PenPal Project
The Covid-19 pandemic has had detrimental effects on social connections. There is a percentage of people who have been in isolation and lock downs alone, without even as much as a friendly conversation with someone, which can lead to loneliness and depression.
Discovery recognised this problem and started up the PenPal project at the beginning of the pandemic, as we wanted to offer support to those who may be isolated during the lockdown.
To keep our community members and volunteers safe we needed an address for letters to be sent to, sorted, and forwarded on without the need to exchange confidential information between PenPals. There was limited access to the university campus at the time so with the help of Rich Davies, a Swansea council Local Area Coordinator, we partnered with a local community centre, Canolfan y Bont, who we could direct all letters to and collect from.
Canolfan y Bont is an excellent local resource for community members and has continued to be open throughout the pandemic, offering vital support As a result Discovery has been able to access our PenPal post and keep the project running, no matter what the restrictions are. The staff at Canolfan y Bont are always helpful and friendly and take the time out of their busy work to collect and store our post.
Because of our partnership with Canolfan y Bont Discovery we have been able to facilitate an exchange of more than 170 letters and support over 60 community members young and old alike. Our youngest PenPal is 6 years old and our oldest PenPal is 93 years old!
“I just thought it was amazing that students wanted to take the time to support people in this way voluntarily. It has been such a difficult year for everyone and to see people reaching out to each other is so lovely. It is too easy to focus on yourself sometimes. I am passionate about kindness. The little things people do that can make a huge difference to someone else. Sometimes you may never know just how big a difference you made too. So, someone writing to my boy, such a warm, engaging, and positive letter meant the world to us and to him. Seeing him smile (we do not see this often) was just beautiful. I strongly suspect he spends most of his life being ignored at best, and verbally put down at worst, by most of the people he encounters due to his ASD and the difficulties he has.” Parent of a young PenPal
The project has been a big success and individuals look forward to receiving a letter. Community members and student volunteers build relationships, and make connections. For many, these letters are the only form of communication they have. They lift spirits, brighten moods, and make people realise that they are not alone, and that we are all in this TOGETHER. For some elderly people in the area this form of communication is preferred and it brings out nostalgic memories of using this form of contact during their upbringings.
“The PenPal Project really did make me smile. It was so lovely to receive a message from someone else during this awfully difficult time”.
The PenPal Project has meant Discovery student volunteers and Swansea university students have been able to provide a little social connection during a very isolating time. There have been some lovely exchanges between PenPals not just in letter form but through recipes, craft skills, stories, poems and even art. The student volunteers have also gained so much from their PenPal exchanges and were able to stay connected to the local community themselves.
“I found it really interesting learning about someone I’ve never met before”.
“I enjoyed the whole experience of waiting for a letter and seeing what the person was into. It was nice to see someone else’s shoes for a change!”
Positive Postcards for the NHS
The Pen Pals Project has branched out to include positive postcards for our amazing NHS staff. Our project has recognised how hard the NHS has worked, to keep our loved ones fit and healthy during this unpredicted time. The commitment, the hours and the constant saddening experiences mean that some NHS staff could do with some positivity.
So Discovery student volunteers stepped up and created many colourful and positive cards that reinforce how important the people who work in the NHS are. We hope that our project will lift spirits, encourage, and recognise the efforts of the real saviours of the Covid-19 Pandemic. Thank You!
How to get involved
There are many opportunities for volunteers and members of the community to get involved with this project and connect with others. You can commit on a one-off basis or be part of an ongoing letter exchange. The recipients are either older adults, disabled adults, or young people. The time commitment is just 1-2 hours a month.
“I’ve loved being a PenPal volunteer! Being able to purchase cute paper with matching envelopes has been so much fun and receiving responses from community members always brightens up my day!
For both volunteers and community members, being part of the project helps bring a little light to someone’s day, can help you stay connected to the outside world and you may even learn something new!
If you are interested in volunteering to help your local community, please contact Discovery Volunteering at discovery@swansea.ac.uk