Chesterfield: 'Letters to heaven' scheme launched to help families

Tina Harris Horner (middle) contacted councillor Allan Ogle to ask for the letterboxes to be installed

A letter-writing scheme to support grieving families has been launched in Derbyshire.

The initiative, led by Chesterfield Borough Council, encourages people to write messages to loved ones who have passed away.

Three "letters to heaven" post boxes have been installed at sites around the town.

Writing the letters, which are treated confidentially, can help people working through grief, the council said.

The white post boxes - where messages can be dropped off - have been installed at Boythorpe Cemetery, Staveley Cemetery and Chesterfield and District Crematorium.

Letters, messages, or cards posted in the boxes will be treated respectfully, and are never to be opened or read, the authority added.

Tina Harris Horner contacted councillor Allan Ogle to ask for the letterboxes to be installed, and her seven-year-old nephew Luca posted the first letter to his grandparents.

"Grief is a challenging journey," she said. "One of which I've struggled with myself since losing both my parents two weeks apart in 2021.

"Luca-J misses his nanna and grandad Harris immensely, as do we all, so I know he really appreciates this idea."

Luca posted the first letter in Staveley Cemetery to his grandparents

Councillor Martin Stone, the borough council's cabinet member for climate change, planning and environment, said: "This is a great initiative and I hope that it will help people affected by grief.

"I want to thank the ward members and individuals who have helped push this initiative through for the benefit of our residents."

The boxes are free for anyone to post a letter to their loved ones, or, if it is a special occasion, they can post birthday cards, anniversary cards, Mother's Day and Father's Day cards, Christmas cards and holiday postcards.

The council has asked people not to post anything other than paper or cardboard in these boxes, as items left in the boxes cannot be returned.

Similar schemes have been set up elsewhere in the UK, including a postbox that was donated by Royal Mail and installed at Gedling Crematorium in Nottinghamshire.

Nine-year-old Matilda came up with the idea after telling her mum she wanted to write to her grandparents who had passed away.