Football on prescription is boosting mental health

A repeat of a scheme that offers watching football as a way of improving mental health, has been prescribed by bosses at a Gloucestershire football club.

Football on Prescription saw GPs refer 30 people to the Forest Green Rovers ground in Nailsworth last season, as part of a pilot developed by club chairman Dale Vince and Labour MP for Stroud Dr Simon Opher.

The success of the pilot has encouraged the pair to bring the scheme back for the 2026/27 football season.

Opher, a GP for 30 years, said he had witnessed first-hand the impact that effective social prescribing could have on "improving mental health and overall wellbeing".

One female patient involved with the pilot said: "The atmosphere was fantastic.

"Chatting to the people sat next to us was lovely.

"The game was exciting with a last-minute goal making FGR the winners. It was crazy."

A male patient said he had felt a "sense of belonging" at the club, of "being part of a happy crowd of supporters who didn't know how depressed I had been".

He highlighted the "kindness of staff and volunteers and the camaraderie of the crowd" at the club.

"And we won!" he said.

The scheme has partnered with more than a dozen GP surgeries across the Stroud area.

"I'm really pleased that participant testimonials from last season were so positive," said Opher.

"I'm confident we can take the learning from the pilot forward into this new season and continue to deliver meaningful outcomes for participants."

Vince said football could be a "positive and considerable social force".

He said: "It brings people together, creates a sense of belonging, gives us shared endeavour - and it's fun.

"At FGR last season, we saw the difference that this shared experience game can make for people struggling with their mental health."

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