Residents at Silvanna Court Care Home, part of the Runwood Homes Group, were full of excitement and energy as they welcomed members of Southend Football Club’s community team to launch a new 10-week sports programme designed to get older people moving and engaged.
The programme, which began last Tuesday, sees young footballers from the club visiting the home weekly to lead fun and accessible sports activities for residents. The sessions aim to encourage gentle exercise, teamwork and social interaction, while bringing the excitement of football into the care home.
Residents and staff gathered to greet the players as they arrived, before taking part in the first activity session together. The atmosphere throughout the morning was lively, with laughter, cheering and plenty of enthusiasm from everyone involved.
Residents were thrilled by the visit. Ivy shared how special it was to see the team arrive, saying it was “so lovely to have young professional footballers coming into the home, especially to do activities with us.”
Reg, a keen football fan, was particularly delighted and “didn’t stop smiling” throughout the session as he joined in with the sporting activities.
The initiative came about after the Southend Football Club community team approached Silvanna Court and other care homes across the region to take part in the programme. The goal is to promote both physical and mental wellbeing for older people through sport and social engagement.
With nine more weeks to go, residents at Silvanna Court are already looking forward to the next visit and the opportunity to keep the sporting spirit alive in the home.
