Lockdown has seen many people forced to isolate by themselves, with some having little to no communication with others. 

One Basildon woman has started writing free letters and poems to anyone on their own in a bid to tackle loneliness this lockdown. 

Stephanie Thompson, 43, started writing poems when she lost her dad 29 years ago and is now using her writing skills to let people know that they’re not alone. 

Stephanie said: “I suffer quite badly with my mental health so lockdown is a real bad issue for me. 

“I’ve been writing poems since I lost my dad 29 years ago so it’s just something I love to do. 

“I know there’s a lot of people who don’t have the internet and don’t have computers that don’t hear from anyone. 

“My nan, who is 92, doesn’t hear from anyone unless we ring her so I wanted to put it out there for people who are struggling with their mental health and for people who are lonely.

"I know how lonely I feel and I’ve got a family and everything. But I’m a people person and I miss not being able to go out and talk to people.

“Listening to my nan, I know she’s really struggled and I just thought it was a nice thing to put out there.”

During the first lockdown, Stephanie read a bedtime story live on Facebook every night. 

This lockdown she decided to switch things up and since embarking on her new writing venture last week, she has already sent out four letters and poems to lonely people. 

Stephanie said: “In the first lockdown I struggled really badly so I read a bedtime story every night and had thousands of people watching. I read over 103 books in total so I wanted to do something different this lockdown. 

“Most of the poems I write are from the heart. One lady I sent a poem to said that it made her mum cry. 

“The ones that have contacted me so far, I’ve said I will continue writing to them once a week just so they get that interaction with someone.

“It gave me a focus. It’s just nice to let people who are out there suffering know they’re not alone.”

To get a letter or poem from Stephanie, email letter2021inlockdown@gmail.com.