Background
Funded by the Football Foundation and Sport Relief, and supported by Age UK, the Extra Time programme uses the power of football to target older people aged 55 plus; and delivers social inclusion and physical activity projects nationwide through Premier League and Football League club community schemes.
Following the success of the two year pilot the Football Foundation and Sport Relief launched ‘Extra Time: Phase two’ in September 2010, Phase two extends the programme by a further two years funding activity; and will grow the programme to around 30 community schemes.
Extra Time objectives
Older people are a group that both the Football Foundation and Sport Relief wish to engage with and this project tackles two important issues for older people, physical health emotional wellbeing and social isolation. The main aims of this programme are:
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To provide exercise opportunities so as to increase physical activity. Physical activity improves both physical health and emotional wellbeing. It is one of the most important factors in maintaining a good quality of life.
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To provide a programme that improves muscle strength, balance and mobility.
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To provide social networking opportunities which can help address some of the social exclusion and isolation issues faced by older people.
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To increase the target groups interest and connections with the professional game.
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To create a local legacy of participation that will be carried forward for many years in the community.
Project Progress
The Extra Time programme was launched in May 2008 and opened for applications from the Premier League and Football League club community schemes. The programme was oversubscribed and during the first year, 15 club community schemes were successful in obtaining grants of up to £10,000. Seven further clubs were successful in the second year of the pilot. Phase two sees a further five club community schemes granted funding in the first year and five more in the second year, making a total of 29 club community schemes.
Highlights of the scheme
Around 1,000 older people have participated in the second year of Extra Time nationwide, 41% are men. 90% are over 60 and 23% are over 80.
The most significant difference experienced by participants through Extra Time was ‘feeling supported’. Whilst the majority of participants made new friends and had fun through the programme, having more people looking out for them and people they could call on were more important. Many participants had lost existing networks through retirement or relocation and Extra Time offered them a new support network.
Many participants experienced physical benefits through Extra Time which in turn reduced the need of some for health services or medication. The regular exercise resulted in real improvements in flexibility, muscle strength and balance as well as participants generally 'feeling better'. One of the most significant differences experienced by participants of Extra Time was that they found they had more energy, felt fitter, and were more motivated to exercise.
These physical benefits also contributed to improvements in emotional wellbeing experienced by many participants’ including improved self-confidence, feelings of independence and increased positivity.
The link with the football club removed some perceived barriers preventing older people doing exercise and socialising. Extra Time is successful in engaging older men, a notoriously difficult group to engage. The link with the football club not only aided with engaging target participants but also contributed to the changes they experienced; it improved self-esteem for many simply being provided for by such a high profile, professional organisation.
Some Year 2 Pilot highlights:
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21% used health services less
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50% said they felt healthier
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75% made friends and had fun
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70% said they found everyday tasks easier
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92% said their personal happiness was at least satisfactory
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89% felt they had more people looking out for them
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81% stated the football connection made Extra Time more appealing.
