North Northamptonshire residents star in inspiring national ‘We Are Undefeatable’ campaign

26 June 2026

North Northamptonshire Council Leisure and local residents feature in a national campaign that supports people living with long term health conditions to get active.

A series of short films and interviews will share the experiences of residents who take part in Walking Football sessions run by North Northamptonshire Council Leisure.  

We Are Undefeatable filmed content at walking football sessions which will feature as part of its ‘Move Your Way’ summer campaign. The national campaign aims to reframe what being active can look like for people living with long-term health conditions. It encourages people to get moving in fun or unexpected ways that work for them, showing that staying active can take many forms beyond traditional exercise.  

Filming took place during a recent session at Kettering Leisure Village, capturing both the play and personal stories from players. The ‘Move Your Way’ films share real-life experiences of participants, their health and the positive impact of Walking Football – a slower-paced, accessible version of the game designed for people of all ages and abilities.

Walking Football is particularly suited to individuals who may be living with conditions such as:

• Arthritis in joints such as knees or hips
• Back pain
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Mental health conditions

The series of short films are designed to harness the excitement of the World Cup and encourage real-life participation in the sport. Standouts are the strong sense of camaraderie among players, the support provided by Council leisure teams, and the wider wellbeing that is felt from getting involved.

People are very supportive of each other…It’s not just about the physical side of things…I feel like a happier person.

It’s not just about the football; the company is wonderful.

The younger me would be very pleased I’d carried on doing something to keep fit.

The younger me would never have believed for one minute that I’d be playing football. I’ve just turned 70. When I was young, 70 was a doddery old man and I don’t feel like one.Experiences voiced in the films by participants.

We’re incredibly proud to see our residents featured in this inspiring national campaign, which our council leisure colleagues have delivered in partnership with We Are Undefeatable. Walking Football shows how physical activity can be so accessible for many people across North Northants.

Our dedicated leisure teams play a vital role in creating welcoming, supportive sessions where people can stay active, build confidence and connect with others. We hope this inspires more residents to get involved.Councillor Brian Benneyworth, Executive Member for Housing, Health and Leisure.

We Are Undefeatable supports people with long-term health conditions to get moving in a way that works for them. Hearing directly from people with health conditions is one of the most powerful ways to inspire others; it shows what movement can look like and how it can be adapted for individual needs.

Filming the walking football session in North Northamptonshire really helped to capture the benefits of the sessions for the players mental and physical health, it was wonderful to see how supportive and enjoyable the sessions were, We're grateful to everyone who took part in the filming and hope they're proud to know they're inspiring others to find ways to be active that work for them.Jenny Box, Programme Director for We Are Undefeatable.

The first of the short films will be shared nationally, and locally, across social media and digital platforms from the 26 June.

Join our walking sports sessions

Step into our Walking Football and discover other Walking Sports sessions in North Northamptonshire. These take place across a range of local venues, offering something for everyone, whatever your ability or experience. 

Walking Football sessions are currently held in:

• Corby
• Desborough
• Kettering 
• Rushden

Find times and booking information on the council website.

Discover more about joining Walking Football or other Walking Sports opportunities in North Northants by visiting the council’s website. 
 

Additional information

• You can find a range of council-operated specialist physical activity programmes designed to support individuals living with long term health conditions on the council website.
• "We Are Undefeatable" is a collective movement supporting people with a range of long-term health conditions. The campaign is developed by 15 leading health and social care charities and backed by expertise, insight and significant National Lottery funding from Sport England. Their purpose is to support and encourage finding ways to be active in a way that works for you and your health condition. 
• The We Are Undefeatable campaign brings together health and social care charities across England who support people living with:
  o    Arthritis and Musculoskeletal conditions 
  o    Long-term limiting mobility conditions  
  o    Alzheimer's  
  o    Asthma 
  o    Back pain 
  o    Cancer 
  o    Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease/ Lung Condition 
  o    Dementia  
  o    Heart Disease 
  o    Stroke 
  o    Hypertension (or other heart related condition) 
  o    Long-term depression or anxiety 
  o    Multiple sclerosis 
  o    Parkinson's 
  o    Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes