Manchester City’s Charity, City in the Community (CITC), is spotlighting its work and programmes through the voices and stories of its participants.
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CITC sat down with Mandy, a Walking Football participant who has used the programme to turn her life around after facing addiction and mental health struggles.
Mandy started as a walking football participant six years ago, enjoying their sessions due to the inclusive and supportive nature.
Discussing her mental health struggles in the interview, Mandy talks about how the sessions have allowed her to connect with people and build a new social life:
“I’ve always been quite physically fit, but I have always struggled with my mental health, so it just helps me to connect to people, and sometimes when I’d probably just stay in bed and maybe feel sorry for myself it gets me out and speaking to people.”
Mandy, who spent 20 years of her life in and out of hospital due to addiction, now uses Walking Football as a tool as part of her over 25-year sobriety journey.
She also uses the sessions as a place to encourage others to talk about their mental health, after losing her brother to suicide.
CITC provides two free Walking Football sessions per week, aimed at engaging older participants in regular physical activity.
By coming to the sessions, participants can meet others and build social relationships.
Throughout the 24/25 season, CITC engaged with over 200 Walking Footballers, across 156 sessions.
Support City in the Community’s work this Christmas through Manchester City’s ‘Christmas Together’ campaign.
The new ‘Christmas Together’ campaign creates an opportunity for fans to team up with the Club to support ‘City Onside’.
For every purchase a fan makes from a range of selected retail items, the Club will donate £5 to its charity*.
ENTER THE CITC MONTHLY PRIZE DRAW
Manchester City is also matching any donations* made to the charity through the ‘City in the Community Prize Draw’, meaning fans can double their chances to win amazing prizes.
Entries start at £5 per ticket; supporters can enter on a one-off basis, or they can sign up to a direct debit, meaning they enter the monthly draw automatically.
To take part in the prize draw, or to find out more, visit: www.mancity.com/citcprizedraw.
For more information about ‘Christmas Together’ visit www.mancity.com/ChristmasTogether
City in the Community empowers healthier lives through football.
To find out more, visit www.mancity.com/citc or follow @citcmancity on social media.
*MCFC will donate £5 for each product** sold and will match donations made to Manchester City F.C. City in the Community Foundation (registered charity no. 1139229) during the period of 04 November 2025 to 31 December 2025 up to a maximum of £75,000 in total.
The first £150,000 raised will support City in the Community’s ‘City Onside’ programme, with any additional fundraising helping to sustain the charity’s broader purpose of empowering healthier lives with city youth through football.