Barking and Dagenham Council Leader, Councillor Darren Rodwell, was invited to make an appearance at Dagenham and Redbridge Football Club on Thursday 6 October, for their regular Sporting Memories Foundation meeting to speak to participants.

The Sporting Memories Foundation is a charity and social enterprise that uses the power of remembering and talking about sport – along with physical exercise – to tackle dementia, depression, and loneliness in older people.

It currently has over 100 in-person and digital clubs operating across England, Scotland and Wales and also in the Southern Hemisphere across Australia and New Zealand.

Their clubs are dedicated to bringing older people together with the aim of making a positive difference in their lives by providing them with a welcoming, supportive, and structured environment where they can develop emotional confidence to improve their lives for the better.

They provide social and physical activities that allow older people and all those connected with them, from family members and carers, to have fun whilst creating relationships and companionship with people in their local community.

Cllr Darren Rodwell was honoured to attend this regular coming together of local residents and said: “What the Sporting Memories Foundation in partnership with Dagenham and Redbridge Football Club do for those affected by dementia, depression and loneliness is fantastic. Supporting those in our community who will benefit from having this time to talk and be active, through their common love of sport. It is a privilege to be invited and to share my sporting memories with those who attended.”