Why football is more than just a game
7 Jul. 2026
By Tom Ibbotson, Young Adult Lead
As the world turns its attention to the World Cup, I’ve been reflecting on a different kind of football story happening closer to home. One that’s not about trophies or headlines, but about confidence, connection and second chances.
Over the past couple of months in West Yorkshire, we’ve been running a monthly Ingeus, peer-led football wellbeing session, bringing together service users, staff, and probation colleagues on a 5-a-side pitch in the heart of the community.
It’s football - but it’s also much more than that.
A level playing field
We run the sessions at a local community venue in Leeds, using a simple, inclusive format. It’s one hour, 5-a-side, with rolling subs so everyone can take part. Plus a few lighter games like crossbar challenges and “headers and volleys” to keep things fun and accessible.
We usually have around 12 people attend, and the focus is very much on participation, not performance.
What makes these sessions really work, though, is that they’re peer led. Our Peer Mentors John and Afsan play a huge role in setting the tone. Welcoming people in, setting clear ground rules, and helping to create a safe, supportive environment where everyone feels comfortable taking part.
Our peer mentors use their lived experience of the criminal justice system to support people in prison and on probation. By building trust, providing empathy and sharing their experiences, they help individuals engage with services, overcome barriers and move towards positive futures.
That sense of shared ownership and trust that is involved in this set up is key not just for the session itself, but for building the confidence and relationships that support people to move forward more broadly.
And that atmosphere comes through in the feedback:
“A fantastic collaboration of service users, probation, Ingeus staff and peer mentors all there. This could be the start of something special!”
Breaking down barriers
One of the main reasons we set these sessions up was to complement the range of support we already offer. It creates an additional way for people to engage that feels active, social and inclusive.
Football gives us another route to connect with people in a way that builds confidence naturally alongside more structured support. Ingeus has a long-track record of using sports, outward bounds and creative pursuits to support people and we’ve seen time and again the positive impacts of participation.
On the pitch, people connect more easily. Shared activity helps break down social barriers, conversations flow more naturally, and relationships begin to build in a genuine and supportive way.
We’ve already seen real changes - people feeling more confident, more willing to interact, and more open to engaging with wider support.
“It was a good social inclusion and wellbeing session, helping to build confidence and resilience, while at the same time being a fun and healthy thing to do.”
And at a time when social isolation remains a real challenge for many, creating spaces like this - informal, welcoming, and community-based - can play a vital role in helping people feel connected again.
“Thank you for today’s session. I don’t get out much and don’t really see anyone other than my family.”
Small moments, big impact
What I’ve found is that football works because it’s familiar and accessible. For some, it’s something they’ve always enjoyed. For others, it’s a chance to try something new in a safe environment.
Either way, it gives people a way to be part of something and that sense of belonging is often the first step towards wider progress.
We’re seeing improvements across the board – in mental wellbeing, physical health, confidence, motivation, and social interaction. But just as importantly, we’re seeing what happens beyond the session itself.
The sessions act as a gateway, helping people feel more comfortable engaging with other support we provide. Whether that’s emotional wellbeing sessions, skills development, or wider interventions.
The impact goes far beyond the pitch. It’s about helping people build the foundations -confidence, trust, motivation - that enable them to take the next steps in their journey.
“I was eagerly looking forward to it before, and thoroughly happy after. This is ideal for both my mental and physical health.”
A shared goal
For me and the team, this is what it’s all about - creating opportunities that bring people together to support long-term positive change.
This work directly supports our wider ambition at Ingeus; to help people improve their wellbeing, develop life skills, and engage more fully with the support available to them. Ultimately enabling more sustainable outcomes that benefit them, their local communities, and society as a whole.
Across Ingeus, and as a team, we’ve seen just how powerful a sense of belonging and purpose can be in unlocking that progress.
“It creates a space where everyone supports each other, feels included, and is part of a team. That sense of belonging and purpose is powerful and can make a real difference.”
And while the World Cup reminds us of what football can look like on a global stage, this is a reminder of what it can do locally. Bring people together around a shared activity – and in some cases, a passion – and build bonds whilst creating meaningful opportunities for change.
What’s next
We’re currently running the sessions monthly, and the response so far has shown just how powerful this kind of approach can be.
What stands out is not just the impact on the day, but how it leads to our service users feeling better prepared to take that next step with confidence and a support network.
Because sometimes, creating impact doesn’t need to be complicated. Sometimes, it just starts with a ball, a pitch-and a chance to be part of something.
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