The Positive Pilgrims football team participates in the Lincolnshire Ability Counts League — and have progressed to regional final of the FA Disability Cup.

The squads meet up once a month to participate in a round of games at various venues across Lincolnshire.

United community football development officer Richard Houghton, who is pictured shaking hands with Smart Move director Alistair Arundell, told bufc.co.uk: “A wealth of research has demonstrated that participation in regular football sessions can have a massively beneficial impact on reducing mental health symptoms in the general population and the research suggests that for individuals with current mental health problems, the benefits can be even greater.

“Based on evidence like this, the Football Association along with countless NHS trusts have gone about setting up football teams and activities primarily as a form of treatment for those accessing mental health services.

“This means that participants can be from a variety of diagnostic backgrounds, from mild depression to more extreme disorders such as paranoid schizophrenia.

“We sincerely thank Alistair Arundell of Smart Move for this sponsorship deal which has helped Positive Pilgrims this season.”

For more information on the Positive Pilgrims project, which also runs a gym session, multi-sport session, volunteer work placements and adult learning courses, contact Richard Houghton on (01205) 364406 or via e-mail.

Smart Move can be contacted via:

Smart Move
10 Dolphin Lane
Boston
Lincs
PE21 6EU

(01205) 500500 or 07957 330990
www.smartmoveboston.co.uk