SISTERS who dreamt up a letter writing project to ensure the dale’s elderly folk were not forgotten during the coronavirus lockdown have been praised for their efforts by officials from Barnard Castle’s Dementia Friendly Community Group.
Middleton-in-Teesdale school pupil Betty Porter came up with an idea for children to write letters to older people to help combat social isolation, called Letters for a Friend.
The idea came to her after watching Sports Relief and which featured an intergenerational choir.
The benefits of children and older people socialising are well known and ten-year-old Betty wanted to reach out to people who might be lonely because they aren’t allowed to socialise at the moment.
So Betty and her eight-year-old sister Elsie have started writing letters, drawing pictures and putting the logo for Letters for a Friend on the back of the envelopes before posting them. Mum Sarah has been in touch with a local care home to see if residents would welcome the correspondence.
“The home has been really positive about the idea and I’m so proud of Betty for coming up with it and Elsie for joining in.
“There are lots of children at home and it would be wonderful if they took the opportunity to reach out to some of the most vulnerable people in our community to ensure they feel a little bit less lonely.
“We’ve already got some friends who are doing the same. The current situation is overwhelming and it feels like we have to do whatever we can to help each other.
“I’d suggest calling your local care homes to see if residents are interested in receiving a Letter For a Friend.”
Among those who heard about Betty and Elsie’s efforts was Susan Kirkbride, secretary of the dementia friends community group.
Mrs Kirkbride said she had been moved by their efforts and the group send them a certificate of thanks.
The commendation reads: “We wanted to let you know how pleased we were to hear of your letter writing project.
“It is a wonderful idea and so thoughtful of you to think about others at this difficult time.
“There will be many elderly or lonely people who will be delighted to receive your letters and pictures; they will be so happy to know that they have not been forgotten.
“You have also managed to bring lots more people into your scheme too, which means that so many people will be able to benefit.
“I have told my granddaughter, who lives on Teesside, about it and she and her friends are going to take up the idea. You have inspired others – well done.
“As a thank you and in recognition of your thoughtful and inspiring idea, we enclose a certificate from Barnard Castle Dementia Friendly Community Group – the first we have ever awarded.”
Mrs Kirkbride added: “We are living in difficult times, but with young people like Betty, Elsie and their friends around the future looks much brighter.”
![A COUNTY councillor is backing a campaign to get a pedestrian crossing in Staindrop. Frustrated parish councillors in the village summoned their county council representative Cllr George Richardson to their latest meeting to discuss several issues, including the call for a safe way to cross the A688. Earlier this year their request for a crossing was turned down by the county council’s highways officers. Parish council chairman Jonothan Raper described the reasons for the refusal as “spurious” and called on Cllr Richardson to support their campaign. He added: “One of the arguments they made was there is no clear line of desire when they studied the village – well this isn’t a clear line of desire because there isn’t a crossing, people cross whenever they can. “When the lollipop person was there, one of the things I noticed was people would walk all the way down to the lollipop person to cross the road to go to the shop or to go to the school.” He added a problem of parking at the primary school is exacerbated because people are too afraid to walk their children across the road. Cllr Richardson said he had supported previous attempts for a crossing point with the first being made about 15 years ago. He added: “We went fairly well down the road with that and they looked into it. The only recommended place was where the bus stop is and to get the visibility splays, people on the other side of the road would lose their parking. “That didn’t go down well so it just died a death.” Cllr Raper said he suspected the real reason for the officers’ refusal was the cost of installing a crossing. He added that much of the cost could be recovered from savings made on not having to employ a lollipop patrol. Cllr Raper said: “A lollipop person only provides a benefit of crossing for three hours of the day. You are getting 21 extra hours of crossing time [with a pedestrian crossing].” Cllr Richardson said he would raise the issue with the county council’s cabinet member for highways, Cllr John Shuttleworth.](https://teesdalemercury.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/georgeR-120x86.jpg)
