Chelmsford care home residents team up with walking football team for matchday magic

Football fever has officially kicked off at a care home in Chelmsford as residents joined a walking football group for an afternoon of sporting fun. 

Care UK’s Manor Lodge, on Manor Road, teamed up with visitors from Chelmsford Walking Football, a group run by the Alzheimer’s Society at nearby Writtle College, to take part in a mini tournament and join the nation in celebrating the huge summer of sport. 

During the activity, the teams participated in a warm-up session, practicing passes and moves, before playing their match.

Resident Margaret Bullen, age 79, said: “I enjoyed playing football, and they were no match for me – I used to take my boys to their games and I thoroughly enjoyed a friendly match.”

The event was part of Care UK’s ‘Goal-den Moments' initiative, which aims to bring generations together and encourage residents to reminisce about cherished football memories with the local community while sharing new experiences together.

Natasha Webster, Home Manager at Manor Lodge, said: “We’re always looking for meaningful ways to keep residents active and engaged, and partnering with Chelmsford Walking Football was a fantastic opportunity to do just that.

“Walking football is a brilliant avenue for making the game accessible to people of all abilities. It’s been wonderful to see residents getting involved and enjoying the social side of the sport.

“Bringing together residents and members of the local club has created a real sense of community, and we’re incredibly grateful to everyone who joined us to make the day such a success.”

As part of the campaign, Care UK has made donations to local walking football foundations, including Cambridge United Foundation.

Vicky Neal, Head of Cambridge United Foundation, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Care UK for its generous donation in support of our work with older adults across the Cambridge community. Partnerships like this help us continue delivering programmes that make a genuine difference to people’s physical and mental wellbeing.

"Our walking football sessions in particular have become a vital lifeline for many participants, improving fitness, confidence and mobility while also tackling loneliness by creating meaningful social connections and friendships. The support from Care UK will allow us to reach even more older adults and continue using the power of sport to bring people together and enhance lives across our city.”

For more information about Goal-den Moments, please visit careuk.com/goal-den-moments.

Manor Lodge, rated ‘outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission, is a modern care home that provides full-time residential, dementia and nursing care, as well as short-term respite care. Designed to enable residents to lead enjoyable and fulfilling lives, it has its very own cinema, café and hair and beauty salon, and there is plenty of space – both indoors and out – for relaxation and recreation.