Have you ever dreamed of having a Pen Pal, or perhaps you used to have one and wish to reignite this cherished hobby?
“My New Friend” is a project created to help you forge new friendships. Open to individuals of all ages and abilities, it operates across the United Kingdom and internationally, making it easy and accessible for everyone to start enjoying the enriching experience of pen pal correspondence.
If you’re unsure about what a Pen Pal is, it’s essentially a friend with whom you exchange letters, usually someone who lives in a different town, county, or even another country. These friendships are built through the exchange of handwritten letters, which are sent and received via the postal service.
While modern technology allows us to connect instantly through apps like WhatsApp, Facebook, and Snapchat, these methods can sometimes miss the personal touch and magic of a handwritten letter. Writing by hand offers a unique opportunity for personal expression—it’s a thoughtful process that invites you to slow down, reflect, and choose your words with care. This deepens the communication, potentially leading to more meaningful and lasting friendships.
Tendring Pen Pals provides a secure and enjoyable way to engage in pen pal correspondence. All letters are safely sent through our dedicated PO Box, ensuring that no personal information needs to be shared. We take care of all the logistics, allowing you to experience the joy of letter writing without any stress or worry.
When you join our Pen Pal programme, you’re matched with someone who shares your interests. Imagine the thrill of connecting with someone across the globe or just a few counties away, sharing stories, and growing a friendship. Becoming a pen pal is not just about writing letters—it’s about creating lasting bonds and experiencing the joy of genuine communication.
Speaking to Graham Norton on The Graham Norton Show in February 2024, Sir Ian McKellen said: “Now people here [the audience] have no idea the thrill of waiting for a letter from the person you love, because they’re there instantly, aren’t they. [mimes messaging on a mobile phone] They weren’t when I was nine years old. You had to wait and if the letter wasn’t there at 8 o’clock in the morning, worry not because there was a second delivery, you know and another one in the afternoon and when that didn’t happen, you said: ‘Well there’s always tomorrow.’. It was a great, great thing.”
It’s simple and easy to join in. Please visit our Become A Pen Pal page for more information.
The first pen pal matching service is believed to have been the Student Letter Exchange. They began matching pen pals in 1936, and the organisation aimed to encourage students to develop their knowledge of other countries through making new friends.