Just as scientists successfully created vaccines for the Covid-19 Coronavirus, a new strain of the same has rattled the UK. To cope with the new developments and stop the spread of the virus, authorities had no other choice but to declare the UK quarantine extended. Different nations are expected to go back to their normalcy with the new lockdown rules in different schedules. However, the negative impact of the lockdown in students’ schools and colleges and comprehensive education remains the same everywhere.
Most scholars have been forced to stay indoors in the comfort of their homes. But they have been asking the question, “When is the UK lockdown over?” Thankfully, online lessons are still ongoing. As part of their academic course, teachers have been handing out assignments for scholars to work on during the quarantine. However, working from home is different from working in class, and students may require help on their assignments from a third party. One may seek help from Writix – writing service that can deliver custom written essays for scholars. These assignments often add up to students’ overall grades and must, therefore, be fulfilled to a high standard.
Even though academic institutions are doing their best to resume normal lessons as part of their scholars’ education, we cannot deny the negative impacts of the UK’s lockdown on students’ mental health.
Mental health in lockdown
Several studies in the UK show that scholars have been feeling confused and disrupted by the current situation. A recent COVID-19 pandemic study in the UK suggests that the levels of distress were too high in young adults. This may have been due to the increased consumption of social media, as young people are hooked to their smartphones while in isolation.
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The study also shows that UK teenagers have been feeling more anxious than they normally did before the pandemic hit. The level of anxiety has been reported to be higher among mixed-race and black participants. The well-being of such scholars has also been impacted. They have agreed that the fear of stigma and the stigma experienced by young people is a risk factor for maintaining social support mechanisms.
Loneliness leads to mental health problems
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Out of all the factors contributing to such anxiety and mental disarray, loneliness has been identified as the critical factor. While in school and colleges, students interact with several other people and form meaningful bonds. The lack of such healthy interaction has increased the potential for young people to feel lonely and developmental health problems. In the UK, evidence shows that young people aged 18 to 24 experienced loneliness the most. Another survey suggests that 50% of young adults aged 16 to 24 have experienced lockdown loneliness.
The loss of peer group support during one’s developmental stages can have an overall impact on one’s mental health and physical development. One’s interaction with other healthy young adults also contributes to their brain development and self-concept construction, which has since been obstructed due to their being confined to their homes.
Supporting one’s well-being
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Several studies suggest that individuals who keep in regular touch with their family and friends through the internet and get ample physical exercise do better than those who don’t. Taking the time to work on one’s well-being can have a positive effect on their mental health. During quarantine any student has enough time both to find their favourite sport and to do some research. Individuals may be able to cope up with the current situation for now, but their mental health may only bounce back to its usual self when things go back to normal, at least in terms of having their regular routine filled up with various activities.
Policymakers and academic institutions must do their best to help young people develop their mental and physical health while confined. Since it is easy for one to get anxious during such challenging times, there must be multisectoral and multidisciplinary responses to ease such groups’ anxieties broadly.
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Club de Padel – The world’s fastest-growing sport is finally coming to Manchester this month
Daisy Jackson
The world’s fastest-growing sport is finally about to arrive in Manchester – and in a seriously impressive location.
Club de Padel is taking shape at the foot of the Deansgate Square skyscrapers and has officially locked in a launch date.
With four state-of-the-art panoramic courts, the new sports club will be bringing the global sports phenomenon to the city centre for the first time.
It will also have one of the city’s most popular brunch spots and coffee shops, Federal, on site to provide caffeine, snacks, and a selection of drinks in the evenings.
For those unfamiliar, Padel is a mash-up of tennis and squash, where players are enclosed by walls and can play the ball off any wall.
The sport was first invented in Mexico in the late 1960s but has exploded in popularity across Europe in recent years, drawing legions of famous fans.
Andy Murray, David Beckham, Pep Guardiola and Serena Williams have all declared themselves fans, and Lionel Messi went so far as to install a Padel court at his home.
Co-founder James Wigglesworth says: “We can’t get over the support we’ve had from the city so far, our inbox hasn’t stopped with people asking when we’re opening, when they can book, how they can learn to play – it’s been great.
“We’ve also discovered a hardcore element of ‘paddicts’ who travel miles every week to play and are just delighted that we’re landing on their doorstep.”
Club de Padel is partnering with Adidas and HEAD on its equipment and will have one of the UK’s top padel competitors, Alberto Cubero Torregrosa, as head coach.
Alberto said: “I can’t wait to get started at Club de Padel. Having grown up in Malaga, I have been playing padel for over 25 years, so I’m delighted to see it finally arrive in Manchester, where I now call home.
“It is important to me that everyone can enjoy this amazing sport, so it doesn’t matter if you are a complete beginner or an experienced player, I am committed to helping you improve and have fun while doing it.”
Club de Padel will officially open its doors on Tuesday 19 December, with bookings open from 5 December for Padel+ members and general public bookings from 12 December.
A look inside the brand-new M&S Trafford Centre ‘mega store’ as it finally opens its doors
Emily Sergeant
It’s been a long time coming… but the brand-new M&S at the Trafford Centre has finally opened its doors to the public.
And the first look images of the place prove it’s just as swanky as we were expecting.
In case you hadn’t heard, after it was revealed all the way back in January that M&S would be relocating from its old unit and taking over the former Debenhams site inside the Greater Manchester shopping centre, the retailer’s brand-new Trafford Centre store welcomed its first customers yesterday.
The new ‘mega store’ officially threw open its doors yesterday (30 November) at 10am, and it’s all just in time for Christmas, so shoppers can get stuck in to buying all their festive food and gifts before the big day arrives.
The brand-new M&S at the Trafford Centre has finally opened its doors / Credit: Supplied
Having opened as part of M&S‘ ongoing plans and wider investment to regenerate vacant sites in major UK shopping centres, the new M&S Trafford Centre store spans across a whopping 98,000 sq ft of commercial space.
Promising shoppers “an even bigger and better store”, there’s huge new “spacious and stylish” Clothing, Home, and Beauty departments, as well as a brand-new M&S Cafe, and the star of the show being the all-new “market style” Food Hall – which stocks the full M&S Food range, and has “wider and brighter aisles”, with free designated car parking to make shopping “more convenient”.
Percy Pig was on-hand to welcome shoppers to the new store, with the first 200 customers through the door handed ‘golden tickets’.
Every golden ticket holder was guaranteed a win. whether that be a free bag of Percy Pigs, freshly-baked cookies from the new M&S Bakery, or something even bigger – with one lucky customer even bagging a £200 M&S voucher to take home.
It promises shoppers “an even bigger and better store” / Credit: Supplied
180 new jobs have been created by the opening of the new store, and staff at M&S’ former Trafford Centre store have also transferred over to the new location.
The store is led by Store Manager, Laura Smith, along with a team of 420 M&S colleagues.
Soaking up the opening day celebrations, Laura said: “We are thrilled to officially open our brand-new store in the Trafford Centre. The last few weeks have been so exciting for us all as we’ve seen the store take shape, and I’d like to thank everyone in the team for all their hard work to make sure everything is ready for our customers today.
“The store is an exciting investment in the future of M&S in Trafford, and I can’t wait for our customers to explore all the new features that the store has to offer.”