Heart Of The Game Campaign to launch at Weymouth fixture

Freedom Leisure, in partnership with Blackbridge Charitable Community Benefit Society (CCBS), Gloucestershire FA and Gloucester City AFC, is launching Heart of the Game, a community-first health initiative using the power of football to help local people take control of their heart health.

The programme will officially launch on Saturday, February 7, at Gloucester City AFC where supporters attending their match against Weymouth Town will be invited to take part in a free blood pressure check in a relaxed, non-clinical environment.

Heart of the Game is designed to remove barriers to preventative healthcare by bringing simple accessible checks into trusted community spaces. There are no appointments and no pressure, just an opportunity to know your numbers while enjoying matchday.

Over the next nine months the initiative will deliver more than 1,000 free blood pressure checks across Gloucester and the Cotswolds, including football matches, leisure centres, community venues and local roadshows.

Participants will also be supported beyond the initial check with access to physical activity opportunities, lifestyle guidance and Exercise on Referral services delivered through Freedom Leisure.

The programme aligns with the One Gloucestershire Integrated Care System Hypertension Strategy and the NHS Know Your Numbers campaign, focusing on early identification, prevention and long-term behaviour change.

By embedding health checks into everyday community life, Heart of the Game aims to reduce stigma, encourage engagement and make prevention simple and social.

Nick Charlton, area manager at Freedom Leisure, said: "We are extremely pleased to be working in partnership on

Heart of the Game.

This project highlights the importance of early intervention and prevention and aligns closely with

our mission of improving lives through leisure. By bringing health checks to football matches and community spaces we can make it easier for people to take simple steps towards better long-term health."

Jim Hart, project manager at Blackbridge Charitable Community Benefit Society, said: "Heart of the Game is about taking health awareness on the road, to help fans and communities to understand how important blood pressure is as an indicator of health, making it as easy as possible in a familiar and relaxed environment to take a blood pressure check.

"Regardless of age, size or ethnicity, our heart is doing the same job for all of us. Heart of the Game is about the first step in the journey towards understanding your heart health. By knowing your numbers, you will be able to make a choice, if you have to, to make the changes you need to live longer and have a better-quality life."

Matt Boucher, head of strategy and delivery at Gloucestershire FA, said: "We are really excited to be working collaboratively with all the partners on this project. We know that grassroots football clubs provide so much more than just football - they are the heartbeat of their local community.

"The Heart of the Game project is about using the power of football and network of grassroots clubs, to bring communities together, raise awareness and help people to lead a healthier and more active lifestyle."

Colin Taylor, chairman of Gloucester City AFC, said: "I'd like to thank Heart of the Game for their support and for working with us on such an important initiative. Raising awareness around heart health is vital, and football clubs have a unique platform to reach people who might not otherwise engage with these conversations.

"By offering free blood pressure checks at matches, it will help supporters take a simple but potentially life-saving step, while also starting important discussions about prevention and long-term wellbeing. We're proud to be involved in a campaign that puts the health of our fans and community at the heart of the game."

The launch at Gloucester City AFC marks a significant milestone for the campaign using the reach and influence of football to connect with people who may not otherwise engage with traditional health services.

Whether you are a regular matchday supporter, a leisure centre user or simply curious about your health, Heart of the Game invites local people to get involved, starting on February 7 at Gloucester City AFC. One simple check could make a lasting difference.