Return to play announcement
2020 was a difficult year for many with the world changing as we once knew it. Street Football Wales has had to overcome a series of challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic amongst the day to day running of the charity. However, Street Football Wales has used this time to develop and grow the charity in a new innovative way.
Following the most recent Welsh Government Update regarding the return of over 18s organised sport, we are pleased to announce our return to play dates.
Our outdoor sessions: Swansea, Cardiff and Merthyr Tydfil will begin the week commencing 26/04/21.
Our indoor sessions: Cardiff (female only) and Newport will begin the week commencing 17/05/21
Swansea
Start Date: 28/04/21 (every Wednesday)
When: 14:00pm – 15:30pm
Where: Meadow View Sports Complex, SA1 6RZ
Cardiff
Start Date: 29/04/21 (every Thursday)
When: 16:45 – 18:00pm
Where: GOL Football Centre, CF11 8BR
Merthyr Tydfil
Start Date: 30/04/21 (every Friday)
When: 14:00pm – 15:30pm
Where: Merthyr Town FC, CF47 8RF
Newport
Start Date: 18/05/21 (every Tuesday)
When: 14:30pm – 15:30pm
Where: Newport Indoor Football Centre, NP20 2HZ
Cardiff (Female only)
Start Date: 20/05/21 (every Thursday)
When: 13:00pm – 14:00pm
Where: Ocean Park Arena, CF24 5HF
To register to any of these sessions go to: New Player Registration Form (smartsurvey.co.uk)
Our sessions play a huge part in what we do at Street Football Wales and we are excited to hear about them returning. We look forward to seeing many of you attending. All spaces are limited due to Welsh Government regulations so please book to avoid disappointment.
The Importance of Exercise
Exercise is incredibly important in maintaining a healthy lifestyle both mentally and physically.
The recommended amount of exercise for your average adult is about 150 minutes over the course of the week.
Physically, benefits of exercise include reducing the risk of stroke, diabetes and arthritis and cardiovascular diseases. Regular exercise can reduce heart disease by 35%, decreases blood pressure and blood fat levels and is vital in ensuring you stay well. Exercise also plays a vital role in building and maintaining strong muscles and bones.
Mentally, exercise has been proven to improve your mood and can release various brain chemicals that ensure you feel happier, more relaxed and less anxious. Moreover exercise can increase the production of endorphins which encourage positive feelings and reduce the feeling of pain. Furthermore, doing regular exercise helps the health of your brain overall and increases your memory.
Additionally, exercising regularly can improve your sleep by ensuring you fall asleep faster and deepens your sleep. This has several health benefits including increasing recovery.
Finally, exercise can be good for your social life as you can enjoy its benefits with family or friends in a fun social setting. Whether it’s taking part in an exercise class, playing tennis with friends or joining a football team, exercise allows you to engage with others socially which makes you feel more positive in general.
So even if it’s just making a healthy lifestyle change like walking or cycling to work instead of driving, exercise is important in a variety of ways which will improve your general well – being. Exercise gives you the chance to relax, enjoy being outdoors and do activities which make you feel better!
Resources:
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/exercise-health-benefits/
https://www.bupa.co.uk/health-information/exercise-fitness/benefits-of-exercise
https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/pa-health/index.htm
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-benefits-of-exercise
One Year of Lockdown
The coming of March 2021 signals one year since lockdown began across the UK and other nations around the world.
Our lives and everyday activities changed as we once knew them, with many imagining the restrictions would only be lasting a couple of weeks.
During this time people have suffered many hardships but there have also been bright moments to look back on. One of these was the 100th Birthday of Sir Tom Moore who raised £32 million for the NHS by doing laps round his garden. Lockdown has also seen the arising of a global community spirit which has been positive in getting through 2020 and the beginning of this year as well.
Specific to Street Football Wales
Over the past year we have had to adapt our sessions to online due to Covid-19 restrictions, we have delivered more than 60 online sessions. We have also had to adapt from a league structure to friendly games nights due to the capacity limits of 30 people mixing outdoors. Street Football Wales have started weekly drop-in sessions in Newport and Swansea however these have stopped temporarily due to the current lockdown.
