News

Glasgow Veterans United (GVU), a Rangers Charity Foundation’s walking football programme for veterans run in partnership with SSAFA’s Glasgow’s Helping Heroes is set to launch next month.

GVU has been re-invigorated thanks to a grant of £23,170 from the Veterans’ Foundation, enabling an established 14 week veterans’ programme to be expanded into a weekly walking football session providing more well-rounded support for veterans in the Glasgow area all year.

The programme aims to provide a routine to veterans who are struggling to adapt back to civilian life and help to build a social support group through this programme.

Walking Football is a fast-growing version of the sport which is non-contact and allows participants to play football without the same risk of injury or level of exertion, whilst still boosting fitness.

All veterans are welcome and can expect an hour of walking football on our new astroturf pitch at the Ibrox Community Complex, with the iconic Ibrox Stadium as a backdrop, followed by an hour of social time with additional support on hand if required.

There is a range of additional support benefits available to participants taking part in this programme, including:

• Help with housing and benefits
• Financial advice
• Assistance with employability
• Health advice
• Access to trauma counselling

Connal Cochrane, Chief Executive of the Rangers Charity Foundation said:

“The Foundation has a long and proud history of supporting armed services personnel and veterans and we are so pleased to be able to introduce this enhanced programme which will be a fantastic addition to our existing dedicated programme provision for veterans.  Thank you to the Veterans’ Foundation for making this possible.”

Sarah Kelling, Grants Manager at the Veterans’ Foundation, said: “Sport has long been acknowledged as a powerful feel-good for improving mental health and we were delighted to support the Rangers Charity Foundation’s Walking Football programme for veterans,”

“Veterans have the chance to play at the Ibrox Community Complex, benefitting from the exercise and the social aspects of the programme, as well as the additional support the Foundation has made available to them, which can have a profound impact on their wellbeing.”

Sessions will start on Tuesday 6^th May 11am and are free of charge for any veteran.  

Sign up by emailing rangerscharity@rangers.co.uk or phoning 0141 580 8775.

The Rangers Charity Foundation was a joint signatory, along with the Club, to the Armed Forces Covenant in 2016.

We went on to become the first club and club charity in the UK to receive the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme’s Gold Award from the Ministry of Defence in 2019, which has recently been renewed.

The Foundation has donated over £261,000 in cash to armed forces and veterans’ charities to date, as well as significant in-kind support.