Ellis set up the Rainbow Cards Project by themselves three years ago. (GoFundMe/TheRainbowCardsProject)

A 21-year-old queer from Devon sent 8,000 cards to LGBT+ people who’ve been disowned by their families this Christmas, as part of their Rainbow Cards Project.

Ellis Roberts-Wright started the project three years ago, after becoming ill with ME and realising how painful it could be to be isolated from the LGBT+ community.

The first year, Ellis sent a tweet offering to send a Christmas card to anyone whose families no longer did, to help people feel less lonely over the festive period.

They sent 30 cards to people in nine different countries that year, and the idea for the Rainbow Cards Project was born.

“The Rainbow Cards Project started as a fleeting thought – a horrible realisation of how different Christmas would feel if my family had stopped sending Christmas cards after I came out because they had taken issue with this fundamental part of myself,” Ellis wrote on the Rainbow Cards Project website.

They added: “I knew I could never replace someone’s relatives, but I figured I could reach out with a little kindness and help them feel like a part of a bigger family; a family that doesn’t care who they love or how they identify – the international, multi-racial, hundred-language-speaking family that so many of us find within the LGBTQ+ community.

“Unfortunately, too many LGBTQ+ people face prejudice, ignorance and sometimes even outright abuse from their family, simply for being who they are.

“These people are often ostracised and outcast by their family, and not receiving a card on their birthday or during the holidays can be a very clear and upsetting statement of rejection, especially during these times that are supposed to be so full of love.”

Last year, Ellis sent 4,000 cards to people in 30 different countries. This year, they sent twice that many cards – more than 8,000 cards to people in 35 different countries, according to their crowdfunding website.

“Unfortunately, postage costs stack up rapidly, especially when you’re sending hundreds of packages internationally, they said.

“Just sending this year’s holiday cards alone has cost over £2000 in postage fees and in order for this project to continue we need to raise more funds.”

They’re currently crowdfunding to keep the project going – you can donate here.