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Exploring the Health and Social Impacts of Community-Based Walking Football in Underprivileged Areas of Nottingham(shire)

    Collaboratory 2026 PhD Project

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    Key Details

    Project Title: Exploring the Health and Social Impacts of Community-Based Walking Football in Underprivileged Areas of Nottingham(shire)

    Deadline:11:59pm, 30th November 2025 

    Host University: Nottingham Trent University 

    School/department: Science and Technology

    Start date: Wednesday 1st April 2026

    Funding offer: Tuition fees covered in full (worth approx. £15-17k across full PhD programme). Monthly stipend based on £20,780 per annum, pro rata, tax free.

    Working hours: Full-time (minimum 37.5 hrs per week). 

    Working style: Primarily in-person at host university. Flexible working supported. Working pattern to be agreed between successful candidate and lead supervisor.  

    Project Supervisors

    About The Project

    Walking football has grown rapidly in recent years, with an estimated 60,000 people now playing regularly in England (The Guardian, 2023), reflecting its appeal as an inclusive and accessible form of exercise for middle-aged and older adults. With roots in traditional team sport and adapted rules to enhance safety and accessibility, it offers a distinctive setting where physical health, mental well-being, and social identity converge. This project explores the health and social transformations experienced by participants in open-access walking football programmes delivered in areas of Nottingham facing high levels of deprivation, in partnership with Nottingham Forest Community Trust (NFCT).  

    The project will use a mixed-methods design embedded in a participatory framework. A steering group of researchers, community organisations, delivery partners, and link workers will provide oversight, while Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) events will involve participants and stakeholders in co-designing and refining the study. The first arm will examine health and wellbeing among current walking football participants, exploring effects on physical and mental health, social experiences, and belonging. The second will establish a new walking football provision, delivered as a 3-month intervention with a 3-month follow-up, to evaluate outcomes for new participants. Across both arms, quantitative health assessments, qualitative interviews, and ethnographic observation will capture walking football as a lived, collective experience shaped by community dynamics and social identity.  

    Bridging public health, sociology, and exercise science, this research critically evaluates walking football as both an exercise intervention and a site of community-making and health citizenship. Unlike many health programmes that struggle with uptake, walking football sustains engagement: 69% of Walking Football Association survey respondents had played for over two years, driven by camaraderie, routine, and shared enjoyment. Players emphasise social and mental wellbeing benefits, alongside the chance to keep playing the sport they love (Walking Football Association, 2022). Its inclusive, low-threshold format offers promise for groups facing barriers to conventional fitness programmes. Building on our established research demonstrating the safety and low injury risk of walking football (Price et al., 2025a, b), this study offers new insights into its wider community and public health value, providing actionable evidence for health professionals, local authorities, and community sport organisations.  

    This project has been co-created with and is supported by researchers from Nottingham Trent University, University of Nottingham and partners at Nottingham Forest Community Trust. The successful candidate for this project will be enrolled at Nottingham Trent University.  

    Project Aims 

    The overall aims of the project are:     

    1. A detailed understanding of the physical, mental, and social health outcomes associated with participation in walking football. 
    2. Publication of primary research articles and an implementation paper detailing the setup, delivery, and community integration of walking football programmes. 
    3. Practical recommendations to inform and enhance walking football initiatives across Nottingham and similar urban areas. 
    4. Collaboration with existing partners within The FA, including Professor Dame Robina Shah, to support evidence-informed policy development, such as the FA Walking Football Game Plan. 
    5. A knowledge exchange event to share findings and best practices with community partners, practitioners, and policymakers. 

    Core Competencies 

    Category

    Competencies 

    Assessed:

    Application (A), Interview (I) 

    Comprehension and evaluation 

    Strong understanding of the project and its subject matter. 

    A / I 

    Analytical, researcher mindset with keen attention to detail. 

    A / I 

    Communicate complex concepts with clarity and precision. 

    A / I 

    Able to identify connections, patterns, gaps, and irregularities in information/data. 

    I

    Able to interpret data/information confidently with logic and empathy to derive meaning. 

    I

    Social and emotional

    Demonstrable experience of responding effectively to changing contexts, information and demands. 

    A

    Ability to persevere in the face of challenges/failures and to remain constructive in developing solutions. 

