Hollywood hardman Vinnie Jones has criticised 'addictive' technology for fuelling children's mental health struggles. The former Wimbledon and Leeds midfielder, 61, said more needed to be done to help children and young adults reconnect with nature and spoke openly about the benefits of his own active lifestyle.
The 'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels' star said: 'I want to get kids outside. With my two grandchildren, I can't bear seeing them sitting two inches away from an iPad, when they are here at the farm and they have the great outdoors at their disposal.'
'I want to get them out into the countryside, building tree houses, catching fish and doing things like that. But they're hooked on these computer games. That's where I think a lot of mental health problems can start. If they're not stepping outside their front door, that can lead to negative mindsets and everything else that comes with it.'
Vinnie's Own Experience with Nature
As a youngster growing up outside Watford, Vinnie enjoyed a country lifestyle, playing football with his friends, fishing and staying active. He said: 'Being out in the countryside was a great release for us. We were climbing trees, swimming in canals and running across fields. There was no sign of any mental health issues with any of us, because I think we all had that release, along with the competitive side of football.'
'We'd play two games on a Saturday and two on a Sunday, and that was our release as we had a large friendship group and camaraderie to support each other.'
Call for Action on Mental Health
Vinnie passionately believes more needs to be done to help those struggling with mental health problems and that there is real healing power in spending time in nature. He said: 'I think there is a massive mental health problem, not only in this country, but across the world. I don't think it has really been addressed properly until now. People should feel able to say that it's OK to talk. It doesn't have to be as devastating as it may feel at the time. Life is hard enough without not addressing the problems.'
He added: 'The outdoors means freedom. No selfies, no dramas. The benefit of being in the great outdoors is that you can share it with friends and have a great time creating memories and supporting each other. I had a football under my arm wherever I went. I was forever throwing down a couple of jumpers and creating a goal. That's where it all started.'
Vinnie's Ongoing Commitment
Vinnie still makes sure he gets outside today, adding that he goes 'nuts' if he is indoors for 20 minutes. The FA Cup winner is partnering with prize draw platform Ventus which is supporting mental health charities as part of its launch draw. The company is offering people the chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Croatia, including private jet travel, a seven-night crewed yacht experience and £10,000 spending money.
Vinnie said: 'Supporting young people is important because they look up to us. We're on TV, we're in movies, we're in documentaries. As we get a little bit older, we realise we have a responsibility to the younger generation.'
Chris Wall, founder at Ventus, said: 'We're delighted to be partnering with Vinnie on this unique opportunity. Not only will people have the chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime trip and create unforgettable memories, each paid entry will also contribute to charitable causes that create real-world impact.'
'If you win, you'll be able to enjoy a seven-night all-inclusive crewed yacht experience for you and up to three guests, private jet travel, and £10,000 spending money for the getaway.'
Vinnie added: 'We live on good memories. The trouble is that people often have more bad memories than good ones. This is something where we can create good memories for people.'
