Warwickshire initiative brings together school children and care home residents in coronavirus outbreak

An community initiative has been set up to bring together people in care homes and schoolchildren during the coronavirus outbreak.

Rebecca Evans from Warwick set up the initiative called 'Dear Residents', which involves children and parents in Warwickshire creating pictures and letters to cheer up residents of care homes and hospices, who may be lonely due to visitor bans.

The letters and pictures are then sent via email.

Rebecca said: "We set up ‘Dear Residents’ last weekend and we allocate care homes to creators, and they send photos back which we email on to care homes - no physical posting to ensure zero risk of virus transmission.

"It's a time where a lot of people will be lonely, particularly in care homes and hospices where people can't have visits from friends and relatives because of Covid-19.

"We also now have lots of children who need entertaining at home, so I thought Dear Residents could bring the two together to spread a bit of cheer and let people know that they matter and people in Warwickshire are thinking about them.

"The response so far has been heart-warming; we have 10 care homes signed up, representing more than 400 residents.

"We have over 100 creative children signed up via their parents, schools or community groups, and we’d love to keep growing this number. Together, they are all helping to spread joy during this difficult time.

"It has been so lovely to see how keen people are to help, and my own days in self isolation have also been cheered by seeing all the creations coming in.

"We've had drawings, paintings, jokes, letters of hope and even a quiz round. Schools and community groups are also taking part, and we have also had a few contributions from adults which is great - the more the merrier,"

If anyone would like to get involved they should email: [email protected] or go to: https://www.facebook.com/dearresidentswarwickshire10 care homes have signed up to the initiative so far and these are:

~ Adelaide House in Leamington

~ Anya court in Rugby

~ Bracebridge Court in Atherstone

~ Castle Brook in Kenilworth

~ Scholars Mews in Stratford

~ Myton Hospice in Warwick and Coventry

~ Fairfield WCS in Exhall

~ Fourways WCS in Leamington

~ Sycamores WCS in Leamington

~ Cubbington Mill in Leamington

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