St Thomas Women’s Walking Football – A Grassroots Community Effort

In autumn 2024, two women at a local community meeting in St Thomas, proposed the idea of women’s walking football. Walking football, a non-contact, accessible version of the popular game, seemed like a great opportunity to engage women of all ages and abilities. The Community Physical Activity Officer (CPAO), who was also part of this meeting, saw the potential in this and decided to take the idea further.

In collaboration with the two women, the word was spread through community groups, social media and the local Community Builder. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with women from across the city expressing an interest and many of them joining a dedicated WhatsApp chat organised by the CPAO. The chat became one of the main communication and planning tools for the new project.

The CPAO secured initial funding from Live & Move, with Exeter City Community Trust offering balls and bibs to help get things off the ground. A few weeks down the line, the Riverside Leisure Centre’s 5-a-side indoor football pitch was booked, with the first session launching early in November 2024, less than two months after the idea was born. The sessions were deliberately kept free of charge to enable as many women as possible to participate, while several a couple of walking football coaches volunteered their time to help with the first few sessions.

Four months later, this small but dedicated group of women keeps meeting every Monday evening to play friendly games, enjoying the benefits of gentle exercise and social connection. Since its inception, new people have joined and the sessions are characterised by their inclusive and “friendly atmosphere”, described as “welcoming and accessible”. Some of its members include people who have never played football before and those with disabilities, who would otherwise be excluded from participating in football. With diverse women of all ages and abilities, the sessions are offering a “non-judgemental” space to socialise and play in a mutually supportive and non-competitive environment.

This group serves as a great example of how a simple idea, with the right support, can generate lots of community engagement, creating new opportunities and a nurturing space within local areas. The women involved are keen to continue playing together and are currently working towards making the sessions financially sustainable. They encourage new people to come and join them along the way.