It’s been a busy few weeks at A Letter Is Better CIC, and I couldn’t be happier. Yes, we live in a digital world, and no, I’m not anti-tech. But a handwritten letter still does something a WhatsApp message never will and it’s our damn duty to keep this form of communication alive! Do you want everything to be digital? No. No you don’t!
Here’s what I’ve been up to
A Letter Writing Workshop for the elderly in Totnes
I’ve just finished planning A Time to Write, a two-hour letter writing workshop for a Totnes community group. It’s made people who still listen to the old wireless and cups of tea literally all day! We start with a warm-up to get the hands moving, like six-word stories and an alphabet of memories. Then we write about our own lives before writing a real letter to a living person. That could be a friend, a grandchild, an MP or even a favourite celebrity if that floats your boat. And there will be lots of creative chat because this group are going to have a lot to offer as far as sharing stories and that passion for the written word.
The workshop works for community groups and workplaces too, so if you’d like to book one, get in touch.
The Power of Three Pen Pal Project for Primary Schools and Care Homes
My biggest project right now is the Letter Link Project, and its first format is called The Power of Three. We pair primary school pupils with care home residents as pen pals. Over one term, each person writes three letters using the same three prompts. How it started. A day I’ll never forget. Something that took me a long time to learn.
I’ve been putting together a list of primary schools and care homes across South Devon, from Totnes to Kingsbridge and Brixham, and I’m getting in touch with them by sending a letter and leaflet in the post. Yes, emailing would be quicker but where would the fun in that be? I’m looking to connect with people who are aligned with the project and understand how beneficial this will be for the children and care home residents. It’s a connection between generations!
Digital Detox Workshops and the 10,000 Letter Challenge
Not long ago I ran A Tale of Two Letters at HealthSource Totnes, where we looked at the difference between the letter you never send and the one you do. You get to let it all out! No holding back. You are free. But then we have a break. Work through the letter using some prompts and short activities to reveal what we really want to say. If you think your first letter does that nicely then that’s fine. No one is gonna tell you what to think.
The 10,000 Letter Challenge, our goal of getting 10,000 letters posted before 2030, is a whole other beast. Joining is easy. Write it. Take a photo of yourself at the post box. Tag us or send us the image and we’ll add you to the challenge. Yes, that’s a lot of licked envelopes!
Whether you’d like a digital detox workshop for your team, a community session, or a go at the challenge yourself, I’d love to hear from you. I’m happy to travel beyond South Devon too.
Letters don’t need to be perfect. They just need to be written.