    A

    Demonstrable passion for learning with clear drive and curiosity to undertake this specific research project.

    A / I

    Willingness to immerse oneself in the research subject matter and make a contribution to new knowledge through a PhD. 

    A / I 

    Strong desire to make a positive community impact through the research. 

    A / I 

    Willingness to think deeply about complex concepts and engage with academic ideas and theory. 

    A / I

    Preparedness and potential for success

    Experience of working, collaborating and communicating effectively with different stakeholders. 

    A 

    High level of self-motivation and ability to work with minimal guidance. 

    A / I 

    Strong organisational and time-management skills with the ability to balance and prioritise multiple tasks. 

    A / I 

    Ability to identify potential challenges and complexities and thoughtfully consider possible solutions. 

    A / I 

    Able to identify the technical, personal, or professional skills required for a task and take action to develop these. 

    A / I 

    Community Context

    Genuine desire to undertake community-engaged research over more traditional approaches to research. 

    A 

    Understand the impact of and need for the inclusion of diverse experiences and points of view in research. 

    A / I 

    Appreciation/understanding of the importance of community insight and experience in the generation of new knowledge. 


    A / I 


    Awareness/understanding of the broader societal context related to the subject matter of the project. 

    A / I 

    Project-Specific Competencies 

    EssentialAssessed: 
    Application (A), Interview (I)     		Desirable Assessed: 
    Application (A), Interview (I) 
    Experience working with diverse groups, including older adults, community participants, and organisational partners.            A / I Evidence of resilience, creativity, and initiative in responding to unexpected challenges, whether logistical, interpersonal, or contextual, within dynamic real-world environments.    A / I 
    A capacity to work inclusively with people from varied social, cultural, health, and ability backgrounds, showing respect and adaptability in community-based environments.  A / I Capable of collaborating effectively with varied stakeholders         A / I 
    Experience of contributing to group efforts in professional, voluntary, or community contexts, with the ability to work effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary team.          A / I Experience working in a community sport setting, especially those including people from diverse socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.       A / I 
    Capacity to recognise and navigate ethical challenges in practice, including issues of consent, confidentiality, and researcher– participant boundaries in community sport or similar participatory settings.         A / ICritical thinking skills and a desire to learn.    A / I
    Apply here

    References for Further Reading 

    1. Walking Football Association (WFA) – Annual Survey Report 2022 Free report providing national insights into participation, growth, and experiences of walking football. https://thewfa.co.uk/walking-football-survey-2022/ The Guardian – “Still in the game: the rapid rise of walking football” (2023) Photo essay and commentary on the cultural and social significance of walking football in the UK. 
    2.  https://www.theguardian.com/football/gallery/2023/aug/18/still-in-the-game-the-rapid-rise-of-walking-football-in-pictures 
    3.  Sport England – “Active Lives Survey” Open data and reports on participation in sport and physical activity, including walking football as an emerging trend. https://www.sportengland.org/news-and-inspiration/record-numbers-playing-sport-and-taking-part-physical-activity  
    4. Public Health England / NHS England – Fit for the future: 10 Year Health Plan for England – executive summary (Updated 30 July 2025) Policy framework outlining preventative health strategies, personalised care, and social prescribing. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/10-year-health-plan-for-england-fit-for-the-future/fit-for-the-future-10-yearhealth-plan-for-england-executive-summary  
    5. Price AG, James RM, Hough J, Hennis PJ, Ahmed A, Varley I. Benefits and risks of walking football for healthy ageing: a narrative review. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2025 Apr 10;11(2):e002438. doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2024-002438. PMID: 40226332; PMCID: PMC11987125.  
    6. England NHS – Core20PLUS5 Programme (Healthcare Inequalities Improvement) Policy framework relevant to inclusion and targeted interventions for underserved groups. https://www.england.nhs.uk/about/equality/equality-hub/national-healthcare-inequalities-improvementprogramme/core20plus5/  
    7. Nottingham Forest Community Trust – “Neuro Walking Football” initiative Example of innovative provision designed for people with neurological conditions, illustrating inclusive practice in action. https://www.nottinghamforestcommunitytrust.co.uk/neuro-walking-football/