Tackling Loneliness Together

Football brings people together. Football unites. We are tackling loneliness together and connecting more older people at risk of loneliness

Laughing senior man talking on a cellphone in at home

The ‘Tackling Loneliness Together’ project is aimed at connecting more older people at risk of loneliness.

A recent study from the Office National Statistics (ONS) showed that 2.6 million adults reported that they felt lonely ”often” or ”always” whilst 7.4 million adults reported their well-being had been affected through them having felt lonely in the past seven days.

The EFL Trust are proud to be receiving £810,000 from the Department of Digital Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) to support 32 EFL Club Community Organisations through the project in deprived location. The new grants will allow expanded activities across the country under the campaign ‘Let’s Tackle Loneliness Together’, include befriending phone calls, online social groups, a pen-pal scheme, social action from young people taking part in NCS and socially distanced ‘garden gate’ conversations to emerge across EFL communities and reach the people who need this vital support right when they need it the most.

The EFL Trust will also be one of a number of charities and business across the UK who will join the government’s Tackling Loneliness Network, leading the charge against Loneliness. The group will explore ways to bring people together to build strong community spirit, with a focus on groups at particular risk of loneliness, and will work to continue these initiatives in the future

Our history of tackling loneliness

The EFL Trust network has a history of working with people across all generations and have a track record of connecting the people who need it most.

COVID-19 response

Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic EFL clubs have made over 120,000 phone calls to vulnerable people, set up virtual quizzes, exercise routine as well as dropping off shopping and having doorstep conversation. The new funding will see that work continue and expand.

Extra Time Hubs

In 2019, the Trust launched the Extra Time Hubs movement, to engage retired and semi-retired people to combat loneliness and inactivity. Funded by Sport England, through the National Lottery, the first pathfinder Hubs are run at 11 EFL clubs.

“I can honestly say that when we did the first Extra Time Hubs Zoom I think it was the first time that I had laughed so much since the lockdown started I have contact with family but they have busy lives. It’s so nice seeing everyone after so long thank you for keeping in touch.”

Stella, member of Bolton Wanderers Extra Time Hubs

How Football Clubs are tackling loneliness together

Accrington Stanley	Stanley made phone calls to people on their participant database. They recently resumed their weekly walking football sessions which has seen 20 participants aged 50+ return to exercise.
Blackpool FC	Blackpool are making daily support calls, signposting participants to local support. They are delivering many activities virtually such as quizzes, and virtual walks, which have had over 100,000 views. Future plans include working with NCS teenagers to involve young people in helping the lonely.
Bolton Wanderers	Wanderers made 1000 phone calls to season ticket holders aged over 70. They have held weekly zoom meetings, email and video quizzes, walked dogs for the elderly who are shielding. Bolton are planning to increase their offer by teaming up with a variety of local partners

