SO14 Active: New name, still active
The home of St Mary’s Stadium and at the heart of Southampton, the SO14 area is known for it’s diverse community, and Saints Foundation have rebranded one of their projects to reflect that.
Active Through Football has been a popular part of our weekly schedule since its launch, but with the variety of sports and exercise sessions on offer, the rebrand showcases a better reflection of the project.
Jess Hulbert, Saints Foundation Senior Health Coordinator, said: “The project has been about more than football for a long time, and SO14 Active reflects that. We are proud to offer a variety of exercise and sport sessions for a range of groups, ability levels, and accessibility needs.”
SO14 Active brings together the community to get moving with fun, free, and varied sports-based exercise sessions. In collaboration with a consortium of local partners, we run a programme of sessions designed to improve the health and wellbeing of adults living in the centre of Southampton.
The rebrand will kick off with a takeover of our social media to showcase the programme of sessions on offer through the project with three sessions coming under particular spotlight.
With this week also marking the start of World Refugee Week, SO14 Active Football for Refugees is one of the first sessions that is run to start every week, switching between St Mary’s Leisure Centre and Hoglands Park depending on the weather. This is a mixed gender session for refugees or asylum seekers aged 16+.
SO14 Active's Football for Refugees participants joined our Corporate Partners Play at St Mary's tournament in May.
As Pride Month rolls on in June, one of the newest groups on offer is the LGBTQIA+ football session, offering members of the community a safe space to play and perhaps even give football a go for the first time. Hosted at St Mary’s Leisure Centre, mixed genders, aged 16+.
The last spotlight session is the Women’s Fun Fit group hosted at Northam Centre, SO14 5SP. Offering a variety of highly accessible exercise and fitness for women aged 18+.
While those sessions are being spotlighted, they one-third of the full SO14 Active offering on a weekly basis. For the full timetable visit the SO14 Active project page.
