Haverfordwest County is delighted to announce that we have teamed up with Age Cymru Dyfed to ‘Kick-Off Conversation’ together with a new joint project called Bluebird’s Befrienders to support those who are isolated and lonely, by connecting them through sport.
The project has been funded through the Friend In Need Welsh Government grant on behalf of Age Cymru to improve social connections and reduce social isolation for people over 50 years of age.
This initiative will use the power of football and sport to connect, inspire and engage people who have an interest in the sport. We want to target people specifically in Pembrokeshire who are over the age of 50 who are suffering from isolation and loneliness due to the pandemic.
The aim is to reignite and stir up sporting memories and experiences when talking about sports, teams, players, matches, and experiences from the past by working with images and sports memorabilia to stimulate memories.
Initially, we will use Zoom to help people chat online and have fun by using a Bluebirds-produced tool kit pack which includes a range of fun multi-sport activity cards, puzzles, quizzes, crosswords, pen, and stress ball to enable people to work together and find common ground.
We are also offering digital support through the Pembrokeshire Association Voluntary Services Community Connector tablet loan scheme and Age Cymru Dyfed digital device loan programme.
The goal is to support people over 50 to begin conversations via Zoom to eventually offer face-to-face sessions at the club. We hope that this will lead to an increase in sporting participation, watching matches together, and finding ways to help them tackle isolation.
We will be also running a Bluebird’s Befriending campaign to recruit and identify volunteers inside and outside the club to join our team. Once volunteers have been identified they will receive training and support from Age Cymru Dyfed and will be suitably matched up to a referral befriendee.
To ‘Kick-Off Conversation’ we are hosting a taster Zoom session for anybody who is interested and would like to find out more about the Bluebird’s Befrienders.
If you or know of anyone who is over 50 and would you like to get together with others to chat about sport and have some fun and meet new people? If so, then get in touch as we want to hear from you!
There will be Zoom taster sessions on Friday 26th March at 2 pm -2.30 pm.
Register in advance for this meeting by clicking here
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Please sign up by following the above link or if you have any questions please contact:
Emma Bingham – Age Cymru Dyfed Life Links Coordinator
emma.bingham@agecymrudyfed.org.uk 07415721205 / 01437 723370
Age Cymru Dyfed (ageuk.org.uk)
Wyndham Williams – Haverfordwest County AFC Community Development Manager
w.williams@hcafc1899.football 07377201118
