𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐛𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐛𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞-𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝, 𝐰𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐛𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬

𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞-𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝, 𝐰𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐛𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐨 𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬.

It was a sad and sorry sight when clubhouses, theatres and church halls were mothballed during the lockdown. Places that once buzzed with activity sat empty; the groups who once occupied them hit for six by social distancing rules.

But we’re glad to see many sports clubs are up and running again – albeit with fewer volunteers and a long list of new health and safety rules to follow.

And we’re keeping our fingers crossed that choirs and am-dram groups will be able to meet in person again soon. Here are three reasons why these groups are so crucial to local communities and why we all should support them.

They help battle the bulge

In a perfect world, we all would have emerged from lockdown with guns like Serena Williams and buns like Joe Wicks. But for many of us (excuse us while we cough sheepishly), it didn’t happen. We ate more and exercised less.

The trend was particularly startling among young people. A study* of children and teens in Verona, Italy, found that during lockdown they ate more (an additional meal per day), slept more and spent an extra five hours a day on screens. The only thing that decreased was physical activity – down by more than two hours per week.

Grassroots sports clubs play an essential role in the physical well-being of the nation. In the UK there are 150,000 sports clubs with eight million regular participants. They help build social bonds and play a vital role in the fight against obesity.

Cultural contribution

Some people are snobbish about amateur dramatics, but we’re not too proud to say we find Widow Twankey swanky.

Am-dram brings people together and makes theatre accessible and affordable to all. Many people’s introduction to the theatre will come via a trip to their local panto.

There are about 2,500 am-dram groups associated with the National Operatic and Dramatic Association and many more smaller community arts groups in the UK. They deserve our support.

As well as providing entertainment, they help many people develop their artistic talents. Some like Dame Judi Dench, Sir Ben Kingsley and Keira Knightley go on to become household names. Those who don’t wind up in the West End or Hollywood still gain confidence and social skills.

Many am-dram groups are yet to return to in-person rehearsals, leading us to wonder if we’ll get to enjoy a panto this Christmas. We’d love the answer to be “Yes we will!” but in truth, it’s probably too early to say.

Mental health boost

Research published by the Royal Society found that singing improves mental health and well-being. This is because when we sing, feelgood hormones called endorphins and the “cuddle hormone” oxytocin are released.

About 2.14 million people regularly sing in choirs, and there are about 40,000 singing groups in the UK (pre-lockdown figures from the Voices Now charity). All have been hit hard by the pandemic.

Thankfully, many have continued to meet virtually during the pandemic, and we look forward to the day when they can return to live performing.

Here are three simple ways you can support local groups.

1) Help promote local sports groups and teams online by giving them a mention on social media.

2) Commit to buying a ticket for the first round of your local drama group’s performances when showtime comes around again.

3) Get involved. One thing Covid-19 has taught us all is that life is precious, and this isn’t a dress rehearsal or a warm-up. Why not volunteer to coach at a local sports club or to help out at a local theatre, choir, or art group?

Here at Oliver James, we’re proud to be part of the local community. We’re here to help and support during these difficult times.

Tag your favourite local sports club or community culture group in the comments below and tell the world why you love what they do.

*Study by the University at Buffalo, New York.