EFL, FA &Parkinson’s UK celebrate success of national walking football partnerships

Parkinson’s UK, EFL in the Community (the charitable arm of the English Football League) and The FA are celebrating the first anniversary of a walking football partnership which has helped more people with Parkinson’s get into walking football in England and Wales. 

Since its launch in April 2025, more than 230 people with Parkinson’s have joined walking football projects at 14 EFL Club charities across England.

Supported by a funding boost from the Football Association (FA) and training from Parkinson’s UK for football coaches and instructors, the sessions have continued to go from strength-to-strength at clubs such as Norwich City, Bromley, Stockport County and Mansfield Town, among many others. 

The aim of the pilot programme was to deliver a national network of approved walking football projects to inspire more people living with neurological conditions, including Parkinson’s, to become more physically and socially active.  

The project has grown significantly in the first 12 months of delivery, with more people with Parkinson’s accessing walking football and expressing the wider benefits of being physically active in a safe and supportive environment.

How walking football can help people with Parkinson’s

Walking football is shown to have many benefits for people living with Parkinson’s including: 

• better cardiovascular health 
• improved bone health 
• better coordination and balance 
• reduced risk of falls or freezing 
• increased concentration and better sleep 
• better fitness generally 
• improved muscle and joint strength 
• more social opportunities 

Anna Castiaux, Physical Activity Programme Lead at Parkinson’s UK, said: 

“I’m delighted to see the growth of the walking football partnership between Parkinson’s UK, the Football Association (FA) and the English Football League (EFL) in the Community over the last 12 months. 

“Since the partnership first started we have seen many more members of the Parkinson’s community engage with walking football with their local clubs and my hope is that even more people of all ages and abilities will be able to enjoy the benefits of football in the summer months. 

“As a charity, we know how important football can be for people living with Parkinson’s, not just for the physical benefits, but also for the social connections and community engagement…

CONTINUE READING at source: https://www.efl.com/news/2026/may/12/efl-in-the-community–the-fa-and-parkinson-s-uk-celebrate-success-of-national-walking-football-partnerships-/

Related Posts

Oxford United launch Parkinson’s Walking Football Programme

A new Parkinson’s Walking Football team has been launched in Oxfordshire, bringing people affected by the condition together through regular exercise and social connection. The initiative has been set up in collaboration with local grassroots club Quarry Rovers, supported by Parkinson’s UK, and is run by Oxford United in the Community. The programme aims to […]

‘Sport stopped me disappearing with Parkinson’s’

A former police dog handler says he wants to challenge feelings of isolation and loneliness in older men after a diagnosis of Parkinson’s made him feel like he was “disappearing”. Paul Nicholls, 58, from Colchester, left his dream job with Essex Police after learning he had the condition 11 years ago. Initially, he said he […]

Walking Football to feature at Parkinson’s Guernsey Awareness Day

Be part of a powerful community event marking World Parkinson’s Awareness Day! This event is an important opportunity to reassure those affected by Parkinson’s that they can lead fulfilling lives with the strong network of support and resources available locally. It also highlights the valuable work of our charity, Parkinson’s Guernsey, whose motto is: Parkinson’s […]

Order your tickets to watch Sport Parkinson’s 2026 Walking Football Tournament

Sport Parkinson’s 2026 Walking Football Tournament Join us at St. George’s Park, Burton on Trent – the home of England football, for the annual Sport Parkinson’s Walking Football Tournament 2026 in association with the WFA. Saturday 4th Apr 2026, 09:00 – 16:00, Sir Alf Ramsey Pitch @ St. George’s Park, Newborough Rd, Burton-on-Trent DE13 9PD, […]

Walking sports clubs to get more residents active with West Suffolk grant

Grassroots sports clubs across West Suffolk are being backed with grants to get more people active which can benefit their health, happiness and quality of life.  The grants from West Suffolk Council’s Get Back Into Sport fund will provide opportunities for people to get into a host of sports and activities ranging from running, football, […]

Walking football team ‘like having 20 sisters’

The number of women’s walking football teams has increased by more than 50% in Somerset in just a year, the county’s football association (FA) has said. One club in the county, Winscombe AFC, has doubled its player numbers since starting a women’s walking team 18 months ago, involving many who have never played football before. […]

Author: The Walking Football

You create the memories; we help you relive them forever!