What is Football Therapy?

Football Therapy is the term we use to describe our football-based support programme for people experiencing mental health challenges, poor wellbeing, or social isolation. Using the power of football, we provide a welcoming and inclusive environment where participants can improve their physical health, build confidence, develop transferable skills, and connect with others.

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Delivered through both one-to-one and group sessions, Football Therapy is designed to support personal growth, enhance wellbeing, and create positive experiences. Our goal is simple: to ensure every participant leaves in a better mindset than when they arrived.

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What is the format of a typical Football Therapy session?

Each Football Therapy session is designed to promote physical wellbeing, social connection, and personal development through a range of enjoyable football-based activities. Sessions begin with a group discussion, providing an opportunity for participants to check in, share experiences, explore mental health topics, and build awareness in a supportive environment.

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This is followed by a structured warm-up to prepare both mind and body for activity while helping to reduce the risk of injury. Participants then take part in a variety of team-based exercises, which may include fun games, skill-building challenges, and football-related drills that encourage communication, teamwork, confidence, and inclusion.

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Each session concludes with a friendly match, offering participants the chance to put their skills into practice in a relaxed and enjoyable setting. To ensure everyone can take part, matches are often played with limited touches to promote involvement across all ability levels, and a strict no slide-tackling rule is in place to maintain a safe and positive environment for all.

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How long are your Football Therapy sessions?

Football Therapy sessions take place weekly and are approximately 60 minutes in duration. Our priority is to provide every participant with a full and meaningful session experience.

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During the winter months, the pitches are shared with local football teams. While sessions may occasionally start a little later than scheduled due to pitch availability, we will always ensure that participants receive the full 60 minutes of support and activity.

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How much does it cost to attend a Football Therapy session?

All Football Therapy sessions are free to attend. We are passionate about ensuring that anyone seeking support for their mental health and wellbeing can access our services, regardless of their financial circumstances.

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At a time when many people are experiencing increased financial pressures due to the cost-of-living crisis, we believe that access to support should never come at a cost. Our goal is to remove barriers, create opportunities for connection and recovery, and ensure that everyone who needs help feels able to reach out and participate.

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Where does the funding to run the Football Therapy session come from?

To ensure our Football Therapy sessions remain free and accessible, we undertake a range of fundraising activities throughout the year and apply for community grants to help cover the costs of delivering the programme. This funding supports essential expenses such as pitch hire, insurance, equipment, and the ongoing maintenance of resources.

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Participants are welcome to support our fundraising efforts or make a donation if they wish, although there is never any obligation to do so. These contributions help us continue providing valuable support to those who need it most.

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We are also incredibly grateful to the many organisations, businesses, and community groups that have chosen to support us through their own fundraising initiatives. Their generosity plays a vital role in helping us sustain and grow our services.

For information about upcoming fundraising events and ways to get involved, please visit our social media pages.

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Can I get involved with Kick Start FC even if I'm no good at football?

Our Football Therapy sessions are open to people of all abilities and fitness levels — whether you're a seasoned player or have never kicked a football before. No previous experience is required, and there is no pressure to perform or compete.

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The focus isn't on being the best player on the pitch; it's about taking part, connecting with others, staying active, and doing something positive for your mental health and wellbeing. We strive to create a supportive, inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome, valued, and able to participate at their own pace.

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Do I have to fill in a registration form to attend a Football Therapy session?

To take part in our Football Therapy sessions, all participants are required to complete a registration form before attending. This helps us understand your reasons for accessing our service, identify any support needs, and ensure that expectations are clear, particularly for those who may be seeking specialist or professional mental health support.

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The registration process also provides us with important information, including an emergency contact, enabling us to maintain a safe and supportive environment for all participants.

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All information provided is treated in the strictest confidence and managed in accordance with UK GDPR and data protection regulations.

Please note that, for safeguarding and administrative purposes, individuals who have not completed a registration form will not be permitted to attend sessions.

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Am I eligible to join the Football Therapy sessions if I don't personally struggle with my mental health, mental ill health or social isolation?

Our Football Therapy sessions are specifically designed for individuals experiencing poor mental health, mental ill health, or social isolation. To ensure that places remain available for those who are most likely to benefit from this support, we kindly ask that registration forms are only completed by individuals who meet these criteria.

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If you are unsure whether our Football Therapy programme is right for you, or would like to discuss your circumstances before registering, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our team. We will be happy to answer any questions and help you determine whether the service is appropriate for your needs - for enquiries, please feel free to contact us by email.

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I would like to get involved, but I am unable to attend every week. Is this an issue?

We understand that attending every session may not always be possible. Mental health challenges can sometimes make participation difficult, and we recognise that people have other commitments and responsibilities to manage.

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While there is no expectation to attend every session, we encourage participants to engage as regularly as they can. Consistent attendance can help individuals build routine, develop connections with others, and gain the greatest benefit from the support, activities, and opportunities that Football Therapy provides.

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Our aim is to create a welcoming and supportive environment where participants feel comfortable attending at a pace that works for them.

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Is Kick Start FC a football club?

No. We are a registered mental health charity (Charity Commission number 1203577), committed to delivering safe, effective, and high-quality support to our service users.

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In addition, we are affiliated with the Wiltshire Football Association, which enables us to uphold robust safeguarding standards and ensures our volunteers have access to high-quality training, guidance, and development opportunities. This partnership helps us continually enhance the delivery of our Football Therapy sessions and maintain a safe and supportive environment for all participants.

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Do you play friendly football fixtures?

We only participate in friendly fixtures where we feel the match aligns with our charitable aims. Our preference is to play against other charity teams or organisations that share similar values and objectives.

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Friendly fixtures provide a valuable opportunity for service users to step outside their comfort zones and apply the skills, confidence, and resilience they have been developing in a more challenging but supportive environment. This may include participation in charity tournaments and similar events.

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These occasions also allow us to build connections with other organisations, share best practice, and raise awareness of our work within the wider community.

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Do you run a Football Therapy service for children?

We have previously explored delivering Football Therapy sessions for younger age groups. However, we found that the expectations of parents and carers did not always fully align with the values, structure, and therapeutic focus of our service. As a result, we made the decision to pause our Youth Football Therapy sessions.

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This decision allows us to remain focused on delivering safe, consistent, and high-quality support for the participants we currently work with.

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However, we remain open to revisiting this in the future. If there is sufficient demand and we are able to secure the appropriate funding, resources, and safeguarding frameworks, we would consider the possibility of reintroducing youth sessions.