Cash boost for pen pal project
Scheme aims to combat loneliness
A pilot pen pals project aimed at connecting youngsters and pensioners won funding after success at last week’s Stirling Soup event.
Contact the Elderly won the public vote at Soup 5 on Friday – bagging £425 to set up an initiative scheme linking primary schools with guests from their local tea party groups.
Morna O’May, the charity’s head of service for Scotland, said the project is already having an impact in the area.
She said: “I am absolutely thrilled to win this pot of money from Stirling Soup as it will enable us to get the pilot launched in the Forth Valley area.
“Pupils and our guests will be able to write to each other, sharing stories, learning from each other and having the pleasure of sending and receiving hand-written letters.
“This will strengthen links within our communities and ultimately help to end the social isolation and loneliness that Contact the Elderly is combating every day.
“We already have primary school children and older folks keen to start writing to each other and we are looking forward to seeing how this pilot develops.”
A number of community groups pitched to those in attendance – hoping to win the most votes and take home the cash raised.
And Soup organiser Liam Miller said: “Morna’s pitch for Contact the Elderly reminded us that human beings are, ultimately, social beings.
“In under four minutes she painted a vivid picture of how loneliness can affect older people and issued a call to action for us to speak to, write to and engage with our elderly population.
“We congratulate Morna and look forward to hearing how she used the winner’s pot to fund the inter-generational project at our next Soup.”
There was also a Stirling Soup first during the event – a prize for second place.
Liam added: “This time we decided to do things differently and use a generous donation of £207 from Creative Stirling as a special prize pot of its own.
“The pitch from PLUS Forth Valley can only be described as unique – all singing, all dancing and brimming with pizazz and flair.
“PLUS hope to use the money to raise awareness of their services in the Forth Valley and we wish them the very best of luck.”
In addition to the pitches, and food being served, there was also live music on the night courtesy of Stirling’s Craig Ferrie.
Soup 6 is due to take place in September.
Pleasure of sending and receiving hand-written letters