Have Questions? We Have Answers!
Below, you’ll find answers to the most common questions. If you still can’t find what you’re looking for, please don’t hesitate to Contact Us.
You can become a Pen Pal by visiting our Become A Pen Pal page. You will also need to complete a Personal Profile Form to help us match you with a compatible Pen Pal.
Finding the perfect Pen Pal match is crucial to ensuring a positive experience for everyone involved.
When you choose to become a Pen Pal, you will need to complete a Personal Profile Form. This allows us to gain a brief but valuable understanding of your hobbies, interests and preferences.
We encourage people of all ages to become a Pen Pal through one of our projects. If you are under the age of 18, we do require an Under 18's Consent Form to be completed.
Yes, we have a set of Community Guidelines designed to keep everyone safe. Part of our process is for our team to review every letter to ensure these guidelines are followed.
Our Community Guidelines are in place to maintain a safe and enjoyable environment for everyone participating in Tendring Pen Pals.
If you are receiving your first letter through our matching process, you will receive our Starter Pack which includes everything you need to begin your Pen Pal journey: Writing Paper, Envelopes, Lined Writing Guide, Personal Profile Form, Pen Pal Passport.
If you are housebound and unable to post your letter yourself, you have the option to complete a form on our website or email our HQ to request a pickup, provided your address is local.
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch via the form on our Contact Us page. Be sure to select 'Something Else' from the dropdown menu under 'Reason For Contact'
No need to worry - we’re committed to making this project accessible to everyone, and we’re here to help.
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch via the form on our Contact Us page. Be sure to select 'Something Else' from the dropdown menu under 'Reason For Contact'
We’d love to stay involved, but it’s entirely up to you. If you are over 18 and you have completed a Personal Detail Consent Form, you have the option to proceed independently.
That’s fine - you’re more than welcome to include photographs of yourself or your family. However, if you are under 18, a completed Personal Detail Consent Form is required.
Any information provided to Tendring Pen Pals is secure and will never be shared with third parties, except in cases where the law has been broken or if we believe someone is in danger.
Please visit our Privacy Policy for further details.
No, if we notice any content that is flirtatious or suggestive, the letter will be removed from the project for violating our Community Guidelines.
At Tendring Pen Pals, the safety of our participants is our top priority. We take great pride in ensuring that our projects are safe for everyone involved.
If a letter does not comply with our Community Guidelines, it will not be forwarded. The sender may be asked to revise their letter, and in cases of serious or repeated violations, they may be removed from the project to ensure the safety and integrity of our community.
While we carefully review all correspondence before forwarding any letters to ensure our Community Guidelines are consistently followed, we acknowledge that issues may still occasionally occur. To manage this, we have introduced a Complaint Form for users to fill out.
Yes, all letters are sent and received through our secure PO BOX mailing address to protect your privacy.
The very first adhesive postage stamp, the Penny Black, was introduced in Britain in 1840. It made sending letters affordable for everyone, costing just one penny for a letter weighing up to half an ounce.