Wellbeing

FIT FANS

Fit Fans is a 12 week weight loss programme originally curated by the EFL Trust. The Bolton Wanderers arm of the project, more locally known as Fit Trotters, gather on Mondays (for the women) and Wednesdays (for the men) in the Bolton Wanderers media suite to begin the classroom portion of the session. Week by week the participants are taught about various day to day adjustments they can make to help them lead a healthier lifestyle such as cutting down on fatty/sugary foods, monitoring their alcohol intake and increasing their step count. The following half of each session then consists of a light circuit session in the neighbouring concourse.

Active Ageing

Extra Time Hub – ETH provides the opportunity for over 50s to socialise, form new friendships and do the things they enjoy. This include weekly gatherings at the football stadium, but also a varied combination of face to face and online groups and activities. Activities vary from quizzes, arts and crafts and music to walking football, table tennis, yoga or just a chat and cup of tea.

Sporting Memories – This project takes place in the Bolton Stadium Hotel on the last Friday of every month and provides a space for over 50s to reminisce on moments gone from the sport we all love. Participants have often brought old memorabilia to the session or have been visited by special guests such as John McGinlay and Syd Farrimond.

Team Talk

‘Team Talk’ is a free, weekly male mental health session which takes place here at the stadium every Monday evening, 6:30pm – 8pm. The session is open to all men aged 18+ and aims to tackle the stigma surrounding male mental health, in an informal and relaxed setting. The project is designed to provide a safe space for men to talk, build social connections, and improve confidence. Attendees can take part in games, mental wellbeing workshops, and enjoy refreshments.

ANDYSMANCLUB

In mid-2016, nine men met in a small room in the typical Yorkshire town of Halifax with a simple aim of talking through their issues and helping each other deal with the struggles in their lives. All in attendance agreed there was a magic in that room that had to be shared. This was the start of a movement that has grown faster than anyone first involved could have ever imagined. Fast forward almost 6 years and ANDYSMANCLUB now has groups at over 120 locations across England, Scotland and Wales. ANDYSMANCLUB is a free-to-attend talking group that runs every Monday night at 7pm excluding on bank holidays.

ANDYSMANCLUB takes its name from Andrew Roberts, a man who sadly took his own life aged 23 in early 2016. Andy’s family had no inkling that he was suffering or struggling to the extent that he would do this, and wanted to try and prevent other families from going through what they had. They set up ANDYSMANCLUB, a group where men aged 18 and above can speak openly about their mental health in a judgement-free, non-clinical environment. Groups now operate nationwide and are completely volunteer-led, with all group facilitators having first interacted when they came through the door as a service user.

Inside Out

Inside Out is a weekly football session that takes place every Tuesday at Burnden Park. The aim of these sessions are to improve the mental health or participants through social interaction and physical exercise.