FBB's Isolation Diaries reach over 100,000k views

At FBB, we’ve always spoken to young people about the importance of reflection. Taking time to stop and reflect on what's going on in our lives helps us make sense of our feelings and the world around us, whilst also helping us to integrate the new things that we learn. When news of the lockdown emerged and the world around us feeling more chaotic than ever, we realised that reflection would become more important than ever, both for us and for FBB participants.

The Isolation Diaries was born out of this realisation. It aims to give a voice and a platform to a diverse range of reflections on how members of the FBB family are experiencing life in lockdown. Each week, we’ve been compiling video diary entries from 10 members of the FBB family, ranging from participants, to staff, to teachers and even one of our participant’s parents who works at the NHS. The ultimate aim is to create a short documentary in which we show how isolation affects different people at different times, along this unprecedented journey.

For Abi, an FBB participant from the Archbishop Lanfranc school in Croydon, taking part in the Isolation Diaries has been a cathartic process: “Joining the Isolation Diaries family has given me an insight on what this period has been like for everyone else. Watching how everyone has coped and their different coping mechanisms, honestly it’s like an adventure. Each week we learn something new. We progress and achieve a new chapter. At this time we have to be able to come together as the great FBB Fam that we are and help one another.”

https://twitter.com/ChrisSmalling/status/1248263583357702144

FBB Patron Chris Smalling has been a big fan of the series

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Tristan, 15, from Salford City Academy in Manchester, said: "Participating in the isolation diaries has been a sort of relief, to know how other people are coping and making the most of isolation has been fantastic. Being unable to play or watch football has probably been my biggest struggle as, now, it seems like my day to day life revolves around football."

For Shalukah, 15, I have really enjoyed being involved with the Isolation Diaries, it is a big relief to be able to reflect on your week and yourself during a difficult time. I definitely believe isolation diaries has helped me understand more about me and how to cope through this time. And I hope I’m able to help other people by sharing how I feel. During any struggle in life it’s so important to acknowledge yourself and your emotions. To be able to do it with many diverse people is amazing, as we’re all different but in the same boat!

Dudley Murdock, a teacher at Sedgehill School where FBB runs two of its programmes, has been enjoying his own involvement: “It’s a good way for people to see they’re not alone and that others are feeling exactly the same as them. Hopefully it can inspire those watching to have a positive mindset. It’s truly an honour to be involved in such a project”

Five weeks in and we’ve been astounded by the response so far! In total, we’ve had over 100,000 views of the series so far across our social media platforms, with a huge range of positive feedback and support. The series was also featured on the BBC London News and the BBC World Service.

Below are just a few of the amazing responses we've had to the diaries on social media:

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https://twitter.com/UKYouth/status/1250055693048197125

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We have recently launched our very own Virtual School to help support young people digitally during the COVID19 crisis. If you'd like more information on this, read this article.

If you feel able to support FBB during these difficult times, please donate here: https://www.footballbeyondborders.org/donate/

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