I've joined forces - along with Paul Scully, our neighbouring Conservative MP for Sutton & Cheam - with Age UK Sutton to help support lonely older residents in the Borough, as lockdown and self-isolation continue during the current COVID-19 outbreak. Age UK Sutton is supporting hundreds of older people at this time, many of whom have nobody else, or are desperately missing regular contact with friends, neighbours, and family.
Paul and I are therefore very pleased to be championing the charity's 'Letters of Joy' initiative to help bring smiles to older people of Sutton by sending them a lovely picture, letter or poem from a younger person who also lives in the Borough. These letters will be sent to older people isolating at home, in care and residential homes, and in hospital to bring some cheer in these difficult times. (Age UK Sutton have taken advice on how to 'quarantine' the letters to ensure safety for all involved, and we are following guidance on safety to ensure everyone is protected.)
The ‘Letters of Joy’ is an absolutely brilliant idea from Age UK Sutton, and I had already contacted our local primary schools and places of worship to ask them to make cards for our older people in our community when the charity's Chief Executive, Nicola Upton, got in touch to suggest a joint approach.
I am a huge supporter of the work that the Age UK network does nationally, and pay tribute to all the fantastic efforts that Nicola and her team are putting in on behalf of local residents to help tackle loneliness and isolation in the community during COVID-19. I'm delighted that Age UK Sutton, Paul and I have been able to come together and pool our resources as well as our contact networks, working to bring different generations together to combat loneliness whilst maintaining social distancing.
In addition to the ‘Letters of Joy’, Age UK Sutton has developed a free Coronavirus wellbeing programme including a weekly 'Virtual Friday Club' where older residents can meet over Zoom for a coffee and chat, wellbeing packs containing information, exercises, and activities, and wellbeing and befriending calls from trained local volunteers.
Age UK Sutton is also continuing to deliver its usual wide range of services assisting people with health and mental health needs, finances, housing, bereavement and more, because the challenges of later life continue, and will always be there to help. If you or an older person you know needs support, you can contact Age UK Sutton on 0208 915 2233 or via info@ageuksutton.org.uk.
If anyone would like to design a card for an older person, you can make your own or find downloadable templates on the Age UK Sutton website, and please do send them to me or to Age UK Sutton so we can coordinate their distribution. You can send cards in an envelope marked ‘Letters of Joy’ to Age UK Sutton, Sutton Gate, Carshalton Road, Sutton, SM1 4LE OR to Elliot Colburn MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA.
Thank you so much to Juice Design of Midtown Hub, 1 Times Square, Sutton, Surrey, SM1 1LF for designing and donating the 'Letters of Joy' templates to Age UK Sutton! Do visit their website for all your digital creative design needs!