AFC Bournemouth Community Sports Trust offers a variety of sessions to support people with their mental health.
Using football as a tool to help engage, sessions take both a practical playing approach and support groups for those who want to talk, or just listen.
Goals
This is a weight management session targeting those who want to get in shape. It's a mixed circuits class at Vitality Stadium on Tuesdays between 7pm and 8pm.
There's also a men's five-a-side for those who want to get fit through football. These take place on the 3G pitches at Vitality Stadium on Thursdays between 8pm and 9pm.
Senior Cherries
A walk is arranged in a different location on the third Thursday of every month. The walks are roughly 5km and often include a chance to sit down and enjoy a drink at a local cafe.
These are open to anyone over 50. Quiz and coffee mornings are also held for the group over Easter and Christmas.
Sport & Social
Sport and Social sessions are run in partnership with Dorset Mental Health Forum and take place during the following times:
- Tuesday: 3:30pm-4:30pm
- Thursday: 3:30pm-4:30pm
Offered on a twice weekly basis, Sport and Social sessions take place at the Vitality Stadium 3G pitches for one hour. On arrival, everyone is split into teams and plays matches for the full hour.
The sessions are open to any one over the age of 16 who has experienced any mental health difficulty and there is a representative from Dorset Mental Health Forum within the session to offer additional support if required.
Email [email protected] to register for your place.
Talking Cherries
Talking Cherries is supporter group initiative backed by the Community Sports Trust, which helps Cherries fans with their mental health.
The group meet via Zoom on a fortnightly basis to talk life, football and anything that comes to mind. Whilst the meetings encourage everyone to speak and get involved in the conversation, many people join the calls to just sit and listen.
The group is open to anyone to join as often or as little as they would like, and more information about further meetings and how to get involved can be found here.
Walking Football
AFC Bournemouth run weekly Walking Football coaching sessions in partnership with Care South. Walking Football is a version of the popular sport, with a few small rule changes. One of the most important changes being that it must be played at a walking pace.
These sessions are offered to both men and women aged 50+ and encourage them to keep fit and healthy without playing an especially competitive or demanding sport.
Sessions run on Tuesdays between 10:30am and 11.30am and cost £3. It's recommended that attendees come to a beginners session beforehand.