Welcome to the Paper Empathy Network (PEN)
Physical written media and snail mail are becoming a thing of the past. The internet has made everything too fast and
we personally want things to look forward to!
If you answer 'Yes' to the following questions, PEN might be for you!
- Do you want the nostalgia of physically writing things, and recieving letters in the post that aren't bills for once?
- Do you like having physical keepsakes like letters and cards instead of scrolling through hundreds of screenshots and old online chat messages on your phone for memories?
- Have you always wanted a Penpal but didn't want the anxiety of giving complete strangers your home address?
Then welcome to PEN! The Paper Empathy Network provides a safe and anonymous Penpal service for the UK, via Snail Mail.
It is very simple to start. We are a small group, that provides a service where all you need to do is fill out our 'Expression of interest' form.
We then match you with another anonymous Penpal in our database that suits your needs and you send your letters to them via our PO Box. We transfer your letters across to your Penpal, and vice versa!
It works on a subscription service (Patreon) to cover the costs of the PO Box, the postage and supplies from the PEN PO Box to the Penpal's address, and so on.
PEN has a few rules, mainly for safeguarding:
- You must be aged 18 years old or older to use this service (we can not guarantee the protection of minors using this service)
- You can not send cash money or giftcards to your Penpal or recieve cash money or giftcards from your Penpal as there is no way for us to know if financial abuse of a vulnerable adult is involved.
You are free to send letters and small inexpensive items (For example: Birthday cards/Christmas cards, holiday photographs, a keyring, some stickers, personal sketches, a cute notepad, colouring book with some pencils, etc... As long as it fits into a 'Royal Mail Large Letter' specification at a maximum. - This is not a dating service, it is a befriending service. If you and your penpal just so happen to fall in love without ever seeing each other or speaking face-to-face that's amazing, but we here at PEN are a long-term snail mail friendship service, so please do not expect your penpal to be looking for a relationship.
- We are open, supportive, and accepting of everyone. If you're not open, supportive and accepting of people due to their age (18+), disability, gender, race, religion, or sexual orientation, then we do not want you to use this service. We kindly ask that you do not continue, and please do not apply to our service in the future
Current types of Penpal Subscription options:
- The New Friend (£10 per month) - Someone with similar interests, or matching your (as close as possible) specifications and needs. Writing letters and exchanging postcards/cards with each other as often as you like via PEN's PO Box.
- PEN Friend (£5 per month) - A short and sweet Penpal experience where your Penpal is someone from the PEN office!
We made this service as we wanted a service like this, so why not have some fun and use it ourselves, whiles offering it at a heavily discounted price?
We'll be replying to your letters in short form with postcards (in sealed envelopes), because postcards are cool. And discussions can range about more or less anything.
Possible future types of Penpal Subscription options:
- Adopt A Parent/Grandparent - A parental figure you can write to, support and get support from, celebrate birthdays and life achievements with, lessening the lonliness of some of societies most vulnerable demographic.