Swansea City AFC Foundation to launch walking football sessions in partnership with Parkinson's UK
Swansea City AFC Foundation is launching walking football sessions for those affected by Parkinson’s disease, thanks to funding from Parkinson’s UK.
Sessions will run every Monday from October 14 at Cefn Hengoed Leisure Centre, offering those living with Parkinson’s and those supporting people living with the disease the opportunity to take part in physical activity and socialise.
Parkinson’s UK is dedicated to providing chances for those impacted by the condition to connect with others and find accessible physical activity all over Wales; the Swans Foundation’s walking football sessions are part of a wider scheme across the country with Wrexham AFC Community Trust also participating in the project.
People with neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s often have limited opportunities to exercise due to the symptoms of their conditions, and often feel unable to join mainstream exercise programmes due to physical inability or fear of not fitting in.
These new sessions will allow participants to not only take part at their own pace, but also allow for a support group element, where participants can discuss shared experiences and interact with peers.
Each session will be followed by the opportunity to join Foundation coaches and fellow participants in the café at Cefn Hengoed Leisure Centre, encouraging people to talk with those facing similar challenges.
Sessions will take place from 3pm to 4pm every week from October 14 and are open to adults of all abilities, and cater to individual needs.
Caroline Gwilym, head of health and wellbeing at Swansea City AFC Foundation, said: “At Swansea City AFC Foundation, we strive to be inclusive for everyone in our local community and this latest addition to our range of programmes only grows that.
“Walking Football has been a fantastic programme that has helped so many people find an accessible way to be involved in physical activity and socialise, and we feel that this would be a great benefit to those affected by Parkinson’s.
“These sessions will allow people to be active with peers in a judgement free environment, allowing them to be comfortable whilst taking part in sport.
“We'd like to thank Parkinson's UK for enabling us to deliver these sessions, which we hope will be really impactful to our local community.”
To sign up click here. To find out more information, please contact robin@swansfoundation.org.uk