Why a letter can still change everything

Every Christmas, we work with our friends at the CGI on a special project where volunteers write letters to our residents. The impact is profound.

Reading letters at Shawcross Care

We start by sharing residents’ interests, the football team they follow, the music they love, the places they’ve lived, the routines they enjoy. The volunteer team at the CGI then take time to write thoughtful letters, weaving in their own Christmas plans, reflections and experiences in a way that genuinely resonates with the person receiving it. What arrives in our homes is letters of recognition. Of curiosity. A true sense of being seen and known.

We’ve watched residents sit together reading letters aloud, laughing at shared interests, surprised by how far a letter has travelled, or pausing quietly to take it all in. Conversations start. Stories are shared. Now in its second year, connections are starting to form across the generations, backgrounds and life stages that might never otherwise have connected.

And it works both ways.

Enjoying a moment at Cumbernauld

Volunteers tell us how meaningful it feels to slow down, to write with intention, and to connect with someone whose life experience is so different from their own. It’s a reminder that volunteering can be so powerful. For some residents, they’ve already asked about writing back, keen to keep the conversation going into the new year. For us, this partnership shows what creating meaningful experiences actually looks like. It’s about attention, time and human connection.

If you’re looking for a way to bring people together in a way that feels wholesome and impactful, this is one worth considering.

Sometimes, all it takes is a letter.