and fitness as well as strengthening social and community links".

Notes

In 2006 the Social Exclusion Unit published an academic estimate of the number of excluded older people. This work concluded that:

- 1.2 million people over 50[1] in England, face severe, multiple exclusion
- 1.3 million people over 65 have clinical depression
- 2.5 million people over 50 have little social or family contact
- 3.4 million people over 50 live in relative poverty.

Since its launch in July 2000 the Football Foundation has been revitalising the grass roots of the game, constructing modern football facilities, developing football as a force for social cohesion and as a vehicle for education in communities throughout the country. It is funded by the Premier League, The Football Association and Government.

Since July 2000 the Foundation has:

- supported 5,200 projects worth over £700m
- £150m worth of projects in the pipeline
- secured £307m in additional inward investment
- delivered a £5 return on every £1 invested by each funding partner
- 40% of funding is targeted at the top 20% most deprived wards
- kept bureaucracy to a minimum - since launch, less than 1% of income has been allocated to administration costs
- secured £30m funding from Barclays Bank for a grass roots investment programme
- funded 3,170 facility projects
- funded 1, 635 national/local community and education initiatives
- funded over 180 artificial turf pitches
- funded 418 changing facilities
- kitted out over 210,000 youngsters with free Nike football strips

Sport Relief

- Since its launch in 2002, almost £70 million has been raised through Sport Relief
- Comic Relief spends the money raised to help vulnerable people living incredibly tough lives both at home in the UK and across the world's poorest countries.
- Sport Relief is an initiative of Comic Relief, registered with the Charity Commission no. 326568
- Comic Relief has also funded a study into the abuse and mistreatment of older people in a domestic setting and is currently co-funding work to look at the abuse and mistreatment of older people in institutions, such as care homes and hospitals.

[1] Total population in the UK is 20 million

The Football Foundation