The emotional significance of the written word during lockdown has been made clear by new Royal Mail research, which reveals that one in five (18%) UK adults have been sending more letters and cards since measures began. The postal operator shared how nearly three quarters (74%) of Britons feel that the writing of cards and letters has positive mental health benefits.
Royal Mail’s has launched a Send a Letter campaign. The consumer-focused campaign centres around encouraging members of the public to send letters and cards.
‘Tell them how you’re feeling, tell them what you miss about them, tell them a joke or something funny that’s happened in your home. You could send them a recipe for their favourite pie. Write a poem – it could be sensitive or silly,’ is some of the inspiring text included on the dedicated area on Royal Mail’s website https://www.royalmail.com/sending/sendaletter/how-to
“Handwritten cards and letters are a really powerful way of connecting and showing a special someone that you care; particularly during these difficult and sometimes isolating times. Keeping the nation connected is of vital importance to us,” relayed David Gold, director of public affairs and policy for Royal Mail.
The Send a Letter area on the Royal Mail website includes tips and templates for writing great letters, examples of great historic letters, videos on creating your own cards, as well as a direct link into the GCA’s gallery section of its Thinking of You Week website https://www.thinkingofyouweek.cards/gallery/ helping people to source cards.
As well as some short humorous viral clips highlighting some situations when texting just doesn’t do it which end with the message ‘Sometimes better to send a letter’, there are some easy to follow tutorials on faux calligraphy, making collaged designs and drawing.
Here is one of the Royal Mail videos which forms part of the campaign…
This news item was written by Jakki Brown, editor of Progressive Greetings Worldwide and https://www.pgbuzz.net/ the GCA’s official publication and industry newsfeed.
The Royal Mail Send a Letter website includes many examples of historic letters, such as this one that Henry VIII sent to his then lover Anne Boleyn while he was still married to Catherine of Aragon 
Royal Mail has launched a Send a Letter campaign which encourages the sending of cards, postcards as well as letters
