Ipswich Town FC and the British Red Cross club together against loneliness with new ticketing scheme
As part of the English Football League’s (EFL) official charity partnership with the British Red Cross, Ipswich Town Football Club is piloting a new ticketing scheme for members of the community in a bid to help those facing loneliness and isolation.
The new scheme will bring people together with other local fans to enjoy the nation’s favourite game to help reduce feelings of isolation that people may be experiencing and encourage new friendships and connections.
The project saw a group of fans attend this past Saturday’s match against Shrewsbury. Among those in the crowd enjoying Ipswich’s 2-0 victory was Peter Rowley, who said he’d previously been a regular at the club’s Portman Road stadium, but had recently been unable to come to games due to ill health.
He said: “The last time I was at a football match, about 18 months ago, I found myself hanging over a rail, gasping for breath. I was then diagnosed with a condition that causes a gradual closing of the heart valves.
“There’s no cure for this condition and my current life expectancy is about two years. However, my life can be prolonged by undergoing a risky operation, which I’m expecting to have in the next six months or so.
“I used to go and watch Ipswich, but since my diagnosis, I can’t walk far. With the help of Ian, my friend and carer and the kind invitation and loan of a wheelchair from the Red Cross, I was able to go and enjoy the match.
"To be able to go to a live football match again was a dream come true for me. I loved every minute of it.”
The ticketing initiative comes at a time when most people (86 per cent) living in the east of England believe loneliness is a problem in England, according to research by the British Red Cross.
The charity found more than one in three (35 per cent) people in the east of England are experiencing loneliness and almost two thirds (65 per cent) feel it's a bigger problem now than last year.
Over three quarters (76 per cent) worry that the cost of living is pushing more people into loneliness, and a third (33 per cent) of people in the region said they’d had to restrict how much they socialise this winter.
At Christmas, nearly half of the people surveyed from the East of England (44 per cent) said they were cutting back on socialising in pubs, restaurants and clubs due to financial concerns and 26 per cent cut back on travelling to see family and friends.
Lisa Somerville, Mobility Aids Service Manager from the British Red Cross, an organisation which already supports over 100,000 people experiencing loneliness per year through its services across the country, said: “Loneliness can have a huge impact on people’s health and wellbeing and is known to be as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
“The incidence of loneliness skyrocketed during the pandemic, as a result of people being cut off from their family and friends. Now the increased cost of living is forcing many to cut back and sacrifice on socialising, making people more at risk of becoming lonely and isolated.
“We know health and mobility issues can lead to increased social isolation and this ticketing initiative will provide a vital lifeline for people who may be struggling and feel desperately alone.”
Dan Palfrey, director of the Ipswich Town Foundation, said: “We were delighted to welcome local residents to Portman Road who may be currently struggling with social isolation and loneliness.
"Ipswich Town is committed to supporting the health and wellbeing of those living in our community. It was brilliant to also welcome staff and volunteers to our recent Senior Blues session at Portman Road before the match.
“Many thanks to the EFL and British Red Cross for being supportive of this ticketing scheme.”
The British Red Cross is the EFL’s Official Charity Partner and will be combining their efforts to reduce isolation in communities around the country via the EFL and its 72 clubs.
