Volunteer spotlight on Kate

To mark Volunteers’ Week this year, we’ve been interviewing some of our wonderful volunteers to find out more about why they volunteer for Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin.

We’re wrapping up the week with Kate, who runs our Women’s Walking Football group:

‘I have been a football fan nearly all my life and of the generation that were told "girls don't kick balls they throw them." I had known about the Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin men's walking football for many years and wondered back in the winter of 2022 if the charity had a women's group.’

‘So I turned up one day and asked, and said if they hadn't got a group could I start one? I was convinced there were many ladies like me that wanted the opportunity to kick a ball and be involved in a team sport. So with the great support of the Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin staff, and their enthusiasm, the first ball was kicked in March 2023. We started with nine ladies and over the weeks the numbers grew. We now have over 30 on the list.’

‘The emphasis of the group is on fun and friendship, football is just a means to an end. As in life we have a wide range of abilities, but we now have ladies willing to organise skill training on a weekly basis and the mixed ability matches mean everyone can get involved.’

‘We enjoy playing whatever the weather and have a very relaxed attitude to rules, times etc., the emphasis being always on fun. There are opportunities for those more keen players to play more serious matches, in tournaments arranged with contacts we have built up over the year, but inevitably they come back, enjoying the more inclusive way we play.’

Volunteers’ Week is an opportunity to celebrate volunteers and to thank them for the amazing work they do. If you’d like to find out more about volunteering for Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin, call us on 01743 233 123 or email volunteering@ageukstw.org.uk