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If it’s offbeat and in Cardiff then it’s in here
December/Issue 1
The return of the letter: How letter writing is helping combat lockdown loneliness
NEWS
Passive Protest Catherine Lewis made a community quilt to promote the Save the Northern Meadows campaign which has been put on display at a Swansea art gallery
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ocal organic artist Catherine Lewis has created a community quilt alongside 29 other local Whitchurch residents which has been put on display at Elysium gallery in Swansea. Catherine began work on the quilt in May which was inspired by a 1840s tithe map of the Northern Meadows – the area of land in Whitchurch she is campaigning to save from turning into a hospital
development site. The art was created from left over scraps of material she had used to make NHS bags for nurses at the start of lockdown. After inviting local residents to get involved with the project, she hand delivered the materials needed for them to make their patch, and once they were done, she sewed it The quilt was the community effort of 29 residents who each had creative freedom to all together. design their patch (Credit: Catherine Lewis) “I didn’t know what people were going to come back with as helped raise awareness of the meadows I didn’t prescribe them with any campaign, and makes people realise its instructions,” she said. importance to Whitchurch residents. “I had to fit it all together like a kind “It’ a kind of gentle protest I suppose of strange jigsaw that I didn’t have the – protest doesn’t have to be in your face, picture for.” standing up shouting,” she said. The quilt represents a piece of collective The Change Makers: Ways of Protest community activism and was selected to exhibition, showcasing the work of 70 be part of a wider protest exhibition at national and international artists, will run Elysium gallery. until 23 January 2021. Catherine hopes her work has
Catherine enjoyed sewing it together as she did not know what people were going to make (Credit: Catherine Lewis)
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Arcade Pop-up
n independent pop-up shop located in the Morgan Arcade has opened its doors to showcase local talent and promote independent businesses. Open until the 24 December, the Makers Arcade is exhibiting the products of 20 different designers, each selling unique items from handmade jewellery to bespoke artwork. Rhian Morris, co-runner of the Makers Arcade and contemporary jewellery designer believes the opportunity to showcase at the pop-up gives independents the chance to become more well-known. “I think giving businesses the opportunity to sell 2
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in store makes a massive difference because they might reach customers they have never reached before.” Following the success of the pop-up last year, the Makers Arcade has returned at a time when support for local business is as vital as ever. Artist Katherine Jones whose artwork is being exhibited has described the increasing support for independents as ‘uplifting’ during the tough lockdown period. “I’ve had people on Instagram really happy that this is happening again and saying, ‘oh my God this is where I found you last year’,” she said.
Eco community gardens open
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he Railway Gardens located on Railway Street in Splott have opened to the community for next stages of development to begin after 5 years of campaigning. Residents were welcomed to the plot for the first time on 17 October, with over 100 people turning up to show their support. Hannah Garcia, Green Squirrel director, is overwhelmed by the support that the project has received from local residents and said: “It’s a tricky project but the community response is very, very encouraging – it keeps us going.” The Railway Gardens
initiative is headed by not for profit social enterprise group Green Squirrel who have worked hard to secure the disused land from the council over the past few years. The land was originally a public park and site of anti-social behaviour before it was closed over ten years ago. With the lease signed, the next stage is to build the set plans for the area which include a two-storey community hub, an allotment, outdoor events and play area, plus 8 shipping container business spaces run by The Bone Yard.
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CARDS ON WHEELS
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Local business owner Pete Hall has been cycling, crafting, and tweeting his way through lockdown whilst his optimism for the future of independent business remains unwavering
eing 25 years in to running a card and gift shop, Halls of Llandaff owner Pete Hall, 58, has had very little opportunity to stop and enjoy the little things in life. As a people’s person through and through, Pete’s happy-go-lucky nature and ability to establish genuine connection is clear – even from the other end of a Zoom call.
never intended the delivery thing to be a massive success. “Although, I have cheated a couple of times and taken them in the car,” he laughs.
A TWITTER PERSONALITY
With an almost 5,000-strong following
and being the only social media platform used for the shop, Pete sees Twitter as an opportunity to share light-hearted content and make people smile. While humbly talking about his “addiction” to Twitter, his wife steps in to say: “He
CYCLING SALESMAN
Priding his business on the power of human interaction
wouldn’t admit it but lots of his Twitter followers love his feed because it’s very, very funny,” He chuckles and waves it off. “We have a bit of fun on Twitter so it’s not all about promotion. Nobody likes too much promotion.” Aside from taking the world of tweeting by storm, Pete has an infectious sense of positivity for the future. While independents have taken a hit in the last few months, he believes the power of personal service is strong and is their biggest chance in fighting back. “I think there will always be a market for us,” he says. “As long as you create the right environment, and make it an experience for people, they will still continue to visit.”
and service, not even a pandemic could convince him to take his stock into the realm of online retail. “My daughter and my wife think I should go online but I am a bit scared because I don’t know enough about it. I’m just an old fashion retailer,” he says. However, when his daughter suggested a card delivery service to get them through October’s firebreak lockdown, it was a welcome compromise. Taking orders from those Card bicycle deliveries kept Pete busy during the firebreak lockdown (Credit: Pete Hall) TAKING A STEP-BACK living locally in the Llandaff Kicked out of school at 15 with few area, customers contacted Pete over qualifications, Pete began running the email with the kind of cards they were shop in the mid-1990s. after. He then jumped on his bike with a As a self-proclaimed workaholic, the bag containing a selection of first lockdown in March turned out to options to choose from, and be a welcome relief from the intense delivered them. pressures of being self-employed. Pete describes the service as more of a Although retirement is not on the helping hand to the community for those cards, slowing down certainly is. who “got caught out”, and despite only “I think 2020 has taught me that life taking a few hundred pounds from the isn’t all about work, work, work all venture, has enjoyed getting out to cycle. the time,” he says. “It’s just been a bit of fun really – we
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I think 2020 has taught me that life isn’t all about work, work, work all the time
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LETTERS FOR LONELINESS Letter writing has returned to write-off pandemicinduced loneliness in Wales once and for all By Ellie Ball
Your grandparents are likely to remember a time when sending letters was commonplace, offering the closest tactile way to communicate with friends scattered far and wide, that circumstance allowed. However, with the advent of technology and instant messaging, the art of letter writing has in many ways slipped from widespread use. That is until now.
