Thousands of people are sending cards and letters filled with bright drawings and words of encouragement to strangers in a bid to combat loneliness and isolation during lockdown.
Free initiative #KindnessByPost works like Secret Santa, so everyone involved sends a positive missive to a person they have never met, and receives their own.
Since the lockdown began 2,600 people have signed up, with 1,600 messages of hope sent in the last week alone.
Images posted across social media show cards filled with tips and life hacks, affirmations, suggestions for books and things to pass the time, as well as simple inspirational messages and good wishes.
One postcard shows a hand-drawn lion and the message: "Courage does not always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying: 'I will try again tomorrow'."
Another multicoloured postcard front reads: "Don't forget to focus on the good. Do something you love. Go outside."
One simply has a collage of a rainbow cloud.
Environmental NGO worker Bernadette is one of the Londoners taking part.
Originally from Austria, she has lived in the capital for 15 years, and wanted to participate because "it is really important at this time to send the message that other people care, and even if you don't know the other person, there's kindness out there in the world".
She added: "I covered my #KindnessByPost card with fish stickers, and the message 'keep on swimming' from finding Nemo - I think it's a perfect message for the times."
Mental Health Collective director, Dr Amy Pollard, asked more Londoners to join in with the scheme today to mark Mental Health Awareness Week.
She said: "We could all do with a boost. We're calling on people to turn awareness into a small act of kindness that could make a big difference to someone this year.
"People tell us they get just as much from making and sending #KindnessByPost as receiving it."
The scheme and postal costs are being sponsored during the pandemic by the National Lottery Community Fund.
Helen Bushell, NLCF Head of Funding for the South of England, said: “The charities and voluntary sector organisations we fund, like The Mental Health Collective with their #KindnessByPost initiative, are playing a vital role in creating new ways for people to stay connected in this time of crisis.
"We are incredibly grateful for their efforts and are doing everything we can to make it easy for them to adapt to the unprecedented times we are all finding ourselves in.”
Registrations to take part in the next exchange are open at kindnessbypost.org.
See more cards for inspiration on their Instagram page.
