Derbyshire science company employees have helped spread festive greetings by joining a valuable initiative penning letters to people who may be isolated over Christmas.
A group of 35 staff at science company Lubrizol, whose UK headquarters is based in Hazelwood near Belper, took time out of their day jobs to write letters to people in care homes or living in other isolated situations over Christmas as part of the highly valued ‘Give … a few words’ initiative.
The project was set up in 2020 by Sharron Wilkinson, from Huddersfield, as a way of reducing loneliness for those in care homes who were unable to see people at Christmas because of Covid restrictions.
‘Give … a few words’ is a social enterprise in which volunteers are asked to write a letter to someone who may be feeling isolated. Writers are given some details about their recipients and the idea is simply to write something positive to help spread a little cheer and forge a valuable human connection.
Staff from Lubrizol have been taking part in the ‘Give … a few words’ campaign since it started, with employees from the company’s UK branches and even abroad writing letters.
Two of Lubrizol’s Christmas letter-writers this year were Matt and Tracy Thompson from Nottingham who work at the company’s Derbyshire office.
Matt Thompson with his nan, Joan.
Matt said he particularly enjoyed writing his letter as a way of remembering his nan who had lived on her own and died in 2020.
He said: “When I think about writing these letters, it makes me think of how I used to go over to see my nan. She only had my dad, so she didn’t have loads of people going in to go and see her. I remember how much she appreciated it.
“In my head, when I write these letters it’s almost a way of carrying on letting somebody know what’s going on in my life. In my head, my hope is that’s brought someone a bit of a smile.
“Before I was married, I would always spend Christmas at my nan’s house. I would go round and do all the Christmas decorations in her house.
“Christmas is about family and connection and maybe if you don’t have family, connection is really difficult, but it doesn’t mean you don’t want it. Maybe the letter I wrote through this campaign is the only connection that someone might be getting this Christmas. Writing a letter is something personal. You’re sharing something of yourself and having a bit of a moment with it.”
Another of Lubrizol’s letter-writing volunteers, Ann Charlton from its branch in Consett, made an additionally kind gesture when she took part in the initiative. Discovering that the recipient of her letter was visually impaired, she embroidered him a handkerchief featuring his initials, so he could feel the letters as well as having the letter read out to him.
The embroidered handkerchief from Ann Charlton.
Ann said: “I thought if he couldn’t see very well, that if he felt the letters, he might enjoy that.”
Ann took up embroidery during lockdown because she herself had to isolate for many months for health reasons, and found it a good way of relaxing and being mindful. Since returning to work she has used her machine to make embroidered emblems on the overalls of colleagues.
She said she thought the ‘Give … a few words’ project was an excellent way of reaching out to people who might be feeling isolated – a feeling she herself recognised from her own experiences during lockdown.
“I think it’s a lovely idea,” she said. “It must be hard for people who have nobody, and I bet it makes their day to get a letter.”
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