A Hampshire care home has issued a heartwarming appeal to encourage members of the public from 'far and wide' to write into its residents.

Over the course of the last year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, many care homes have been cut off from the outside world.

This has left residents isolated from their friends and loved ones.

Now one care home is appealing to people from across the world to write to 11 of its residents.

Heatherside Rest Home, a 33-bed residential home in Scures Hill, Nately Scures near Hook, is asking keen writers to get in touch.

Basingstoke Gazette:

On Wednesday (February 25), staff shared photographs of a number of the home’s residents, showing their names and interests.

These include: John, who loves archery, planes and jazz funk music; Lilly, who loves dancing and gardening; and Gladys, who loves animals, word searches, and watching TV soaps.

Other residents listed interests including watching quiz shows, horses, and knitting, as well as including details of their former jobs, from being a nanny, to a bus conductor, to working for the government overseas!

The home published an appeal to the public, writing: “Our lovely residents at Heatherside are looking for a pen pal friend to write to...

“Take a look at our residents and if you share an interest and you would like to send a letter, please address it with their name using the address below.

“All ages welcome. Please share, we’d love to see how far this travels … we may even receive a letter from abroad!”

Basingstoke Gazette:

The post began with eleven residents, but more are being added throughout the week.

With a wide variety of interests, Heatherside is home to residents who would make excellent pen-pals for a huge range of people.

Letters can be addressed to: Heatherside Rest Home, Nately Scures, Basingstoke, Hants, RG27 9JR.

Within hours of posting, the request had been shared and commented on by hundreds of people.

One commented: “Covid has isolated so many people as it is. Whether the residents have family close by or not, the art of writing a letter and sharing a common interest shows kindness.”

Basingstoke Gazette:

Another added: “I’m off to buy some lovely writing paper and envelopes!”

For more information, and to see when new residents are added to the pen-pal list, visit here.

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