Harwich Teen Talk youngsters helping to spread positivity

It has gained so much traction the police have had to get involved, although fortunately they too wanted to spread the good feelings.

It comes as part of an initiative led by Teen Talk to help boost morale in the area following a tough year.

To help the efforts, police have taken the messages painted onto stones and wooden disks out on their patrols and are leaving them across the Tendring district.

The idea came from nine young people signed up to Teen Talk in Harwich, who designed the theme and conjured up the thought of ‘positive boxes’.

These boxes included all the items they would need to decorate and use their creativity to create the messages.

Fern Lovett, activities and community engagement manager at Teen Talk, said: “As Covid continues to impact us, we wanted to help young people get involved in something positive.

Police officers have even been helping to spread the good vibes

“Before Christmas we worked in partnership with the Harwich policing team to hand deliver 292 positive project boxes.

“The original project was aimed at those aged 11-25 years old in the Tendring area but has made much more of a difference with other people joining in and putting their own take on the positive messages.

“They have told us it has helped them to feel involved and make a difference, and, in turn, it has helped young people not to feel so isolated during lockdown by encouraging them to leave positive messages which will hopefully make someone smile who might be having a difficult day.”

So far more than 800 people across Tendring have been involved in this project and it continues to expand.

Mrs Lovett added: “We have been amazed by how many people have got involved, this has been a great project that has hit all areas of Tendring where we would not have normally reached.

Another lovely message spotted

“Just reading some of the messages people have left do make you smile. I would like to say a massive well done to all the young people involved in this project for their great work and dedication.”

An anonymous member of the group, aged 14, said: “I put mine in a tree in the park. It spreads some happiness and positivity to everyone when you are feeling sad, because I have sad days but doing this made me smile.”

You can visit the Teen Talk Positive Project Facebook page to join in and share any positive message you have found.