Presentation by Terri Sawkill (CEO AgeUK Blackpool & District) for the ESRC Seminar Series on Ageing and Physical Activity - "Men, ageing and physical activity: Critical reflections" http://seminars.ecehh.org

1. Walking Football
Our Journey
Age UK Blackpool & District
Terri Sawkill - CEO
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2. 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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3. 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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4. 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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6. Older Men Engagement
• July to December 2013
• 99 men surveyed
– Confidence
– Loneliness
– Support to engage
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7. 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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13. 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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14. 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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16. Thank you for listening
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