"With the kindness cookies, so many people - many more than we ever imagined - have heard about it and are excited to find their own cookie."
Mrs Graham, Acting Executive Headteacher
Pupils at a Peterlee primary school have been hard at work creating kindness projects to spread smiles and happiness across the North East.
One project has seen children from Years two and three at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School - part of Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust - design postcards and write their own personalised message on them for care home residents across Durham.
Postcards were sent to care homes in Peterlee, Horden, Seaham and the Hartlepool area and the children received some replies from residents thanking them for their kind messages. Residents and staff at Peterlee Care Home were so touched that they arranged a live video call between the residents and some of the pupils so that they could thank the pupils for their nice gesture.
The schoolchildren have also decorated ‘kindness cookies’ with bright colourful illustrations and meaningful messages. Initially, the plan was to place the cookies around the local area of the school, hiding them on trees, near fences and other places for people in Peterlee to find them and know that someone is thinking of them. However, the project has really taken off with people finding the cookies in all sorts of places and then taking them back home with them, often in areas further afield such as Consett and Blackhall.
Mrs Graham, Acting Executive Headteacher, Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School, said: “The children have shown how incredibly kind they are in their efforts for care home residents as well as members of the public.
“Everyone who has received a postcard or found a kindness cookie really are moved. With the kindness cookies, so many people - many more than we ever imagined - have heard about it and are excited to find their own cookie.
“I recall one lovely gentleman who found his kindness cookie after a rather difficult morning. It meant the world to him and that’s what it’s all about, with the children learning that kindness is such an important quality to have.”
The school is now sending the cookies across the world after some pupils asked if they could post one to family members abroad so they too could hide them somewhere interesting where they live. Year three pupil Charlie Hind is eager to post one to his relatives in Australia and his classmate Noel Sajan is planning to post a cookie to his family in India.
Anya Floyd, also a year three pupil at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School, said: "I hid my kindness cookie on a branch in the woods while I walked home with my friend Noah. I hoped it would make someone smile. The next day it was gone which is very exciting!”