Bristol Rovers	Rovers made contact with 768 older, often isolated and lonely fans to offer of deliveries of food and essentials to those who were isolating or shielding due to the pandemic. Rovers worked in partnership with Fareshare South West to arrange emergency food parcels for those most in need. First team players also helped out with deliveries to some of the most lonely and isolated elderly fans.
Burton Albion	Burton became an emergency hub for the COVID-19 response delivering goods and supporting vulnerable people. Albion also recruited former players to befriend people at risk of loneliness. The Brewers will continue to make contact with people at risk of loneliness.
Cambridge United	United made calls to 1,400 senior ticket holders providing advice, companionship and signposting to local support services. Cambridge will continue connect to people with activities such as for afternoon teas via Zoom as well as making home visits once it is safe to do so
Crawley Town	Crawley developed a number of partnerships to promote Tackling Loneliness. The young people on NCS will run social action projects focused on Tackling Loneliness.
Derby County	The Rams have made pre-recorded cooking sessions for males who live alone, are working with the Co-Op to deliver food parcels, NCS teenagers have hosted afternoon tea sessions and are delivering goody bags to older people as well as developing memory cushions for people living in care homes.
Doncaster Rovers	Rovers manager Darren Moore made a series of phone calls to residents at risk of loneliness. Doncaster have launched an online community called Home Goals which gives people a platform to communicate, encouraging over 700 people to do a form of exercise once a day.
Exeter City	City delivered and collected shopping for vulnerable people, made weekly phone calls, held socially distanced conversations, and enlisted first team players to help community work
Forest Green Rovers	Rovers targeted season ticket holders and vulnerable local people by telephone and are writing letters to those identified as lonely. Forest Green plan to host a weekly events to network with retired individuals
Fulham	Fulham have supported their over 70s season ticket holders, speaking with over 1,400 people and regularly calling 200 who have been identified as at risk of loneliness. Fulham are also running online coffee mornings, posting activity packs and will continue to work with partners to help those in need for support.
Hull City	Hull City are recruiting an army of local volunteers to help tackle loneliness. The Tigers already have 14 volunteers signed up including 10 young people from the NCS programme.
Lincoln City	The Imps are running errands for those shielding, making telephone calls to vulnerable people, sending out activity packs and organising socially distanced stadium meetups.
Luton Town	Luton Town are running face to face book collections with Luton Town Central Library, Future plans involve a newsletter being distributed to community centres and via email.
Middlesbrough	Boro cleared a communal garden so residents can meet in a safe distance. They are running ‘Meet and Treat’ sessions to visit those isolated.
Northampton Town	Town a created a hashtag for those in isolation (#KeepCalmAndCobblerOn). They have made weekly phone calls with the help of first team players. Northampton have also donated 10 Amazon Kindles to help connect people online.
Nottingham Forest	Forest have delivered COVID-19 support for elderly and made socially distanced garden gate visits. They regularly mail 150 people at risk of loneliness. Forest will be offering a digital literacy training session, in partnership with Age UK, to provide support for those in need
Oxford United	United have set up the “Manor Club” a place were fans can meet up with former players, managers or current first team players. Since COVID-19 the Manor Club is now also online.
Plymouth Argyle	Argyle made over 1,000 phone calls to over 70’s, as well as shopping and picking up prescriptions for vulnerable people. The Pilgrims have also developed a pen pal scheme with a local school and hold weekly quizzes and armchair exercise sessions on Facebook
Porstmouth	Pompey’s first teams have delivered care packages and help telephone conversations with vulnerable people. Young people doing NCS have helped organising various activities for isolated older people. Pompey have delivered over 600 food parcels and served over 100 hot meals to deprived people on a daily basis.
Port Vale	Vale have been making weekly contact with vulnerable people through phone calls, they are delivering food and care packages, hold weekly chair exercise sessions via online platforms along with games and quizzes. Port Vale are now looking to do more sessions, weekly drop ins, and inter-generational friending with the additional funding.
Preston North End	Preston engaged over 100 people with weekly phone calls, helping refer those who are lonely to local support groups. North End will be starting socially distanced walking groups and work with young people on NCS to expand the project’s impact.
Rotherham United	United have been in contact with those most vulnerable in their community and identified fans that could use help, Rotherham are producing monthly postal packs to mail to people in need of support.
Shrewsbury Town	The Shrews are targeting over 600 fans and will involve young people on their NCS programme to befriend vulnerable people. Town are developing a Pen Pal Scheme and will look to keep consistent companionship phone calls with vulnerable people.
Southend United	United have been in regular contact with people on their Senior Shrimpers programme via phone calls and Facebook messaging. They have sent letters to those who are lonely and are looking to develop a buddy system in the near future with young people on the NCS programme.
Stevenage	Stevenage has supplied over 14,000 sandwiches, delivered over 400 prescriptions and made over 500 phone calls to vulnerable people who have needed support during the pandemic. The Foundation will continue to support its current service users, whilst also working with partners to engage with others who may be in-need, through Face-to-Face Conversations, Telephone Calls, Activity Packs, Online Groups and more.
Sunderland	Sunderland Manager Dave Jones has made calls from to the Black Cat’s Extra Time Hub members, who have also been participating in online exercise classes and weekly Zoom quiz, Sunderland have also given out food parcels with Salvation Army. New online cooking and life skills sessions are planned.
Swindon Town	Town have mailed and made loneliness calls to over 600 people aged over 70. Swindon have also sent shielding info to 7500 people . Socially distanced walks are planned for the near future.
Tranmere Rovers	Rovers have supplied 33,329 meals to vulnerable people in the community. In addition 800 phone calls have been made and 1,200 prescriptions and shopping dropped off. .
West Bromwich Albion	Albion have made over 5,000 phone calls to vulnerable people since March, involving first team players who surprised people with socially distanced birthday messages. The Baggies Buddies group have also hold weekly catch-up sessions on Zoom.
Wigan Athletic	The Latics have made 240 phone calls to supporters in need, held garden gate conversations and distributed 100 goody bags with 500 more planned to keep vulnerable people physically and mentally active. Plans are being developed for zoom coffee mornings.

Tackling Loneliness Together

Tackling Loneliness Together

Football brings people together. Football unites. We are tackling loneliness together and connecting more older people at risk of loneliness

The ‘Tackling Loneliness Together’ project is aimed at connecting more older people at risk of loneliness.

Our history of tackling loneliness

How Football Clubs are tackling loneliness together

Accrington Stanley

Blackpool FC

Bolton Wanderers

Bristol Rovers

Burton Albion

Cambridge United

Crawley Town

Derby County

Doncaster Rovers

Exeter City

Forest Green Rovers

Fulham

Hull City

Lincoln City

Luton Town

Middlesbrough

Northampton Town

Nottingham Forest

Oxford United

Plymouth Argyle

Porstmouth

Port Vale

Preston North End

Rotherham United

Shrewsbury Town

Southend United

Stevenage

Sunderland

Swindon Town

Tranmere Rovers

West Bromwich Albion

Wigan Athletic

EFL Trust

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