School staff join students' kindness class as pupils receive thank-yous for their letters.

Staff at a West Norfolk school have been following their students’ lead in spreading kindness during the Coronavirus crisis.

As a result of the efforts by Marshland High School pupils to raise spirits and relay community thanks to key-workers during the current lockdown, school staff have now signed-up for their own Kindness operation.

A new buddy scheme has been instigated and volunteers from the school staff team have been put in touch with 44 elderly residents via Norfolk County Council’s volunteer hub. The staff have been phoning to check the older residents have enough food or medical supplies, or just for a chat.

“For some of them, our phone call may well be the only contact they have each week and staff are reporting they have been having chats for 20 minutes of more and the elderly residents really appreciate the call,” said headteacher Craig Jansen.

Meanwhile the students have been receiving heartfelt thank-yous for their ‘Kindness Letters’ which were sent to health workers, shop workers and residents of care homes.

More than 125 students from the school, part of the West Norfolk Academies Trust, sent letters to staff at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn, local supermarkets and the residents of Rose Lodge, Wisbech, High Haven, Downham Market; Hickathrift House, Marshland St James and Dove Court in Wisbech.

Letters were also sent to the local branches of Tesco, Asda, Morrisons and Iceland and one of the stores created a display of the letters for staff to read.

A thank-you from Iceland supervisor Rachael Copeland said: “Please could you pass on my appreciation for the wonderful letters received from your Year 9 students.. To read these at a time when our staff are very tired, due to the difficult working conditions and longer shifts than usual, was amazing!

“To have taken the time to either type or write these letters shows how kind each and everyone of them are,” she added.

The QEH communications team also sent a special response to the students and it can be watched here https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=527239704852481