Bradford 101 ages 20-29 on life in coronavirus pandemic

NEXT AGES 30-39: 'I wasn’t prepared for the impact it would have on our children'

Minaa Hassen, 20, unemployed, from Swain House

The pandemic has been a rollercoaster. Nothing felt real and I didn’t grasp how serious it was. Two months into lockdown I lost my job. Following that, I caught the virus. Having the virus was life-changing and made me so much more grateful for my health. It was debilitating and when I was finally recovering, I felt in a way born again.

Lockdown gave us so much time to be creative. I needed to distract myself from what was happening beyond my house doors. I created an Instagram page where I share lessons, recipes, and life advice. It changed how I viewed lockdown. Although I had experienced losses, it was an opportunity to start something new and fresh, and that is exactly what I chose to do.

Natasha Meek, 21, Telegraph & Argus reporter, from Pudsey

Reporting on the coronavirus pandemic in my ‘home office’ has been one of the most challenging times of my career so far. I mentally felt the strain of reporting on Covid-19 daily, while struggling with lockdown life. It was also a time of battling scepticism from conspiracy theorists ‘debunking’ a very real virus. Despite this, we saw Bradford pull together. I enjoyed Iftaar virtually for Fasting Friday and felt goosebumps as I filmed Clap for our Carers, listing people who were on the frontline. I reported on selfless acts of kindness. This time of my career is something I will never forget.

Jessica Healy-Jacques, 22, newly-qualified staff nurse at Bradford Royal Infirmary, from Pudsey

I was a third year student nurse when coronavirus cases first appeared. Cases had started to increase and the Covid-19 bay in A&E was becoming busier and more stressful. When at home, I worried about when we would see family and friends again, then student nurses were asked to work on the frontline. Luckily, I was very well supported feel prepared for what is to come as a newly-qualified nurse. Unfortunately, Covid-19 cases in hospitals are increasing again. The pressure to adapt while trying to learn as quickly as possible is often overwhelming. I can only hope that coronavirus can soon be controlled.

Pishdaad Modaressi Chahardehi, 23, Filmmaker, from Bradford

Five weeks into the lockdown I decided to pick up my camera and capture the stories of people within my city. This decision escalated to a full-scale documentary and I ended up interviewing 150 people from all backgrounds, areas and professions in Bradford. I got to experience the Bradford spirit first hand and learn from it. People gave me their stories and their trust, even though they didn’t know me. I feel a huge sense of responsibility to tell the story of Bradford during lockdown and I think it will affect my life a lot.

Jordan Lilley, 24, Bradford Bulls player

It’s been very strange, having very limited rugby league this year. It’s been tough. I run a gym business of my own as well, and we’ve had to adapt, but we’ve probably had it easier than other businesses in some ways. I’m trying to keep as busy as possible. I did a charity bike ride in memory of my grandad, Arthur, and built a bar in my garden in summer. Hopefully we can get back to playing some rugby next year. I really miss the rugby. I’m even excited to get back into pre-season training.

Matthew Bartey, 25, Brathay Trust volunteer, from Manningham

Before the pandemic I was starting to get my life together. I spent some time working in Ambleside, and I had a job offer from a local care home. Next thing I knew I couldn’t go anywhere, do anything, or see anyone. Days started to bleed into one another, and I had little motivation to do anything except sleep in. I missed the human connection, being in nature, and having structure to my life. When this is all over I hope we can all start to appreciate the little things in life that we used to take for granted.

Laura Thornton, 25, video producer, from Eccleshill

Hot Aire is a large, community concert band I’m in, but due to the pandemic we can no longer rehearse.  I decided to find a way for us to carry on going during lockdown.  I organised for members to record themselves playing their parts from home, which they sent to me to edit together creating ‘lockdown performance’ videos. We can’t wait until we’re allowed to be back playing as a band.  Live music is an important part of our lives, and brings so many people happiness. We can’t let the arts die out!

Emma Spencer, 26, trainee GP from Eldwick

For me, the Covid-19 pandemic has made me appreciate my freedom so much more – freedom to go the shops without restrictions, to see family members, to eat and drink out when I want, and to travel abroad and have fun. I was in Bolivia when the lockdown happened and just managed to get back in time (via an eight-hour overnight impromptu taxi journey to the Brazilian border). I worked as a doctor doing locum shifts in A&E when I came back. This was, and still is to an extent, a strange experience, not least because it felt like the whole of medicine had been narrowed down to only two diagnoses: Covid or no Covid.

Shannon Palmer, 27, Dementia Care Assistant, from Shelf

My life has definitely changed in the last seven months, not only in my personal life but also my work, standing proudly on the front line as a dementia care assistant. I am not just a carer but also a friend, a hand to hold, an ear to listen, and also like a family member to the customers I proudly care for. Being away from my own family has been so hard, but knowing I’m helping to keep my customers safe happy and well has to be one of the highest honours.

Emillie Butler, 28, nursery practitioner, from Queensbury

Being a first time mummy in the midst of a global pandemic has been the strangest, scariest and most rewarding experience. We grieved the things we had to miss. At 35 weeks pregnant, anxiety hit as Daddy was told he couldn’t come into theatre with me. At 39 weeks pregnant, there was elation – our baby arrived, and Daddy was allowed in theatre. The NHS is phenomenal. Our first four weeks of loving our son Bodhi were still in lockdown. This was tainted by lots of window visits, FaceTime calls and no cuddles. Our bubble was the only place he really knew. To us it was our ‘new normal’, to him it was just home. Lockdown 2020: the year we became a family.

Ryan Sparks, 29, Director of Communications and Commercial at Bradford City Football Club

Football has provided a distraction for me. It’s been surreal, watching football matches in huge stadiums that are empty. It has helped provide a little bit of rhythm back. It’s hard not to worry about your career and the football club too. You get flashes of normality now and again like going for a walk in the Lakes. You think of the last time you hugged a member of your family, it was a long, long time ago now. You’ve just got to keep your head up and keep moving forward. At first it was difficult when we had to run a football club from home.

NEXT AGES 30-39: 'I wasn’t prepared for the impact it would have on our children'

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