As the new football season kicks off, Dale Vince and Dr Simon Opher MP are proud to announce a groundbreaking new initiative - Football on Prescription. In collaboration with a dozen surgeries across Stroud, Gloucestershire, the initiative makes football part of the treatment plan for mental health.

From this season, doctors and nurses can prescribe football if the patient and doctor feel it could help mental illness or feelings of isolation. It’s the first scheme of its kind in the UK—and maybe the world.

Dr Simon Opher said: “Research shows that physical activity improves mental and physical health. We also know that social isolation plays a major role in poor mental health—and that community, connection, and shared experiences can help people feel less alone. This initiative brings those two ideas together. It’s a form of social prescription—with football as the medicine.”

FGR Chairman, Dale Vince said: “This idea was born from conversations between myself and Simon. It’s aimed at everyone struggling with their mental health, but especially men, who are statistically the hardest to reach. The leading cause of death in men under 50 is now suicide—and loneliness is often a key factor. If a Saturday afternoon at a football match can help someone feel more connected and less alone, then that’s a powerful first step.”

This hasn’t been done before, so the scheme will be collecting evidence —to understand how much impact something like this can have. To see whether this intervention can help people get better without the need for medication. If it works, we’ll look to expand it.

Football on Prescription is now live and available to anyone who sees their doctor about mental health at the following surgeries in and around Stroud.