Former Blue Peter presenter and Shropshire student launches campaign to tackle loneliness

Teachers and parents are being asked to share children's uplifting messages with the elderly as part of the Message of Hope campaign, supported by Radzi Chinyanganya.

The former Haberdashers' Adams' Grammar School student and Blue Peter presenter has been working alongside pharmacy chain Well Pharmacy to back the campaign, which will see letters and pictures written by children put into NHS prescription bags and distributed to elderly people across the UK.

Radzi said: "Loneliness is something that affects so many people, especially our elderly community. This has been massively exacerbated due to the necessary lockdowns over the past 12 months.

“This week would have been the Sir Captain Tom Moore’s 101st birthday and he reminded us about the power of the elderly community. I am honoured to be part of Well Pharmacy’s initiative, enabling young people to help put a smile on the faces of old people, simply with their imagination and putting pen to paper.”

Teachers and parents are being encouraged to share the Messages of Hope on social media using the hashtag #messageofhope

Seb Hobbs, CEO of Well Pharmacy, said: “There has been a massive increase in the number of people who have chosen to have their NHS prescriptions delivered to their homes over the last 12 months. While this service supports the government’s stay at home message, we understand that for many people the simple task of picking up a prescription also provides the opportunity for social interaction.

“I am incredibly proud of the role community pharmacy has played in supporting the health of people across the UK over the past 12 months. We are proud to launch the Message of Hope campaign, enabling children across the UK to let those effected by loneliness know that we are thinking about them.”

For more information visit well.co.uk/messageofhope