SCHOOL pupils are working alongside a Haddington charity to “bring some joy” to people in the town and beyond.

Our Community Kitchen (OCK) has launched Our Kindness Cards, with hundreds of small cards set to be delivered to care home residents, day centres and more.

The charity was set up to reduce social isolation by bringing people together to share fresh, home-cooked food and allowing friendships to form in a kind and caring environment.

The themed cards will be delivered during the festive period, with a view to revamping them for other occasions.

Elaine Gale, from OCK, which is based in Haddington Bowling Club, was thrilled with the initiative.

She said: “The idea is to spread some joy by working with our local schools in the Haddington and Lammermuir area to produce Our Kindness Cards, which are small, themed postcard-size cards.

“The cards will be handed into schools for pupils to draw or write something positive and these will be distributed to people in care homes, our local hospital, assisted living complexes, to participants of OCK and day centres.

“During the first Covid-19 lockdown, some wonderful pupils at Knox Academy decided to write positive notes that were attached to our meal bags and delivered out across the community.

“The feedback was fantastic, with many people saying how much of a difference it made to them during such a dreadful time.

“Our volunteer Stuart Pe-Win came up with the idea of a card and we decided to name them Our Kindness Cards.

“Our volunteer Carol Lumsden designed the cards and we will be collecting 800 this week that will be distributed out to our schools and then collected by our volunteers to then distribute out across our community.

“We have had a very positive response from our schools, who are delighted to be involved.”

The charity played a key role in Haddington’s resilience efforts at the height of the coronavirus pandemic. Instead of welcoming people through the doors of the bowling club, it delivered hot meals to people in the community.

Councillor Shamin Akhtar, cabinet member for health and social care, welcomed the new project.

The Haddington and Lammermuir ward member said: “This is a lovely project which promotes kindness and connection between generations. It’s such a simple idea but will have a great impact and I commend Our Community Kitchen for the initiative, and schools for becoming involved so readily.

“I hope the children get as much pleasure from writing their messages as I’m sure the recipients will get from reading them.”