Enfield was the only London borough chosen by the Football Foundation to benefit from its ‘Active Through Football’ programme, reports Louis Altmann

London Women’s Wellbeing Group CIC has been supported by Active Through Football

A programme to improve people’s physical and mental wellbeing is said to have benefitted more than 200 residents in Edmonton since it started one year ago.

Run by the Football Foundation and funded by the National Lottery and Sport England, Enfield was the only borough in London to be granted funding through the ‘Active Through Football’ project, gaining funding for five years.

Locally the project has delivered up to eight weekly activity sessions, designed based on the needs of community groups. Beneficiaries include women’s football sessions run by Enfield Borough Football Club and community group Perfecting Potential; fitness and football sessions at a social club for pensioners in Ponders End; plus women from London Women’s Wellbeing Group CIC, who also took part in cycling, yoga, pilates and volleyball before gaining the confidence to play football.

According to the Football Foundation website, the scheme targets areas with high deprivation and low physical activity levels, addressing the inequalities which reduce some communities’ access to sport.

Young mothers, people with learning or physical disabilities, and unemployed 16-29-year-olds are among the examples of target audiences given by the Football Foundation.

Chinelo Anyanwu, cabinet member for culture, open spaces and local economy, said: “This project has really changed the way we work in Enfield to encourage residents to become more physically active.

“The sessions that were introduced have helped to reduce barriers to participation and encouraged residents to initially become more physically active and then continue to be physically active for the long term.”

Any group in Enfield interested in support from Active Through Football can contact the project manager:
Email [email protected]

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