Kids of 2020 Letter Writing Project   

The Postal Museum has partnered with Usborne author P.G. Bell, creator of the children’s book series The Train to Impossible Places, and the National Literacy Trust on a letter writing project inviting children to share their experience of the Coronavirus pandemic with future generations.

Launched during Universal Letter Writing Week (10 – 17 January 2021) this project aims to create a historical record of children’s experiences in the UK during the last 12 months, and support schools and children in continuing their literacy development.

Running until Easter 2021 the Kids of 2020 Letter Writing Project invites children to write a letter to a child in 2030 about their experiences during the Coronavirus pandemic. A selection of the letters will be chosen by The Postal Museum to join the Museum’s collection and will be displayed in an exhibition, both online and hopefully in real life too.

A quarter of children surveyed by the National Literacy Trust said that writing helped when they felt sad in lockdown and couldn’t see family and friends, and one in three children says that letter writing specifically made them feel happy and helped them express their feelings.

P.G. Bell said:

“There’s a little bit of magic in letter writing. It lets us share a part of ourselves – our thoughts, or feelings, our voice. That’s why the train in my books is a travelling post office.”

With final book in the series, The Train to Impossible Places: The Lost City, published on 7 January 2021, the Kids of 2020 Letter Writing Project looks to use the mystery and magic of letter writing to encourage a love of reading and writing throughout this difficult time.

Fay Lant, Senior Programme Manager at the National Literacy Trust said:

“Usborne’s brilliant new letter writing project is a fantastic way of encouraging children to document their pandemic experiences – and the idea that children should address their future selves is a lovely creative prompt.”

Children can get involved, either with their school or at home, by visiting:  www.usborne.com/kidsof2020