At the end of August I met Mark and Paul from Gorleston Walking Football Club to learn more about the fantastic work they’re doing for local residents. The club was created to give people over 40 a way to stay active, improve mental health, and build social connections — and it has grown from 15 players at their very first session to around 50 regular members aged 40–75.

They train twice a week at Cliff Park High School, every Monday and Thursday from 6pm to 7pm, and new players are always welcome. The first session is free, and the group also runs regular social events to support wellbeing off the pitch, helping members stay connected and supported.

Earlier this year, the club completed a 12‑hour walking football marathon, raising £4,700 for Prostate Cancer UK. They’re now fundraising for kit so they can represent Gorleston in tournaments locally, nationally, and internationally. They’re also constantly looking for new events and charity opportunities to get involved in, showing just how committed they are to giving back to the community.

After meeting the team and seeing the impact they’re having, I’m pleased to confirm that my September monthly donation has gone to support the club.

If you’d like to learn more or support their fundraising, you can visit their Facebook page: Gorleston Walking Football You can donate directly via: https://gofund.me/836ae3004

Groups like this strengthen our community, and I’m pleased to help them — in any way I can — to continue doing exactly that.