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In October, the Sherman Theatre launched Love Letters to Cardiff, a project that encourages over 50s to pen a letter expressing their love and connection to the city. The initiative is overseen by Sherman 5, a team that supports older people, and those with visual and hearing impairments who have difficulties accessing the theatre. People who signed up for Love Letters to Cardiff were given a free writing pack, and once their letters were sent in, they were shared on the theatre’s website. Each of the 18 participants also received another letter in exchange through which they could reminisce and bond over other people’s experiences of a city they call home. Sherman 5 coordinator, Claire Bottomley, is thrilled with the response the project has received and says letters have proved a powerful way for participants to exercise their artistic expression. “People have enjoyed taking a trip down memory lane and sharing their memories and experiences with others,” she says. “The letters have got quite a breadth of experience. Some people have got memories going back to the 60s, others are talking about recent experiences of Cardiff.” Participants were free to choose how they received the exchange letter, with some opting to have it read out for them by staff or family members.
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he first handwritten letter is thought to have been sent way back in 500BC and since then, countless relationships have been founded and maintained by putting pen to paper.
An opportunity to do some creative writing gave me a sense of achievement and seeing my words on the Sherman Theatre website provided a boost to my morale
During 2020, there has been a resurgence in the medium, not just among loved ones, but between strangers too – often through a number of campaigns which aim to connect those struggling with loneliness. In spring 2020, New Yorker staff writer, Rachel Syme, set up Penpalooza, an initiative that uses social media to pair up pen pals from across the globe. The fact the scheme now has over 7,000 members from 50 different countries is testament to the way letters are transcending generational lines. But it is not just Gen Z that are rediscovering the power of the written word.
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LONELINESS IN NUMBERS: • One-third of over 50s said they felt lonely during the initial lockdown • 44% experienced difficulties with their mental health • Half of older people with a disability reported feelings of loneliness • 55% of individuals living alone were lonely • 78% found not seeing friends and family difficult • A general over-reliance on online information resources made older people feel isolated and left out
WHAT CAN BE DONE? • Greater distribution of printed information materials • Less reliance on online resources • Better mental health support for the elderly • Free local newspapers for those who do not have access to the internet • Multilingual leaflets and letters from Welsh Government • Increased support groups and community initiatives
Claire explains that one woman requested hers be sent by post so her daughter could read it out to her and they could share the experience together. While Coronavirus has led to a pandemic of entirely different sorts – a mental health crisis fuelled by isolation – projects like Love Letters from Cardiff have helped tackle feelings of loneliness, especially for those who may not have access to technology. Participants of the scheme say that it led to boosts in their mental wellbeing, as well as encouraging them to reach out to people they have not spoken to in a while. One individual says, “I enjoyed thinking about why Cardiff is special to me and putting this into words, “An opportunity to do some creative writing gave me a sense of achievement and seeing my words on the Sherman Theatre website provided a boost to my morale.”
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(Figures from October 2020 report by Age Cymru)
says the scheme has helped reduced distance between those experiencing homelessness and the wider public. “Just knowing that someone was thinking about them makes a huge difference, especially during the lockdowns,” she says. Letters have not only helped those experiencing homelessness feel valued but has granted them a means to connect with people in a way they otherwise may not have.
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Participants shared their experiences and affection of the city in love letters to Cardiff (Credit: Sherman Theatre)
They really are like a hug in an envelope, or a little parcel of hope that can be treasured and revisited whenever needed
There are few things required to write a letter. Paper, a pen, stamps, but most importantly time – something many found themselves blessed with during the two lockdowns. While social media can help bring people together, not everyone has the technological privilege to access or use it. Welsh homeless charity, The Wallich, launched its Letters Against Loneliness campaign back in April to help tackle loneliness among the homeless community. With most of their clients being digitally excluded, letters offered them the chance to connect with others and receive support in shelters across Wales. Abi Street, Wallich communications officer, agrees that loneliness is a big issue among homeless people and
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There is a tangibility to the written word that is near impossible to replicate in the digital realm. Founder of The Handwritten Letter Appreciation Society, Dinah Johnson, believes letters reinstate a sense of intimacy back into our lives. “It sounds daft but they really are like a hug in an envelope, or a little parcel of hope that can be treasured and revisited whenever needed,” she says.
While the pandemic rages on, letters have proved instrumental in the unrelenting battle against loneliness – bringing necessary human interaction into the lives of people from all walks of life. Dinah adds, “It will be fascinating to see if the art of letter writing continues in the months to come as we gradually get back to how we were.” Once life does return to normal, could we see letter writing taking its place as a universal mode of communication once again? Knowing the power it has on mental wellbeing, this could very well be the case. But until then, with visits to the grandparents not being entirely possible right now, penning them a letter could be the next best thing – for both your sakes.