The women's football team tackling loneliness

The women's football group meets every Friday night for a "come and play" session

A quarter of all adults in the island have reported feeling lonely, according to a Statistics Jersey survey in 2023, mirroring an issue also experienced in the UK.

One woman's solution to the problem is tackling it through football.

Julie Simon, girls and women's coach at St Ouen's Football Club, set up women's "come and play" sessions on Friday evenings as an opportunity to see friends she did not talk to often.

The group, which does not ask for weekly commitment and is not competitive, has had 35 women sign up since it began a month ago.

Julie Simon said she had more confidence since taking up the sport

Ms Simon said as a mother she found it difficult to make time for herself and socialise.

Since joining the group she realised she was "not alone".

She praised the social aspect of football for boosting her confidence.

The "together time" with friends and meeting new people helped her feel less isolated, she said.

'Have conversations'

Ms Simon said: "I have made so many friends from this group and also got back with people I already class as friends but I just haven't seen.

"This is one hour a week where I can just have fun, laugh with my friends and exercise."

Ms Simon said the group was "hilarious" and a great opportunity to "actually have conversations" with other women while exercising.

"I did 12,000 steps in one hour but it doesn't feel like it because you're running around laughing," she said.

She encouraged other people who may be struggling with loneliness to begin their own social groups.

On sports such as football, she said: "Anyone can try."

JFA chief executive Tim Pryor believes football can reduce isolation

Jersey Football Association (JFA) recently set a goal to become the island's leading charity for reducing social isolation.

Chief executive Tim Pryor said the association wanted to promote its mantra of "football for all" by getting people involved with their local club or committee.

He said the sport was a "force for good in the Jersey community".

"Football brings together people from different walks of life and all different ages," he said.

"Football is powerful in tackling social isolation – people could even mow the lawns or sell coffees at matches."

Social isolation and loneliness are closely linked, with Age UK describing social isolation as "an objective measure of the number of contacts people have".

People affected by social isolation include those who may have lost a loved one or people who are new to the Island and are looking to make new friends, the charity said.