The Shipdham Parish Emergency Council and the Thomas Bullock DNEAT school in Shipdham, launched a ‘Postcard for a Neighbour’ campaign and community volunteer Helen Bridge designed a poignant postcard using the school’s phrase from Matthew 5:16, ‘Let your Light Shine’ and ‘Together We Help Shipdham Shine.’
Oliver Burwood, CEO of Diocese of Norwich Education and Academies Trust (DNEAT) said:
“This is a particularly heart-warming story of community and school coming together and most poignantly teaching our children how to look out for other people.”
Mrs O’Sullivan, headteacher of Thomas Bullock Church of England Primary Academy said:
“We were delighted to be asked to get our pupils involved in writing these beautiful postcards and sending them to our Shipdham neighbours. We launch this ‘Postcard for a Neighbour’ campaign at an important time, alongside the recent Mental Health Awareness Week, BBC Radio Norfolk’s ‘Happy Heads’ campaign and Norfolk County Council’s new ‘We Got This Campaign’.
“The pupils have very much enjoyed being part of this caring initiative and bringing a smile to people’s faces. Our children are thoroughly enjoying writing them and sharing with their community.”
Helen Bridge said:
“I have been blown away by how our community has come together to support one another over the last year. Even so, the most recent restrictions coinciding with the darkest days of winter has really tested our wellbeing and we wanted to do something that would lift everyone’s spirits. Sometimes, small gestures are all it takes to brighten someone’s day and ease feelings of loneliness; and who doesn’t love to see a handwritten postcard land on their doormat?”
Lilly May in Year 4 said:
“I think these are really good because it is going to make people get these through the door. I think it will make their day!”
Grace in Year 4 said:
“By sending them we are showing we care about other people in our community, that they matter and we don’t just think of ourselves.”
The postcard campaigned launched with a special assembly where every pupil in the school attended live or virtually with their parents and the teachers discussed the value of respecting one’s self and mind and being philanthropic for our community.