Project title: Lifeline Football: Fit, Fuel and Flourish
Region: Fivemiletown, Northern Ireland
Award amount: £9910
Date: January 2025 – January 2026
This Healthy Heart Grant project has now finished, read on for the project highlights.
The Problem
Fivemiletown , a rural community in Northern Ireland, ranks among the top 15% nationwide with access to services deprivation, meaning residents struggle to find basic services like leisure facilities, GP surgeries, opticians and pharmacies. Heart disease causes nearly a quarter of all deaths in Northern Ireland and around 4,000 deaths each year – an average of 11 people each day. Men over age 40 are also especially vulnerable to heart disease due to factors such as physical inactivity, poor diet and mental health challenges. As the only football club in Fivemiletown, the charity was aware of the lack of physical activity and social engagement opportunities for men in the area and ran this project to better their heart health.
The Project
Lifeline Football: Fit, Fuel and Flourish project focused on re-engaging men over 40 in physical activity through social football. They ran both coaching sessions and recreational games each week for those who wish to become more active and reduce their risk of heart disease. Participants had the chance to socialise and develop friendships through regular workshops including nutrition, mental health and cooking sessions. All participants attended a first aid course, and two beneficiaries were given the opportunity to attend a UEFA coaching course, safeguarding training and mental health training so they can continue to coach projects similar to this one in the future.
Project Highlights:
Fivemiletown United FC carried out health measurements on beneficiaries throughout their project. 55 participants took part in the project with 80% seeing a positive change in BMI and 88% experiencing weight loss. The structured yet informal social football model proved effective in engaging participants who may not traditionally access health or fitness programmes, supporting both physical health improvement and sustained behaviour change. The project also increased social togetherness through the built-in buddy system.