Matching older men and women – with time to write an encouraging line or two – with youngsters who'd value a friend and mentor is a new scheme catching on in an Edinburgh church.
The intergenerational pen pal scheme was only set up in Bruntsfield Evangelical Church, Edinburgh, just before Christmas 2020, so it is early days.
'The basic principle,' said one member of the congregation, 'is to bring together young and old using whatever communication we can to try and represent the buzz that is missing on YouTube and Zoom, wonderful though they have been throughout the pandemic.'
'It was the Pastoral Care team that took this on and matched families with young children to an older person who was living on their own or perhaps isolated because of caring for a partner with dementia, or other condition.'
It is an idea easily replicated in any other church. If you decide to set up a similar scheme, let us know how it goes! annachaplaincy@brf.org.uk
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