Our volunteers have all been upskilled by completing numerous online courses over the year such as FAW Football Leaders awards, Mental health awareness and Equality and Diversity courses. We have also formed many new partnerships with venues and organisations in the past year. Lastly Street Football Wales has had a complete rebrand from the logo to a whole new website.
Hopefully it will only be a couple of weeks until lockdown restrictions are eased.
In the near future we hope to expand further across Wales and deliver weekly drop-in sessions across more locations. In addition, we want to launch a female only programme this summer.
Therefore with exciting times ahead keep updated with the charity and everything Street Football Wales!
World Water Day!
The 22nd March marks World Water Day!
World Water Day is about what water means to people, its true value and how we can protect this vital resource.
The unique day goes back to 1992 when the United Nations held a conference on the environment and development in Rio which resulted in the UN General Assembly announcing World Water Day which then started in March 1993. Since then there has been other celebrated days and events which have been based around a similar topic such as the International Year of Cooperation in the Water Sphere 2013.
The aim of World Water Day is to spread awareness in order to reach the development goal 6 – water and sanitation for all by 2030. 1 in 3 people live without drinking water and by 2050 up to 5.7 billion people could be living in areas where water is scarce for at least one month a year. Thus, action is needed to improve this and highlight waters true value and its multitude of uses. If we reduced global warming by 1.5 degrees above pre industrial levels, we could cut climate induced water stress by as much as 50%.
Extreme weather has caused more than 90% of major disasters over the last decade and is particularly relevant since Covid – 19 requires soap and water to help reduce its spread.
Celebrate World Water Day and hopefully the awareness of waters true value can be spread!
Relevant resources:
https://www.worldwaterday.org/
https://www.unwater.org/worldwaterday2021/
http://sdg.iisd.org/events/world-water-day-2021/
http://www.fao.org/land-water/events/world-water-day-2021/en/
Street Football Wales Q+A with Loren Dykes
This week Street Football Wales interviewed Loren Dykes with questions submitted by both players and volunteers. Loren is one of Street Football Wales prestigious Patrons who has played over 100 caps for the Welsh National team and is currently the assistant coach of Bristol City Women’s.
Loren is extremely passionate about the project and is looking forward to the return of play in the near future. Loren plans on championing Street Football Wales female only development program by attending sessions and playing a vital part in the planning process when safe to do so.
During the interview Loren answers questions around her involvement with the charity, her footballing journey and her views on the development of the female game. Click on the link below to watch the full interview.
All at Street Football Wales would like to thank Loren for her continued support of the charity and look forward to working together in the near future to grow the game.
International Women’s Day
Happy International Women’s Day!
The 8th March marks International Women’s Day giving everyone an opportunity to celebrate the Women in our society and womanhood in general.
International Women’s Day is a key date in the movement for female rights and can be traced back to New York in 1908 when thousands of female garment workers went on strike against their working conditions.
Now International Women’s Day is all about creating a world with gender equality, celebrating women’s achievements, raising awareness against bias and taking action against inequality.
International Women’s Day is a day for celebrating women throughout history and is celebrated globally. IWD usually involves global gatherings, conferences at powerful art exhibitions and festivals.
Every year IWD has a different theme and the theme for 2021 is #ChooseToChallenge. This message promotes people challenging gender inequality in order to create change. This year people will be posting pictures of themselves raising a hand in support of the movement and in challenging prejudice.
This year will also see the role of women in combatting Covid – 19 being celebrated.
So be sure to raise a hand and celebrate all the influential women in your life!
Resources about IWD:
https://www.internationalwomensday.com/
https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus/international-womens-day
Church Calendar Cooking - St David’s Day
Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus!
The 1st of March marks St. David’s day, celebrating the Patron Saint of Wales, and what better way to celebrate then with some traditional Welsh food.
Enjoy St. David’s day with the famous bara brith, a traditional fruit cake and a Welsh classic. The bread is enriched with dried fruit and is made even more delicious with melted butter on top.
