Community Senior Letters is a non-profit community project that matches schools to care homes so that students can write letters to lonely elderly residents to lift spirits and provide human connection during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since care home visits are limited, the elderly residents are feeling lonelier than ever as they are isolated from the outside world, which is why it is so crucial during this time to keep in contact with those who are alone and more vulnerable. As well as combating loneliness and feelings of isolation the elderly may be feeling, it can teach the students valuable life lessons, such as compassion for those in vulnerable situations, selflessness as they carry out good deeds for the benefit of others, and to be mindful in these uncertain circumstances.
There are currently over 270 schools and over 270 care homes in 29 different boroughs involved in London, as well as various schools and care homes paired in other major cities such as Manchester, Bristol, Cambridge, Edinburgh and Dublin.
The letter writing community has also started to expand globally, with schools involved in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa and North America. These schools are paired with care homes in the UK to improve language skills and to create an international and intergenerational letter writing community.
We have created an online Gallery which showcases the talent of various students and individuals who have contributed and written letters/drawings for the elderly residents. If you would like your artwork to be displayed here, please contact Nina (all details can be found on the ‘Get Involved!‘ page).
The team behind Community Senior Letters is also behind Community Senior Music, which we hope to continue once the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.
Latest News:
As a BEM award recipient, Nina Andersen BEM was invited to the King’s Coronation on May 6th 2023.
In the New Year’s Honours List 2022, Nina Andersen (founder of Community Senior Letters) was awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) by Queen Elizabeth II for her ‘hands-on’ service to the community.
The Heart of Our Community: a book by Community Senior Letters, was recently published. It contains a collection of students’ motivational artwork for care home residents, in an effort to cheer up those who have had a tough year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Latymer Upper School sponsored the publication and distribution of the first 500 books, which were sent (for free) to care homes all around the UK – to those taking part in this letter writing project, as well as those not already involved.
The founder of Community Senior Letters, Nina Andersen, is very excited to announce her new position as one of the initial Youth Ambassadors for The Captain Tom Foundation. She is looking forward to working closely with the family of Captain Sir Tom Moore to combat loneliness and ageism in society.
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