Ayr United Football Academy partner with Stagecoach for Dementia Friendly Walking Football pilot
Ayr United Football Academy are delighted to announce a partnership with Stagecoach West Scotland. The partnership sees participants of AUFA’s new Dementia Friendly Walking Football pilot sessions provided with refreshments and travel information thanks to the support from Stagecoach.
Hosted at Shoot Soccer in Ayr, our pilot will run for an initial six weeks with the aim to gather a large group of attendees to allow us to continue the sessions permanently. Our first session was held on Monday 20th January 2025 and saw an impressive turnout in both male and female participants. Also in attendance was some of the Stagecoach team, including drivers, engineers and graduates who joined in the fun.
Walking football is an excellent way for older adults to stay fit and healthy with social benefits as well. Walking football is particularly well-suited for older adults because it is a slower-paced and a low-impact game. The launch of the pilot was well-received by everyone involved, demonstrating the importance and benefits of this initiative.
Fiona Doherty, Managing Director of Stagecoach West Scotland, said:
“It’s a great opportunity for us to support the ‘Dementia Friendly Walking Football’ pilot sessions with Ayr United. This condition has a daily impact on many people in our communities and on our workforce, with family members affected by it. We are proud to give our support for such a cause which is crucial in providing the help and resources to raise awareness of dementia within our community.”
In football, Dementia is now a widely discussed issue due to many former professional players being diagnosed with the condition. This has led to calls for increased awareness and research into the potential risks of developing dementia due to playing football, specifically heading the ball.
Our Walking Football Coordinator, Andy McInnes, has experienced dementia firsthand through a member of the Ayr United Former Player Club and this gave him the inspiration to launch the Dementia Friendly Walking Football pilot sessions. The outcome of the sessions is to provide a supportive environment for individuals with dementia, offering caregivers and their families a chance to find respite, connect with others facing similar challenges and engage in enjoyable activities together.
Andy McInnes spoke on the importance of the support from Stagecoach:
“We are extremely grateful to Stagecoach for partnering with us on this project. Their support has allowed us to offer sessions that are free to attend. Partnering with a business like Stagecoach is crucial in providing opportunities for people living with dementia and their carers, including family members, to participate in activities and obtain some respite for a few hours. Additionally, we extend our thanks to Shoot Soccer for generously making their facilities available to us.”
Anyone who is looking to get involved should contact Andy McInnes, our Walking Football Coordinator, on 07984 326056. The sessions take place each week on a Monday at Shoot Soccer, Ayr from 2pm – 4pm.
