The founder of a project helping to combat loneliness and improve children’s writing and literacy, wants to raise its awareness and encourage others to help.

Letterchat is a pen pals project which involves children writing to elderly people in their community.

Karen Broad began this project when employed by a county council funded organisation, but when funding was stopped, she couldn’t let it end so continued with it herself.

She said: “It was making such a positive impact on people’s lives.

“It is a low cost support service, which is showing some amazingly positive results for all participants.

“There are schemes around the country where schools are taking some responsibility for their community in combating loneliness – some schools have opened a community café, some provide telephone contact, reading from a book to an elderly person, or some engage with the elderly from a care home.

“Teachers believe that pupils are missing out by not putting pen to paper, the way their grandparents did.

“So, tweaking this formula, I came up with the idea of a pen pals project, writing to isolated people in our community, and your help is needed.”

She is calling on others to write letters and the project is also in need of identified people at risk of social isolation.

Karen added: “Imagine the excitement of a lonely person receiving letters to read and respond to.

“The engagement of individual clients to use written recollections – cognitive stimulation and focus engagement will be hugely beneficial.

“Anyone can participate – letters can be written by hand or printed out, they could be postcards or notelets.

“This is a way we can encourage our young generation to connect, using a generation link to encourage awareness of social isolation.

“For the children, this will also help with literacy, hand writing skills, communication and awareness of social issues.

“We are guiding our youngsters to be socially responsible.”

For more information or to take part, call Karen on 01308 897709 or 07880 730727