HOME CARE companies brought some Easter cheer to elderly people after they set up a campaign for those at risk of isolation and loneliness.

Home Instead, Braintree and Colchester set up their 'be a good egg and crack loneliness this Easter' campaign which saw them ask communities to donate eggs to gift to older and vulnerable residents.

Residents, companies and shops donated in force, and the two companies received over 200 chocolate eggs and bunnies and 460 creme eggs.

Owner of Home Instead Braintree, Mike Sheehy said: “We launched the campaign as we wanted to send a message to the older people who are still self-isolating and let them know that their local community is thinking of them.

"As a home care company, we have seen the full effects of the pandemic on our older population, for whom lockdown has been very difficult.

Thank you to everyone who donated, as we know the gifts really made a difference to a lot of older people this Easter."

Donations came from Braintree, Halstead, Earls Colne and Colchester.

Jade Long care manager at Home Instead Braintree and Julie Price, owner and care manager at Home Instead Colchester hand delivered the eggs across the area, with the help of their two Easter bunnies, Millie and Emilia.

Jade commented: “Our youngest donor was three-year-old Alfred, who insisted that his mummy helped him to buy chocolate bunnies to donate to the elderly.

"We had a very busy, but rewarding day hand-delivering the eggs to people, and we got to see the smile it put on their faces.

“More importantly, it gave us the opportunity to remind older people throughout the area that their local community are still thinking about them throughout these difficult times.

"We got to talk to care assistants and managers, who have been caring for their shielding residents throughout the year, and who commented on how much joy these small gifts would bring to their day."