Pocket Hugs – raising money for Age UK during the lockdown

In a bid to help share information during the lockdown in Exeter, we are inviting people to contribute helpful articles with us on Exploring Exeter. Gemma from Silver Elephant Studio tells us about her project to send pocket hugs to the people you love and while raising money for Age UK.

Sending you a pocket hug until we can hug again

Silver Elephant Studio has created a Pocket Hug token to send to those you love but can’t see at these difficult times to show them you’re thinking of them and care whilst you cannot be there. All proceeds from the sale of the Pocket Hugs will be going to support the important services provided by Age UK.

We’re all feeling the strain in one way or another from the extraordinary circumstances that we are currently in, affecting us all in ways we couldn’t even imagine just a month or two ago. ‘The coronavirus pandemic has changed life for everyone, but some older people are among the hardest hit. Age UK is determined to be there during this crisis – but we can’t do it without support. Demand for our vital services is increasing rapidly. Please help us be there for older people who desperately need us during this crisis.’ – www.ageuk.org.uk

I’m Gemma and Silver Elephant Studio is my small business which I run from home in Exeter which I share with my husband and 2 children. I handcraft fine silver jewellery and keepsakes through online sales, local crafting markets and events. I also work as a civil servant for a government department and continue to work during the pandemic as a key worker. Whilst our daily routine continues to resemble some normality, my husband is also a keyworker so we are all going to work and school Monday – Friday, my thoughts go out to those that live alone and are isolated at this time. My 89-year-old Nan passed away before Christmas last year and before she went into a home she used Age UK services most days. I know if she was still with us she would have struggled immensely with the social distancing and isolation along with many of the older generation who find themselves alone. It’s hard to know how to make a difference, so I created this fundraiser to help when charity donations are at a low as well as spreading some love and joy along the way.

Each pocket hug is a heart-shaped token made from white poly-clay printed with the word hug, they are sent on a coloured backing card with a hand-typed message “Sending you a pocket hug until we can hug again”. They have been specially made so that they can go through the post with standard letter postage. My children love taking them to the post-box on our daily walk knowing they are going out to make people smile. Proceeds of the £2.50 hugs are going to the Age UK charity which we are just over £200 raised so far, we would absolutely love to see this amount grow even higher.

The response from those who have received their hugs has been so heart-warming, with plenty of tears and smiles too.
“Thank you so much for this lovely idea. All 6 of mine were sent to family and friends. Messages starting to come back with how much it has made them smile. Thanks, xxx” Rachel

Sometimes it’s the little things that can make a big difference in someone’s day.

During normal times Silver Elephant Studio creates bespoke fine silver contemporary jewellery and personalised keepsakes using hand, foot, finger and paw prints along with handwriting and doodle pieces too. One of our favourite events to attend is the fantastic Fore Street Flea and hope to be there again in the near future.

You can out more from Silver Elephant Studio or to support our fundraiser you can visit us through:
Website www.silverelephantstudio.co.uk
Facebook www.facebook.com/silverelephantstudio.co.uk
Instagram www.instagram.com/silverelephantstudio