Killie Community's Walk & Talk aims to reduce loneliness

Killie's 'Walk & Talk' is a project by The Killie Community, aimed at reducing loneliness and isolation using the power of football.

Each week, participants start from the Moffat Stand at Rugby Park and walk between one and two hours, forming a support network for one another.

On Wednesday, October 30, Kilmarnock Football Club's Scottish Cup-winning captain, Ray Montgomerie, and the club's historian, John Livingston, are set to join the walk, offering a historical tour of the town's 'ghostly' past.

This will include a look at where the club's first pitch was located in 1869 and where the club's founding fathers met to sign the constitution.

Since its creation just over a year ago, the programme has benefited more than 115 walkers.

Scott Montgomery, the group's leader, said: "There are lots of people within the local area who sadly either live alone due to bereavement, family issues, or who just simply need a bit of routine and company in their lives.

"We want everyone to know they’re not alone, and by partnering with the football club we can amplify that message and hopefully attract more people to worthwhile initiatives like this."

After each week's walk, the charity opens its new community hub, offering a warm, welcoming space for those struggling with isolation.

Here, participants can find conversation and companionship over a cup of tea and a pie or soup, on a pay-what-you-can basis.