Football Project Fields Fitter Seniors
31 August 2012
This analysis shows that the Extra Time scheme had many positive outcomes for the participants.
Many felt healthier, found everyday tasks easier, made friends and had fun. We saw an increase in rating of personal happiness from 78% to 92%, for example.
”An initiative in which 30 English football clubs opened their doors to older people to offer them social and physical activities resulted in a series of positive health and social benefits for the participants.
This is the finding of an evaluation of the Football Foundation's Extra Time project, supported by University of Derby Sport and Exercise Science academic Dan Parnell, who presented the findings at the 8th World Congress on Active Ageing in Glasgow in August (2012). Funded by the Football Foundation and Sport Relief, and supported by Age UK, the Extra Time programme was launched in 2008 to use the power of football to promote physical activity and reduce social isolation in people aged over 55.
Over the past four years schemes have been delivered nationwide through Premier League and Football League clubs including Everton, Queen's Park Rangers, Blackburn Rovers and Bristol Rovers. Activities and pursuits have included badminton, football, boxing, indoor curling and bowls, line dancing and even horse riding and log chopping.
Interviews and observation of 442 participants in the Extra Time scheme were carried out by Lizzie Trotter from the Football Foundation and the results evaluated by the research team, to understand the social and economic impacts of the project using Social Return on Investment (SROI) analysis.
This analysis found that the measurable social benefits of the scheme far outweighed the investment made. Every £1 invested in the scheme resulted in £5.22 in social return; a result of a reduction in GP and other health service visits, improved feelings of emotional wellbeing and social inclusion in the elderly participants.
Dan said: "This analysis shows that the scheme had many positive outcomes for the participants.
"Many felt healthier, found everyday tasks easier, made friends and had fun. We saw an increase in rating of personal happiness from 78% to 92%, for example.
"People also felt supported. Many told us they had lost social networks through retirement or felt a burden to their families but told us that this activity made them feel they had people looking out for them, and people they could call on."
"The association with a professional football club seemed to be a key factor of this initiative's success, especially with older men. People felt pride and belonging to something special as the activity was delivered by the club. There seemed to far less stigma attached to these activities than membership of an older person's group," he added.
Although funding for the Extra Time project finishes at the end of August (2012), having seen the benefits of the scheme in these older groups a number of the football clubs involved in the project have secured further funding and will continue to deliver activities for older people.
Dan, who lectures on the University of Derby's BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science degree, presented this research to scientists and practitioners from a range of professional interests and disciplines involved in the promotion of Active Ageing, at the 8th World Congress on Active Ageing in Glasgow on August 17 (2012).
For more information on studying sport and exercise at the University of Derby visit www.derby.ac.uk
For more information about the work of the Football Foundation visit www.footballfoundation.org.uk
