The idea
Football Cooperative places recreational football as a vehicle to get more adults active to promote positive health. Through a consolidated network of recreational football sites, we deliver weekly ‘pick-up’ play as you go games through a place based model.
Key features of our community football intervention include a) accessibility i.e. local amenities are used for games; b) flexibility regarding attendance (played 2-3 nights/week), c) affordability to ensure inclusion of all and d) inclusivity - offered to all levels of fitness and football capacity.
We are big on impact and have developed an impact management framework that facilitates us to report evidence of participant's positive outcomes related to health as well as community integration through social cohesion and inclusive society measures.
What we'll deliver
- Participant population representing adults across social, economic, cultural and educational disadvantage.
- Positive health impact on physical fitness, mental wellbeing and social connectedness.
Why it's a great idea
Football has been viewed as an important medium to engage people who are seen as reluctant or unwilling to access traditional health services. Research has suggested that people ‘do’ emotion through action (like engaging in football), and that this emotional connection that many have with football appears to enable them to feel safer engaging with football-based health initiatives.
Our implementation model has a strong emphasis on social connection and this is a key evidenced outcome. Our games as well as the added value activities support the eradication of sedentary lifestyles and changing of behaviours. We encourage our participants to address their health issues and empower them to take action. Through improved lifestyle behaviours some of the biggest health issues facing our population such as physical, mental health, loneliness and social isolation are addressed.
Steps to get it done
- 150 participants
- 3 gamenights x 12 weeks will result in 36 gamenights in total
- Evaluation will be undertaken to understand impacts across physical, social and mental health areas.
