We're all hoping to reunite with family and friends this year for a 'normal' Christmas, after missing out on quality time with each other this year.

But one group who have been especially isolated are the elderly, who have gone without visits from their loved ones.

To help spread Christmas cheer, Home Instead Senior Care is asking for people to write letters, draw pictures, and make crafts and puzzles that can be delivered to their clients, as 'Santa-grams'.

Holly Jones, of Home Instead Senior Care Cowbridge, Pontyclun and Pontypridd said it is the first year the company has done a scheme like this: "It would be a gift-giving scheme but because we're in the middle of November it's too short notice to organise something of that scale.

"So, we're putting our own spin on it.

"We're going to get schools to write cards and letters make decorations, but really anyone can get involved," she said.

Although Home Instead have started this scheme, Holly says she is asking if other care homes would like a delivery of Santa-grams too.

"Once I have a rough idea of the numbers, I want it to be more for the community than for Home Instead," said Holly.

"Ideally if I get enough people involved, I don't want it to just be our company, I'd like to get involved with charities doing Christmas dinners, for example.

"It's just hard to know what exactly is going on with Covid."

Participants can contact Holly via the contact details below to organise a drop-off point or for Holly to collect their Santa-grams.

The closing date is Friday 4 December, so that the items can be packaged for delivery, and then quarantined for two weeks before they are distributed.

Holly hopes that the Santa-grams will help combat loneliness through the Christmas period:

"Obviously if people have got family members in care homes that they can't visit, then they can send things to them," she said.

"But there's also people who don't have anyone to come visit them, and they don't receive anything for Christmas day.

"You see that the elderly react well when you get children involved, but because we can't meet face-to-face, this is almost like a middle ground."

Contact Holly via email at [email protected] or by mobile 07714516976