Tottenham Hotspur Women players Bethany England, Eleanor Heeps, Ella Morris, Ashleigh Neville and Josefine Rybrink helped kick off the Club’s Christmas community programme this week, bringing early festive warmth to residents at Lorenco House, a care home just moments from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The visit, organised through the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation, saw players join residents for gentle seated exercises, interactive games, and plenty of conversation over mince pies donated by the Club.
To learn more about the Foundation’s work, visit the official site: Tottenham Hotspur Foundation.
Bringing Joy Where It Matters Most
Research suggests that as many as one in four older people feel lonely at Christmas, with almost half of care home residents receiving no regular visitors. With that in mind, the players were determined to make their afternoon at Lorenco House meaningful.
Bethany England shared:
“We’re very fortunate that we can give back to people who aren’t necessarily in the same position, especially at this time of year. If we can bring a little bit of love and joy to their lives then that’s what we’ll do.”
Ashleigh Neville added:
“I really enjoyed meeting the residents and spreading a bit of joy before Christmas. This is the first time I’ve been into a care home, so to be able to get involved in the session today was really special.”
One resident, 79-year-old Walton McLaren, even performed guitar for the group — calling it the best day he has had since moving into the care home three years ago.
Part of the Foundation’s “Active Memories” Programme
The event formed part of the Foundation’s Active Memories initiative, supported by the Premier League, the PFA Players’ Fund, and the People’s Postcode Lottery.
Learn more about the lottery’s charitable support at: People’s Postcode Lottery.
This week, all donations made to the Foundation via the Club’s official link are being doubled, giving supporters an opportunity to amplify their impact: Donate to the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation.
Supporting North London Through Christmas and Beyond
Tottenham Hotspur sits within one of London’s most deprived boroughs and has long prioritised supporting vulnerable residents during the festive season. Over the coming weeks, both the men’s and women’s squads will continue this mission with:
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Visits to local homeless support services
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Toy deliveries for children in nearby hospitals
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Donations of Club-provided essentials to local foodbanks
The Club has also supplied Christmas trees to Haringey Council to brighten public spaces for the holiday period.
More information on community initiatives in the area can be found via Haringey Council.
Beyond Christmas, the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation operates year-round to support physical and mental wellbeing, provide education and mentorship programmes for young people, and offer pathways into employment. In the 2024/25 season alone, more than 13,000 North Londoners benefited from over 10,500 hours of targeted support.