Bara brith recipes:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/bara_brith_33441
https://www.visitwales.com/things-do/food-drink/welsh-food/bara-brith-recipe
Welsh cakes are also a Welsh classic and would make an excellent appetiser on St. David’s day. The cakes are flavoured with mixed spice, plump currants and a sprinkling of sugar and are a well-known delicacy. Welsh cake recipes:
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/welsh-cakes
https://www.visitwales.com/things-do/food-and-drink/welsh-food/traditional-welsh-cakes-recipe
https://lovefoodies.com/welsh-cakes/
Perhaps you fancy something a bit more warming? Then a classic rarebit could be the perfect dish. The toasted bread covered in a hot cheese based sauce can be enjoyed at any time on St. David’s day. Welsh rarebit recipes:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/perfectwelshrarebit_13772
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/164787/real-welsh-rarebit/
Make your St. David’s day special, enjoy these traditional welsh recipes and wear your daffodil proud!
Care for a companion
At this point in the current pandemic it is as important as ever to look out for family but equally important to look out for friends as well.
Approaching a potentially difficult responsibility might seem hard at first but there are little things that can be done to ensure we look out for each other just that little bit better.
One way to look out for a friend is just to look out for signals that they may be struggling such as a sudden change in behaviour or physical appearance.
The charity ‘Mind’ have a webpage dedicated to how to support a friend, where helpful tips and advice can be found on how best to help someone with issues they may be experiencing. The page also includes videos with tips from Minds’ campaign team.
Another way to help out a friend is to direct them to appropriate websites or resources from which they can find others who can effectively care for them.
Other charities such as Childline have appropriate resources that can direct people on how best to deal with certain sensitive scenarios - https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/friends-relationships-sex/friends/helping-friend/
Friendships are massively important to everyone and just being there for someone can prevent them from feeling isolated, can give them someone to talk to and can make a real difference.
Other helpful resources:
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z/f/friendship-and-mental-health
https://headspace.org.au/young-people/how-to-help-a-friend/
https://youngminds.org.uk/blog/how-to-stay-connected-during-lockdown/
https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Teens-Young-Adults/How-to-Help-a-Friend
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/signs-someone-is-depressed/
Staying Active at Home
With lockdown restricting access to gyms and preventing other fitness activities it is as important as ever to remain in good shape.
There are several strategies you can use whilst at home to remain fit, both mentally and physically:
- Try functional fitness workouts using body weight only. This can be done using common exercises such as press ups and sit ups.
- Switch up your routine to keep you interested – This might be alternating from HIT workouts to exercises focusing on a particular body part. There are loads of home workout videos online providing new and stimulating workouts for when you are at home
- Set goals for yourself – this will motivate you and provide a sense of achievement when a goal is met
- Keep track of your progress – this could be writing workouts down in a journal that will mean you can tailor workouts to what you like and dislike
- Perhaps most importantly, make it a habit – make sure a workout becomes a regular part of your schedule so that you stick to it as much as possible and gain the most from it
Website such as Which? Provide plenty of articles on how to stay fit whilst at home, especially during this uncertain time:
https://www.which.co.uk/news/2020/05/10-top-tips-for-staying-fit-from-home/
People such as Joe Wicks have used lockdown as a source of motivation to remain active, utilising home workouts and inspiring the masses and has since released a fitness app. Check out his website below:
Don’t forget another way of remaining active is practising football skills in an open space which can improve your mental health and provide enjoyment since football is a key part of all of our lives!
Other resources that provide more helpful tips:
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/free-fitness-ideas/
https://www.verywellfit.com/best-ways-to-exercise-at-home-1231142
Fresh air Friday
Being active has a whole range of benefits when it comes to mental wellbeing.
According to Walking for Health, being active outdoors improves self-perception and self-esteem, mood and sleep quality, and it reduces stress, anxiety and fatigue. To get involved in Fresh Air Friday, you don’t need to be going for hikes or runs. There are lots of simple things you can do to get outdoors and start feeling the benefits of fresh air.
It’s important that you try what feels comfortable for you and give yourself time to find something you enjoy if you want to make long term changes and boost your wellbeing.
Start Small
Whether it’s just opening the windows to let in some fresh air or enjoying your morning coffee in the garden, why not start by making small changes to your routine that allow for more fresh air in your day.
