Christmas cards bring festive cheer to older people

A much-needed fix of festive cheer has been given to almost 400 isolated older people across west London, thanks to the delivery of personalised, and in some cases handmade, Christmas cards.

Colleagues from our Volunteering and Care and Support teams packaged and sent the cards out with over 250 gifts in the week before Christmas. The messages of good will came from a wide range of Octavia’s corporate volunteers including employees from Bridgepoint, Goodman Masson, Grosvenor Group, Lexis Nexis and Oyster Partnership, who were asked to write or create a Christmas card for us to send on their behalf. Over 100 local children from schools and youth organisations across West London, including Old Oak Primary School, Ark Burnet Primary Academy and West London Zone also got involved, drawing on their creative flair and compassion to spread kindness to those spending Christmas alone. The campaign also raised nearly £350 – funds that will go towards our life-changing community work and older people’s projects.

Liz Shipsey, Employability and Volunteer Services Manager: ‘The response to our Christmas Kindness campaign has been humbling and surpassed all of our expectations. The care and thought put into each card was touching and is testament to the wonderful levels of community spirit that prevail in our local areas. Small acts of kindness can have a huge impact and I’m sure these will have meant a lot to older, isolated people at such a difficult time. A big thank you to everyone who donated, made a card or wrote a message online for helping to make this campaign possible.”

Mrs Brown*, an Octavia resident from Chelsea said: “Thank you for the lovely gift and card I received – I feel so grateful knowing that someone is there and thinking of me.”

Christmas is a time when Octavia’s older people usually come together for our annual Christmas party. In rather different circumstances, but with the same goal in mind, this year’s campaign was designed to combat loneliness and help older, isolated people feel connected to their community. 

*Name has been changed