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Support Someone Else This Christmas Chelsea & Three Ask Fans

Chelsea shirt sponsor Three has launched a new initiative to encourage sports fans across the country to set aside their differences and support someone else this Christmas. 

 

 

The simple message ‘Support Someone Else’ is encouraging fans to take the time to reach out to friends, family and loved ones throughout this festive period.

 

Three UK is working together with Chelsea FC to help shine a light on loneliness, isolation and mental health issues that impact men and women, old or young, and that are particularly prevalent at this time of year. 

 

According to the latest statistics the impact of lockdown loneliness across all gender and ages, has reached record levels according to the latest ONS report [1].

 

December is traditionally a month packed full of football fixtures. Therefore, to launch the initiative, Chelsea FC and Three have worked with both Frank Lampard and Emma Hayes to appeal to football fans nationwide to Support Someone Else. Both are encouraging fans, no matter what club you support, to start a more meaningful conversation with those around you.

 

Support Someone Else, has been launched with Three’s longstanding mental health charity partner Time to Change, providing help and guidance to those that either want to participate or those that are themselves in need. The recent research report by Time to Change [1] found that on average, men have three fewer people in their support network since the pandemic hit. Some men cited not being able to meet face-to-face, such as at a football match, as a reason they had fewer people to turn to for support with their mental health [1].

 

While football players might seem like a world apart to most of us, many have also been affected by this turbulent year. Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell has spoken out a couple of times about the stigmas around mental health and the importance of talking about it. Other Chelsea players involved in the initiative include Mason Mount as well as Millie Bright and Fran Kirby from the women’s team.

 

Aislinn O’Connor, marketing director at Three UK, said: “Christmas is all about giving back and helping others. This year has been so hard for many different reasons, with most of us having life as we know it turned on its head. Christmas in itself is going to be so different and it’s a time that can often magnify solitude and mental health issues.  

 

“As a brand with connectivity at its heart, we wanted to drive a clear message for us all to reach out and support one another this Christmas. Make that call you’ve been meaning to make. Send that message. Check-in on others. It may just be a small gesture but it could make all the difference.”

 

Guy Laurence, Chelsea FC CEO, said: “We loved this idea from the moment Three started discussing it with us and we’re proud that our teams and managers will be championing the idea to ‘Support Someone Else’.

 

“Everyone has had their struggles this year. While there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel, we need to continue to support each other as much as we can. Christmas will be different for us all, but both ourselves and Three want to do all we can to encourage our fans and the football community to get behind this initiative and support each other more than ever during this festive period.”

 

For more information on the ‘Support Someone Else’ initiative, or for help and advice, visit www.three.co.uk/supportsomeoneelse