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Chantel Hunter is putting walking football at the forefront of efforts to tackle poverty and health inequality in Birmingham after being introduced to the sport through a friend.

Hunter, 40, works as Community Programmes Manager at the Birmingham City Football Club Foundation and, as a former player herself, quickly realised the impact walking football could have after taking part personally.

Inspired by her own experience, the Acocks Green native is now helping to bring walking football to communities across the city as part of the Foundation’s expanding health initiatives, which are supported by the Club’s Official UK Betting partner, Coral, part of the global sports betting and gaming group, Entain.

“I could see what benefits it brings to me. Socially, you’re getting out and about, feeling and being active and that has a knock-on effect on your mental health,” said Hunter.

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“It’s bringing like-minded people back into the game and it can be adapted to suit different needs. So, it brings people back that haven’t played for whatever reason, whether financial, travel or family commitments.

“And those were just a couple of the reasons that made me think the foundation will benefit from this.”

Hunter herself enjoyed a successful playing career in the game, representing tier four Solihull-based side Leafield Athletic from the age of 14, in a spell that stretched 20 years.

But when Hunter was forced to give that up, it left her looking for alternative ways to be involved in the sport…

Walking football tackles health inequality

Now Hunter, who oversees the community programmes at Birmingham City, including outreach activities, disability football and health programmes, set about adding walking football to those extensive efforts.

And while funding for initiatives has previously proven a limiting factor in getting the programme to flourish, Coral’s backing of the Club has helped unlock new opportunities for the Foundation. For the 2025/26 season, Coral is donating £500 to the Foundation for every home goal scored by the Men’s and Women’s teams at St Andrew’s, providing direct funding to support community health initiatives across the city.

“It’s something we know is so important in the city with health inequalities, deprivation and poverty and how they all link,” said Hunter.

“The financial support [from Coral] for every goal scored by the men and the women, has enabled us to put plans in place to start moving forward across the city.

“It’s a really good opportunity to open doors back up to people and get them in so we can signpost them.

“Whether that be to further training or education, back into employment, or upskilling them, or if they just want to come because of the health benefits and the social benefits.”

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And Hunter has already seen the visible impact that walking football is having on members of the community, having first experienced those effects herself.

“One gentleman sticks out to me who was part of our disability football programme and when he found out about walking football, he thought it was a great opportunity to do a little bit more,” she recounted.

“He’s recently become a new dad, so it’s been great for him to have some time to himself and meet a new group of people.

“It’s been so good for his confidence and well-being generally. He’s fed that back to us, so firsthand we can see day-to-day how it’s improving and helping to shape people.”

Source: https://www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/news/25837646.walking-football-used-tackle-health-inequality/

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