People living with Parkinson’s across the West Midlands are invited to join a new walking football session which has opened in Kingswinford.
The Hartshill Strollers have been supporting people to get active since 2014 and the team is now encouraging the local Parkinson’s community to give walking football a go. Grant funding from Parkinson’s UK and the Walking Football Association (WFA) is helping the club to host the new sessions, which kicked off last week as the Hartshill Healthwise Group.
The sessions are being held every Tuesday on a weekly basis by the Hartshill Strollers Walking Football Club at Summerhill School, in Kingswinford, in the West Midlands. The new walking football sessions are designed to be inclusive, welcoming all ages and abilities.
Relatives, carers and friends can also attend and cheer on their loved ones, and everyone is welcome to stay for a chat over a cup of tea or coffee. The hour-long classes include warm-ups, training drills and friendly matches, overseen by experienced coaches who can help attendees target problem areas associated with Parkinson’s, such as balance, strength and coordination.
Anyone interested in taking part should wear loose, comfortable clothing and appropriate footwear, and bring a bottle of water to stay hydrated during the breaks. Tim Morton, Physical Activity Programme Manager at Parkinson’s UK, said: “Being active is one of the best ways to manage your Parkinson’s symptoms and regular physical activity can help you to live well with the condition.
“Research shows that being active can improve both your long-term physical and mental wellbeing when you live with Parkinson’s. Walking football is a great way to be active when you’re living with a neurological condition such as Parkinson’s and it’s also great for social opportunities, too.
“Overall, it makes you feel good inside and out, and the more physically active you are, the easier it will be to live well with the condition. We’re so pleased to see these new sessions kick off.”
England Manager for over 60s Walking Football at the Walking Football Association (WFA), Stuart Langworthy, said: “The WFA is delighted to be supporting more people with Parkinson's to get active and join their local Walking Football sessions.
“We are working with more local clubs and groups to help people living with neurological conditions and long-term health conditions to get active and live well in a fun and social way. The Hartshill Strollers sessions are a great new opportunity to give more people living in the West Midlands to try walking football and live a more active lifestyle.”
