Call to get writing

A NATIONAL pen pal campaign aims to bring welcome cheer to Wokingham retirement living development

Property developer Lifestory launched a Stronger Together campaign to encourage local communities to write pen pal style letters to owners isolated in their homes.

Owners at Wokingham’s Renaissance Retirement’s Fleur-de-lis development have enjoyed receiving lots of letters and drawings.

Writing letters, drawing pictures and sharing stories has also been a welcomed home-schooling activity.

The initiative has seen pen-pal style letters shared with Lifestory owners at its retirement developments up and down the country with children sharing stories and drawings about everything from their family and their favourite things to do during lockdown.

Lifestory CEO Mark Dickinson said: “We have received some fantastic letters, stories and drawings that are really imaginative, colourful and thoughtful.

“We would like to thank all those who have got involved so far to spread some welcomed joy to our owners at this time of uncertainty.

“With lockdown for the older generations set to continue for a longer period of time, we continue to encourage others to take part and get writing, drawing and sharing to create some really positive communication between the generations.

“Alone we are strong, together we are stronger’, is a core message that sits behind the Stronger Together campaign. Social distancing measures and the difficulty of accessing family and friends mean that our owners, many of whom usually play a really active day to day role in our communities, are staying in their homes so the wonderful creations we have been receiving and sharing

are set to brighten spirits.”

Communities up and down the country can still get involved and Lifestory would be delighted to hear from anyone wishing to take part in the initiative.

To join in, write a letter, short note about whatever you fancy, maybe asking some questions about memories, sharing a favourite film or book or beautiful picture and then email it to Lifestory at strongertogether@lifestory.group