Wokingham Borough Council is asking local residents to help spread a little joy in the run up to Mental Health Awareness Week, which kicks off on Monday 18 May. This year’s campaign, which is run nationally by the Mental Health Foundation, is asking people to celebrate everyday acts of kindness which are so important to our mental health.
The Council is encouraging kindness with its own intergenerational activity. Children across the borough are being asked to pen letters or postcards, or to get creative with drawings, that will be delivered to self-isolating residents as part of our goody bag and food parcel deliveries – putting a smile on faces in the process.
The letters will also be distributed to the community’s most vulnerable residents with the help of the Link Visiting Scheme and staff in Housing Services and Adult Social Care.
Dozens of letters have already been received thanks to the help of local schools, where children have already been encouraged to get involved.
Cllr Charles Margetts, executive member for health, wellbeing and adult services, said: “We’re delighted to be getting involved in Mental Health Awareness Week with our own intergenerational activity. This year’s theme is kindness, which is incredibly fitting given the way our staff and community have come together to prevail in these uncertain times.”
“It’s so important that vulnerable residents, especially those who are elderly, stay connected during the ongoing pandemic. That is why we are encouraging local children to write letters and draw pictures, which will undoubtedly spread kindness in the process.”
If you have a little one who’d like to take part, or perhaps you’d like to pen your own letter, contributions can be posted to Shute End: Nicola Owens, Wokingham Borough Council, Shute End, Wokingham RG40 1BN.
Scanned copies can be e-mailed to public.health@wokingham.gov.uk. Ideally, letters, postcards and drawings should be sent by Wednesday 20 May.
