Highgate mental health worker crowned football hero by Thierry Henry and Arsenal
A mental health worker who uses football as a means to heal people has been crowned a community hero by professional footballer Thierry Henry.
Robert Lall, who is the football and sports lead at Highgate Mental Health Centre in Dartmouth Park Hill, received the award from the star striker at the Emirates Stadium.
It was in recognition of his work with the Arsenal in the Community programme, which runs twice weekly football matches for local people with mental health problems.
The 36-year-old, who is actually a Liverpool fan, said: “I use football as a way of engaging with people with mental health issues.
“It’s a very positive recognition for the necessary work that we do so I feel quite proud of that.
You may also want to watch:
“It’s also a positive step forward that the more recognition our intervention gets the more value is added to the project and hopefully the more sustainable the project becomes.”
Mr Lall, from Highbury, has been running his programme for three-and-a-half years, having previously worked as a clinical support worker, helping people move from hospitals and hostels.
Most Read
- 1 Hampstead creperies told to close by Camden Council because of 'Covid risk'
- 2 Teenager dies after stabbing in Archway
- 3 Ole & Steen bakery set to open in Hampstead's former Café Rouge
- 4 Police mourn 'devoted' Camden constable who died from Covid
- 5 Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta echoes players' support for absent Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
- 6 HS2 tunnel protesters evicted in 'siege' outside Euston Station
- 7 Arsenal face a crucial week as they bid to start pushing on
- 8 We must take the vaccine to protect the BAME community
- 9 Royal Free calls in the army as 'unprecedented' demand continues
- 10 Future of Royal Free Hospital nurseries uncertain amid staff consultation
“What I recognised in those days was that a lot of clients I was seeing were young males who weren’t really keen on engaging in mental health services as a whole but they were happy to play football,” he said.
He had groups together playing football in the community when Arsenal approached him.
“The reality is the football is the card, in terms of getting people there,” said Mr Lall.
“Everything else happens in that dynamic. They get improved social networks.
“For individuals who would have otherwise been completely isolated, meeting new people and having some form of social interaction is really important.
“For their physical health they’re getting a minimum of four hours exercise a week, whereas before these individuals weren’t really doing anything
“Healthy lifestyles change people. Individuals have given up smoking and drinking alcohol, and the improvements they’ve made have been huge.”
Mr Lall also received tickets to an Arsenal game and congratulations in a match programme.