Walking or Cycling
There are so many amazing trails across Cardiff, Swansea, RCT and Newport that you can enjoy. Whether you need something that is accessible for pram or wheelchair access or if you want to try out something a little longer and more adventurous, below are a list of web pages packed with walking routes for you to enjoy*. Please follow Welsh Government guidelines when exercising Alert level 4: frequently asked questions | GOV.WALES
Swansea:
Walking Routes in Swansea, Mumbles & Gower (visitswanseabay.com)
Cardiff:
Find a walking trail in Cardiff - Outdoor Cardiff
Newport:
Walking | Newport City Council
RCT:
Walking Trails | Visit Rhondda Cynon Taf, South Wales (rctcbc.gov.uk)
Bridgend:
Recreational paths in Bridgend County Borough - Bridgend CBC
Port Talbot:
https://www.alltrails.com/wales/neath-port-talbot
Merthyr Tydfil:
https://www.alltrails.com/wales/merthyr-tydfil/merthyr-tydfil
Thoughtful Thursday
Thoughtful Thursday
Thankfulness, or gratitude is the feeling of being happy or grateful because of something.
According to Psychology Today, practicing thankfulness can effectively increase happiness and reduce feelings of depression. So, how can you make practicing thankfulness part of your day?
Here are a few tips for practicing thankfulness, for more advice go to:
How to Practice Gratitude - Mindful
· Keep a Gratitude Journal: Each day, remind yourself of the good things that you are thankful for and write them down. If you’re feeling down one day, you can always look back and remind yourself of the things you have to be thankful for.
· Come to Your Senses. Through our senses—the ability to touch, see, smell, taste, and hear—we gain an appreciation of what it means to be human and the miracle of life. You may be grateful for the sight of blue skies, the sound of children’s laughter, or the taste of a great meal. Focus on the positives.
· Share Your Gratitude with Others. Research has found that expressing gratitude can strengthen relationships. So the next time your partner, friend or family member does something you appreciate, be sure to let them know.
Wellbeing Wednesday
Your health and wellbeing should always remain a priority. As we all continue to play our part to keep Wales safe, here are ten tips to help take care of your mental and physical wellbeing. More info at How to look after your mental health | Mental Health Foundation
1. Talk about your feelings
Talking about your feelings can help you stay in good mental health and deal with times when you feel troubled.
2. Keep active
Regular exercise can boost your self-esteem and can help you concentrate, sleep, and feel better. Exercise keeps the brain and your other vital organs healthy, and is also a significant benefit towards improving your mental health.
3. Eat well
Your brain needs a mix of nutrients in order to stay healthy and function well, just like the other organs in your body. A diet that’s good for your physical health is also good for your mental health.
4. Drink sensibly
We often drink alcohol to change our mood. Some people drink to deal with fear or loneliness, but the effect is only temporary.
When the drink wears off, you feel worse because of the way the alcohol has affected your brain and the rest of your body. Drinking is not a good way to manage difficult feelings.
5. Keep in touch
There’s nothing better than catching up with someone face to face, but that’s not always possible. You can also give them a call, drop them a note, or chat to them online instead. Keep the lines of communication open: it’s good for you!
6. Ask for help
None of us are superhuman. We all sometimes get tired or overwhelmed by how we feel or when things don’t go to plan.
If things are getting too much for you and you feel you can’t cope, ask for help. Your family or friends may be able to offer practical help or a listening ear.
Local services are there to help you.
7. Take a break
A change of scene or a change of pace is good for your mental health.
It could be a five-minute pause from cleaning your kitchen, a half-hour lunch break at work, or a weekend exploring somewhere new. A few minutes can be enough to de-stress you. Give yourself some ‘me time’.
8. Do something you’re good at
What do you love doing? What activities can you lose yourself in? What did you love doing in the past?
Enjoying yourself can help beat stress. Doing an activity you enjoy probably means you’re good at it, and achieving something boosts your self-esteem
9. Accept who you are
We’re all different. It’s much healthier to accept that you’re unique than to wish you were more like someone else. Feeling good about yourself boosts your confidence to learn new skills, visit new places and make new friends. Good self-esteem helps you cope when life takes a difficult turn
10. Care for others
‘Friends are really important… We help each other whenever we can, so it’s a two-way street, and supporting them uplifts me.’
Caring for others is often an important part of keeping up relationships with people close to you. It can even bring you closer together.
