CHERRY Blossom Manor Care Home in Bramley are asking young people to write letters or cards to their residents who have no family members.

The care home's website reads: "Our home provides high quality residential care, as well as care for people living with dementia in our dedicated Memory Lane Community. Alongside this, we offer respite services to provide relief for carers or a break from day-to-day life. We provide 24-hour nursing that affords the best possible alternative for those who are no longer able to manage at home."

Spotlight Basingstoke UK Charity posted on their Facebook page, advertising the care home’s appeal.

Lifestyle Manager, Ms Macquillin, said: “My role within the home involves promoting independence and well-being for residents, family and staff. This is done by meeting their mental, physical and social needs.”

One Facebook user wrote: “Lots of key worker kids still go to school, sure they could write something every week.”

While another said: “Awww I’ll get my kids to do some pictures and write some letters.”

And someone else commented: “Such a lovely idea.”

The call for encouraging letters or cards to be written stems from loneliness in lockdown, experienced by elderly and vulnerable people.

In the UK, over one million people report feeling lonely all the time, or often, according to the Good Care Group.

Are you suffering from loneliness in Basingstoke? Share your story and get in touch via our email newsdesk@basingstokegazette.co.uk or speak to a reporter in confidence.