A fresh innings – finding friendship through sport and memories.  

At Bridgwater Cricket Club, Sporting Memories uses sport to get older men out of their houses and socialising with their peers with positive effects on their mental and physical health.  

Everyone loves a quiz don’t they? Well, maybe not, but if that isn’t your idea of heaven there are plenty of other activities on offer at the Sporting Memories club that is held weekly at Bridgwater Cricket Club. Run by the Somerset Cricket Foundation the group is aimed at men who might be experiencing early-stage memory loss or loneliness and are looking to find friendships and have a bit of fun in their later years. While bonding over a shared love of sport, the group can make their predictions for the weekend’s sporting fixtures, play some indoor sport, watch the latest highlights on the big screen or just simply share a joke with each other.  

Natural camaraderie

Terry is a regular at the sessions and was diagnosed with early-onset dementia just over a year ago.  

There’s a really nice spirit here,’ he says, ‘You can’t help but laugh. It’s a pleasure to come and sometimes we even go to a one-day cricket match in Taunton, which is just great. It’s the highlight of my week.’    

Terry says how the group has even embraced his love for Céline Dion, with fellow members playfully teasing him but always supporting his interests, even loaning him a few of the singer’s old CDs. He credits this camaraderie within the group as something that’s “just natural.” 

Terry’s experience is a testament to the positive impact social connections can have, especially when it comes to breaking down the stigma that often surrounds dementia or social isolation. Through the ‘banter’ they enjoy together, and memories around sporting events gone by, Terry has established a strong network of mutual support and an enjoyable place to just turn up and talk for a couple of hours.   

Breaking down barriers

‘The whole group ‘is very much centred around sport and that is fantastic in breaking down some of those barriers or stigmas that may prevent some older men getting involved in some social groups,’ says Stephen Gass, the Community Programmes Manager for Somerset Cricket Foundation who run Sporting Memories.  

‘A lot of men may form their social connections through work and employment and when they retire a lot of those connections are lost. If they are married it tends to be their partner that organises a lot of those contacts and if their partner is no longer around, a lot of men may lose some of their social contacts. It’s about using sport as a vehicle to improve their wellbeing. Men can talk about sport, which is less threatening than maybe talking about how they are feeling. As they develop relationships those conversations then tend to come out.’ 

Stepladder support 

The group was supported by a small grant from Stepladder, which enabled them to buy equipment for the physical aspect of the session, which includes activities such as darts and indoor curling. Reinforcing Stepladder’s belief that connection can improve mental wellbeing was a survey that Stephen undertook with members of the group. It found that around 80 per cent of attendees reported a sense of belonging, companionship and improved mental health after attending the sessions.  

For Terry and others, the group has become a lifeline and the highlight of his week. You only have to listen to the laughter and conversation coming from the clubhouse to see that these are a group of firm friends who will see each other through this next season of their life.  

The Stepladder project has provided funding for numerous initiatives in Somerset through its Winston Innovation Fund, facilitating the running of groups like Sporting Memories aimed at supporting men’s wellbeing and fostering connections with like-minded individuals. 

Visit our interactive map full of activities across Somerset to get those conversations going with the right people.