A HEART-WARMING winter campaign encouraging people to send Christmas cards to residents in care homes has been launched.

Cards for Kindness, now in its fourth year, aims to tackle loneliness and isolation in care homes across Lancashire and South Cumbria. 

The theme for this year’s scheme is “What warms your heart this winter?” and people are being asked to include examples of what makes them happy alongside their festive greetings. 

This could be anything from pulling on a favourite Christmas jumper or eating a mince pie, to watching your favourite movie or snuggling up with the dog on the sofa on a rainy winter afternoon. 

The idea is that opening the Christmas card helps to start conversations and bring back happy memories. Research shows that these conversations can have many benefits and reduce loneliness, particularly for people living with dementia.

There are more than 13,600 people in care homes across Lancashire and South Cumbria, and reducing loneliness is a crucial part of improving their physical and mental wellbeing. 

Cllr Mohammed Khan, leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “Cards for Kindness is a really positive and heart-warming project which lets us spread festive cheer and kindness to those living within Lancashire’s care homes.

 “Loneliness within care homes has been a growing problem, especially after the last eighteen months and the impact Covid-19 has had on families and friends being able to visit loved ones. One card could make all the difference to people and we are encouraging schools, businesses, community groups, friends and family across Blackburn with Darwen to get involved and help tackle loneliness this Christmas.”

County Cllr Graham Gooch, Lancashire County Council’s cabinet member for adult social care, said: “This Christmas, Cards for Kindness is set to be bigger than ever. 

“We’re asking people to include a few words about something that makes them feel happy at a time of year which can be very lonely for the people living in one of the 573 care homes across the Lancashire, Blackpool, Blackburn with Darwen and South Cumbria region.”  

Talib Yaseen, Executive Director of Transformation from Lancashire and South Cumbria Health and Care Partnership, said: “Cards for Kindness is a wonderful way to spread a little Christmas spirit by sending a festive greetings card to people living in our local care homes.”

Almost 200 care homes have signed up to Cards for Kindness this year. 
All the information people need to get involved is available on the website www.healthierlsc.co.uk/CardsForKindness.