#KindnessByPost
Rediscover the kindness of others, with Mental Health Collective.
This December, Virtual Sewing Room[VSR] is organising our first postal exchange. I love that the VSR community has created so many connections and friendships. We want to spread that kindness and love even more this December.
What is the VSR Christmas Card Exchange?
An exchange of Christmas cards or letters between people in our community. Strictly no gifts.
Sign up. Write a nice message. Post it to your recipient. Recieve a nice card or letter to brighten up your day.
How do I take part?
If you haven’t already, you can sign up to our Christmas Card exchange with another person from the VSR community. Whether you are a follower or attendee, you are welcome to sign up. You've got time to prepare something to post to another participant.
And don’t worry about not receiving anything - we have some post angels on standby to post something out to you.
Mental Health Collective’s benefits to take part in a postal exchange
Kindness comes in many colours
An example of wonderful things Jenny has received in the post from #KindnessByPost and kind friends.
#KindnessByPost Session
I am very excited we are going to be partnering with the wonderful Mental Health Collective [MHC] to bring a make-along session on Zoom.
I have been participating in their postal exchange, #KindnessByPost, for a few years now, having heard about it by a colleague. For me, it’s just as much about the making and sending as it is the receiving from others.
MHC will be running their Winter Exchange at the same time the VSR Card Exchange, so it felt ideal opportunity to partner up and support participants to connect with each other.
Before I cover details of our collaboration sessions, a little about Mental Heath Collective.
Who is MHC?
The Mental Health Collective are the team behind the UK's leading random acts of kindness exchange, affectionately called Kindness by Post.
What is Kindness by Post?
#KindnessByPost is like a great big secret Santa for random acts of kindness. Members of the public sign up to send a card or letter with a message of goodwill to someone they don't know, and are allocated a person to send a card or letter to them.
When did it start?
The Mental Health Collective was founded just over 6 years ago by Dr Amy Pollard. This article beautifully articulates how and why MHC was created, and Kindness by Post came to be.
Who takes part in MHC?
Since its inception, over 21,000 acts of kindness have been shared through the movement! This has been from individuals, schools, vets, libraries, homeless shelters, care homes and most recently youth clubs.
We’ve seen groups hold crafting afternoons to put together their cards, individuals piecing together their own creations and so many stunning cards being sent throughout exchanges.
What can I send?
People often do homemade cards for #KindnessByPost as these feel really personal and are particularly special to receive. But you don’t have to make something yourself - using a shop-bought card and writing a thoughtful message is fine too.
It's all about sending your best wishes - that is, your hopes that good things will happen for other people. There is a short guide here. You can see see hundreds of examples on the #KindnessByPost hashtag on Instagram / Twitter.
There's no need to send presents. Your words are precious enough, and we don't want to create a generosity arms race!
What is the theme of your Winter Exchange?
The theme for the MHC Winter Exchange is "Belief”.
What will happen at the Zoom session?
Firstly, sign up here for our Zoom session here. You will receive a Zoom link one hour before the session starts.
Our session on Thursday 5th December 7-9pm (UK time, check other timezones), will be a space to make or write your letter for others.
Introduction - name, where you are in the world, and your experience of #KindnessByPost
You can do this in the text chat if you want to keep your camera and/or microphone off during the session.
Chat to like-minded others sending and receiving #KindnessByPost
share creative ideas of what you are making
LIVE origami and creative demonstrations which you could include in your post.
chat about anything and everything within the respectful, safe and friendly space (crafting, film, podcasts, dogs etc)
Our housekeeping guidance for all our sessions can be found here.
You can post about your make on social media using #KindnessByPost or #VSRMake
Key information.
The #KindnessByPost post exchange is separate card exchange from the VSR Christmas Card Exchange.
Sign ups are separate processes. Sign up for the schemes you wish to take part in and follow their respective guidances and timings.
No data of any participants will be shared between the organisations[VSR and MHC].
Mental Health Collective key dates:
Saturday 30th November - Registrations close
Sunday 1st December - Find your match
Monday 9th December - Postal deadline
Thursday 12th December - Exchange Day
VSR Christmas Card Exchange key dates:
Sign up deadline: Friday 22nd November
Find out your recipient: 29th November
Make and/or write your card/letter: 29th November to 8th December
Making VSR session: 5th December
Post your card/letter before: End of Sunday 8th December.
Cards start to be received: after 9th December
