As families in Ipswich get used to the ‘new normal’ enforced upon them by the coronavirus, communities are coming together to paint a positive message using rainbows.
The ‘Rainbow trail UK’ Facebook group has already amassed an incredible 18,000 members since it was launched by Ipswich mum Crystal Stanley, 31, on Wednesday evening.
The aim of the group is to get people painting or drawing a rainbow and pinning it up in their windows, making people smile as they pass by.
Miss Stanley, who works at a nursery in Ardleigh, said: “It was only meant to be in Ipswich and now it has gone across the country, my phone has not stopped going off.
“I came across the idea on Facebook, it was from someone in America I think, it gave me the inspiration and I thought ‘let’s see if we can do that here’.
“Originally it was just for children but now all ages are getting involved, I have even been contacted by a care home that have been doing it.
“It just gives everyone something do in this difficult time, it promotes positivity and cheers people up.
“It is overwhelming and it is bringing communities together.”
READ MORE: Coronavirus: The postie who has offered to help hundreds in isolation and other stories of kindnessMiss Stanley said her three-year-old daughter Ariana loved making a rainbow to put up in their window at home and has been very excited about all the attention the rainbow trail group has been getting.
“Ariana has seen a few rainbows in windows, each time we’ve gone out in the car she has been seeing if she can spot one,” added Miss Stanley.
Due to the growing popularity of the Rainbow trail UK, Miss Stantley is being helped by a group of admins known as the ‘rainbow warriors’.
One of those is fellow Ipswich mum, Becky Watson, who said: “Despite Covid-19 we can all still spread some happiness and positivity through this awful time and band together as a nation and as a community.”
Another rainbow warrior, Sophie Annett, is keen that people spread the word about the trail further than social media so more people can join in.
She said: “The group was created to get everybody to come together when the children are off school.
“Create a beautiful picture of a rainbow to be stuck in a window, visible so when children are going for a walk with their parents they come across pictures of rainbows and can count how many they can see.”
You can join the Rainbow trail UK group - here.Coronavirus: Have you signed up for our daily news alerts?
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