A woman's project fighting loneliness by delivering cards to residents in a Lancaster village has gone from strength to strength.
Sam Pritchard set up the Cards for Fighting Loneliness project in Halton as the village came out of the Covid lockdown in 2021.
Sam encouraged residents to write messages inside cards to brighten up the day of a complete stranger who might be suffering from loneliness or isolation.
She bought a post box for residents to post the cards, which was fixed to the wall next to the entrance to Halton Community Centre.
Sam hand delivers them in Halton and beyond, and from small beginnings now has 126 recipients who benefit from the project.
Sam spoke to Bryan Griffin from our Happy Talk podcast about the project.
"In 2021 when we were coming out of lockdown, we had all had an appreciation of isolation and loneliness and what that meant to people," she said.
"I realised that in our community we'd all rallied around, helping others, picking up prescriptions.
"But actually as restrictions were lifting, for lots of people in the community, they were in a permanent state of lockdown, because they were either housebound, perhaps with mental health issues, or still shielding, and still very worried about going outside.
"So for that reason I thought we've got to do something as a community to try to reach these people and maintain that human connection with them.
"I got some funding and bought a post box, got that fitted to the community centre wall, and I asked local children and adults to make a beautiful handmade card, with a lovely handwritten message inside for the reader.
"These cards are designed for a complete stranger to brighten their day. When I receive the cards, I hand deliver them to people in the village, have a chat with that person, and get to know them as people.
"It started small and it quickly grew. I've currently got 126 recipients on my list. Not all of those people live in Halton."
Sam also offers a 'no-contact service' where people still get a card but no door knock
Recipents are aged from in their 30s to 102.
The project officially runs from October to March but Sam also drops in on residents she has befriended, during the summer months.
If you would like to nominate a resident to receive a card, see the Facebook page HERE.
Forty five per cent of adults feel occasionally, sometimes or often lonely in England. This equates to approximately 25 million people, and 1.4 million older people in the UK are said to often feel lonely.
LISTEN to the full Happy Talk podcast with Sam Pritchard HERE.
Police issue quicksand warning after riverbank danger for school pupils in Lancaster
Lancaster animal shelter launches 'Big Build' fundraiser to help save charity
LISTEN: Morecambe "definitely submitting a bid" to become first UK Town of Culture
Heysham Port upgrade blamed for traffic chaos 'trapping residents in their homes'
LISTEN: Tourism champs hail Eden Project and Tour de France as huge for Morecambe Bay area
Donation helps college pan ability football team to play in national championships
LISTEN: Meet the new manager of the Midland Hotel in Morecambe
LISTEN: Main contractor to build Eden Project Morecambe to be announced this month
£1.2m of funding for flood defence schemes in Lancaster district announced
Morecambe Bay hospital trust unveils new painless blood test
Thousands raised to help boost return of Lancaster Music Festival
High street computer games shop in Lancaster closes down
LISTEN: Carnforth actor wins Hollywood and Paris awards for horror film role
"1600 potholes repaired last week" says councillor as roads debate rumbles on
Burger King takeaway in Lancaster city centre closes down
Morecambe lifeboat crew reunite dog lost on sands with owner
New Morrisons Daily supermarket opens in Morecambe
Council investigate after derelict food trailer found dumped in Lancaster layby
Man charged after pedestrian died in Morecambe hit and run
LISTEN: We go out on Pothole Patrol in Morecambe
