The Veterans’ Foundation has awarded a grant to Glasgow Veterans United (GVU), a Rangers Charity Foundation’s walking football programme for veterans.
The 14-week programme is run in partnership with SSAFA’s Glasgow’s Helping Heroes and has been expanded into a weekly walking football session providing more well-rounded support for veterans in the Glasgow area all year.
The Veterans’ Foundation awarded £23,170 to the programme. The first grant it has awarded to the Rangers charity.
Its walking football programme is free and gives veterans who are struggling to adapt back to civilian life a routine and help to build a social support group, as well as other advice and support where needed.
Walking football is a fast-growing version of the sport, which is non-contact and allows participants to play football and boost fitness without the same risk of injury or level of exertion as the main game.
All veterans are welcome to an hour of walking football on the club’s new astroturf pitch at the Ibrox Community Complex, with the iconic Ibrox Stadium as a backdrop, followed by an hour of social time with additional support on hand if required.
That support includes help with housing and benefits, financial advice, assistance with employability, health advice and access to trauma counselling.
“Rangers Charity Foundation has a long and proud history of supporting armed services personnel and veterans and we are so pleased to be able to introduce this enhanced programme, which will be a fantastic addition to our existing dedicated programme provision for veterans. Thank you to the Veterans’ Foundation for making this possible,” said Connal Cochrane, Chief Executive of the Rangers Charity Foundation.
Sarah Kelling, Grants Manager at the Veterans’ Foundation, said:
“Sport has long been acknowledged as a powerful feel-good for improving mental health and we were delighted to support the Rangers Charity Foundation’s Walking Football programme for veterans.
“Veterans have the chance to play at the Ibrox Community Complex, benefitting from the exercise and the social aspects of the programme, as well as the additional support the Foundation has made available to them, which can have a profound impact on their wellbeing.”
