With increasing mental health concerns sweeping the nation, members of the West Ham United women’s team have been speaking to the young and the elderly about the importance of remaining connected.
As part of the Club’s Players’ Project, Laura Vetterlein, Cecilie Redisch and Kate Longhurst joined respective video calls to speak to students on a West Ham United Foundation degree at the University of East London, and elderly members of the Any Old Irons scheme; backing the frameworks of support available to them and encouraging the use of technology to stay as connected as we can to friends and family during this challenging period.
The COVID-19 pandemic has seen an increase in social isolation and mental health related issues, with large changes to the way the country operates and many people being separated from loved ones.
Now, of course it’s a challenging time with COVID and not being able to see family and I think everyone in the world struggles with this
Laura Vetterlein
University students have been able to live on campus but there have been severe alterations to processes and procedures. As well as increased hygiene protocols, delivery has shifted online wherever possible with students and staff encouraged to work from home. Similarly, many Universities have introduced ‘living circles’ whereby students have been asked to ‘socially bubble’ with people on their course, in the same year and those they share flats with.
The West Ham United Foundation (WHUF) has two degrees at the University of East London and adding to former appearances from men’s and Academy players, Vetterlein and Redisch recorded a guest lecture for first year students on the Foundation’s BSc (Hons) Sports Coaching and Performance degree, hosted by Dominic Edwards, WHUF Higher Education Officer and Lecturer.
Aiding the students’ development, the players started by discussing the ways they adapted when they moved to England to play for West Ham United, before giving insight regarding their progression into elite players, their experiences with coaches in different countries and how a good rapport between a coach and a player helps to enhance performance.
Edwards identified that particularly during the pandemic, West Ham and University staff have increased efforts to support students, with health and wellbeing services at the University, group and individual ‘check in and chat’ calls and offers of further assistance. However, it can still be quite a difficult and lonely time for some as they deal with moving to a new place, additional independence, deadlines and restrictions around socialising.
Both spoke about how being away from their home and loved ones can be tough, and keeping connected to others whatever your situation is crucial. “These past couple of months have been hard when it comes to that”, stated Redisch, who is also a nurse. “Like for me, I’ve seen my boyfriend two days in the last six months, which is very tough but at the same time it helps when you have good teammates. You can come into the dressing room and joke, laugh and have a good time and it makes it easier.”
Vetterlein added: “When I came over [to England], it was like for Cecilie, my first time to play abroad and I didn’t know what to expect but the environment that they created here was really welcoming and made it easy to settle in and I didn’t regret that I came over at all. Now, of course it’s a challenging time with COVID and not being able to see family and I think everyone in the world struggles with this.”
Meanwhile, their teammate Longhurst, who is viewed by the Any Old Irons as an honorary member, joined another one of the elderly group’s video calls to help lift their spirits.
Though they have not been able to attend meetings and activities in person, the Claret and Blue Over-60s group, which was set up to tackle loneliness, have kept in touch across the year through phone and video calls, a Facebook group, newsletters, letters and other means – which have all been well supported by the club and its players, with the likes of Mark Noble and Arthur Masuaku providing messages of encouragement, and Declan Rice sending them a letter as recently as the start of December.
Longhurst conveyed that she was delighted to be an ambassador for the Loneliness strand of the Players’ Project saying: “I’ve really enjoyed every time I’ve got to meet up with people or go to any events and it’s a real shame that we’ve kind of not been able to do anything in the last few months because of coronavirus but it’s so good that you get to do your Zoom calls and everyone’s logging on, and I was really excited to see everyone today.”