Martlets is proud to announce the launch of You Are Never Alone this week.
The project aims to help build community between the generations, linking schools across our city to local care homes. Through the human act of connecting to share experiences, it hopes to make life better for care home residents across Brighton and Hove.
Teachers are inviting children of all ages to create a letter, poem, piece of art or audio recording. This is then shared with a care home resident living nearby – with 20 homes already signed up to the scheme. Each school chooses how best to introduce the project to their students and children of all ages can take part. To date, 19 schools from the city have pledged to help support the project.
A team of Martlets volunteers will be delivering the letters and messages to care homes, following strict guidelines to make sure these welcome deliveries are safe.
The hope is that in time when restrictions allow, these links will see a two-way communication with the residents; with homes twinned to their nearest schools to encourage an on-going relationship with benefits all round.
Martlets are bringing together our community.
As the local charity providing hospice care for Brighton and Hove, Martlets supports people to live their days to the full. Working with care homes on a daily basis, now more than ever, we’ve seen the need for helping build connection with residents who may be facing restrictions on visitors and limited contact with the world outside.
Martlets is bringing this together locally as part of a commitment to build a kinder, more connected and compassionate community. You Are Never Alone hopes to help minimise social isolation and loneliness. It also aims to support children and care home residents alike to feel part of something bigger, through these times of restriction and change.
Any schools or care homes in the Brighton and Hove area are welcome to contact Martlets to find out how they can be a part of this enriching project. Email youareneveralone@martlets.org.uk and the team will contact you.
The project is supported by the local NHS Commissioners and Brighton and Hove City Council.
Schools involved are
St Bartholomew’s CE Primary School
St Bernadette’s
Brighton Girls School
Brunswick Primary School
Central Hub Brighton – KS4/Primary
Cottesmore St Mary Catholic Primary School
Dorothy Stringer School
Downs Infant School
Hove Park
St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School
St Luke’s
Mile Oak
St Mark’s CE Primary School
Portslade Aldridge Community Academy
St Peter’s Community Primary School
Varndean School
West Hove Infant School
Westdene Primary School