If you or someone you know is struggling, we want you to know you are not alone and there is help and support out there to access. Reach out to someone you trust, a doctor or mental health charity to discuss how you are feeling.
Talking Tuesday
We wanted to share some tips and resources to support you to talk more openly about mental health to help support your wellbeing and that of those around you.
Time to Change Wales is the first national campaign to end the stigma and discrimination faced by people with mental health problems.
When talking about your mental health, Time to Change Wales has the following advice:
Be prepared: Think about the different reactions, positive and negative, that the person might have so you’re prepared.
Choose a good time: Choose a time and place where you feel comfortable and ready to talk.
Be ready for lots of questions...or none: The person you are talking to might have lots of questions. Or they might feel uncomfortable and try to move the conversation on – if this happens it’s still helpful that the first step has been taken.
Have some information ready: Sometimes it’s easier for people to find out more in their own time – so it might be useful to have some information to hand.
Take up opportunities to talk: If someone asks you about your mental health, don’t shy away, be yourself and answer honestly.
Courage is contagious: Often, once mental health is out in the open people want to talk. Don’t be surprised if your honesty encourages other people to talk about their own experiences.
(Time to change Wales, 2021)
You can find lots of great advice about talking to someone else about their mental health, here.
If you or someone you know is struggling with your mental health, we want you to know you are not alone and there is help and support out there to access.
Reach out to someone you trust, a family member, a friend, a doctor or get in touch with a mental health charity to discuss how you are feeling and to get the help you may need.
Mindful Monday
It’s Mindful Monday start the week right, we have resources on all thing’s mindfulness and mental health support, to share with you all.
What is mindfulness?
Mindfulness is the idea of learning how to be fully present and engaged in the moment, aware of your thoughts and feelings without distraction or judgment. (Headspace, 2021)
Being more mindful is a great way to help your mental wellbeing and to enjoy life a little bit more by understanding yourself and your surroundings.
There are a variety of mindfulness tips available from a variety of support networks below:
Mind – A selection of helpful mindfulness exercises to try, from mindful walking to colouring and even meditation.
NHS – Different ways to try to help yourself become more mindful including noticing the world around you and trying new experiences.
Bupa – Top tips for positive mindfulness and ways to improve your mental wellbeing with small changes in your life.
If you would prefer to take part in a course to learn how to practice mindfulness, you can check out the below courses by mind:
If you would like to download mindfulness apps for Android and Apple see below a few suggestions:
· Headspace
· Insight timer
· Calm
Check out: Daily Calm | 10 Minute Mindfulness Meditation | Be Present - YouTube for more mindfulness techniques.
Reach out to someone you trust, a family member, a friend, a doctor or get in touch with a mental health charity to discuss how you are feeling and to get the help you may need.
Street Football Wales Kicks off the year with a new image and strategy!
Street Football Wales is a social inclusion charity that delivers football to socially excluded individuals throughout Wales. Our vision is of a fair and inclusive Wales. We have been established since 2003 and provide an open, inclusive, and safe environments to come and play football, make friends, build self-confidence and to support people on their own personal journeys.
As part of our future strategy, we have rebranded our image to align with our core aims and objectives to move Street Football Wales into the next phase of growth, further expanding our delivery to help people who are experiencing various forms of social exclusion and isolation. Street Football Wales’ new image was launched on the 18th December across multiple social media platforms with the intension of impacting the very heart of Wales’ diverse communities. By offering a consistent and recognisable image, we are confident that our awareness will be much more far reaching as we roll out our programme across all areas of Wales. Being Wales’ leading football delivery charity focusing on social exclusion and isolation it is our mission to use football, to create positive social change in Wales.
Street Football Wales is a sports focused charity based in Wales delivering football sessions targeted towards people caught in social exclusion and isolation. Established in 2003 Street Football Wales have helped 1000’s of individuals find a sanctuary where they can be themselves, make friends, play sport and access services to improve their lives. Their mission is to use football, to create positive social change in Wales. Street Football Wales consists of dedicated individuals who provide football sessions in Newport, Swansea, Cardiff and North Wales with the aim to roll out delivery across all regions in Wales.
Written by Chris Lewis (Admin Assistant)