Sefton-based Feelgood Factory understands the importance of physical activity and its contribution towards maintaining and improving people’s mental health and wellbeing.

Netherton Feelgood Factory is a community-led, healthy living centre dedicated to helping local people improve their health, well-being and quality of life.

Every Friday from 12pm-1pm, Walking Football is held at Netherton Activity Centre. This activity targets men over 45 who may have, through illness or lifestyle, neglected or reduced their physical activity.

Walking football has the same rules as football except no running is allowed.

Feelgood Factory currently has 20 regular weekly attendees who participate throughout the year.

There are also eight men over 45 who are registered to play on a monthly basis in the Liverpool County F.A. walking football league based at ‘Goals’ in Netherton.

Many of the participants who have joined have been recuperating or attempting to manage physical and mental illnesses including heart bypass, diabetes, high cholesterol and depression.

This activity has also made a contribution in reducing the social isolation felt by participants.

To find out more about Walking Football call David Martin-Corkill or Malcom Bannon on 0151 291 8010.

The Feelgood Factory is supporting the ‘30 Days of Sefton In Mind’ Campaign – to spread the word about local services and activities available to people in Sefton to improve their mental health.

Approximately 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year. In England, 1 in 6 people report experiencing a common mental health problem (such as anxiety and depression) in any given week.

The overall number of people with mental health problems has not changed significantly in recent years, but worries about things like money, jobs and benefits can make it harder for people to cope. In Sefton there many activities and services that happen in the community every week, that you might not even know about, which could improve your mental health and help make life a little easier.

So, from World Suicide Prevention Day (10th September) to World Mental Health Day (10th October) we are going to spread the word about local services and activities available to people in Sefton. Look out for the hashtag #SeftonInMind and join in by telling us about good local services and activities that have helped you.