The Pen Pal Scheme is a project set up by a group of our Student Leaders from Royal Holloway Volunteering, aiming to provide a platform where students can support each other and meet like-minded individuals. We recently caught up with the students behind the Pen Pal Scheme to ask how it was created, and how to get involved.
1. Can you explain what the Pen-Pal scheme is?
The Pen Pal Scheme is a project set up by Student Leaders from Royal Holloway Volunteering, aiming to provide a platform where students can support each other and meet like-minded individuals. Our goal is to tackle loneliness and isolation in students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hopefully this scheme allows for lifelong friends to be made.
2. What inspired you to create the scheme?
As volunteers, we like to make a difference, and we like to promote the good even in difficult times. A big part of university life is connecting with different people every day and making some great friendships which may have been stunted as a result of the pandemic. The scheme allows for people to have a supportive friendship that combats feelings such as loneliness, fear or anxiety.
3. How can students get involved?
Students can get involved simply by filling out a quick form that tells us a little bit about them and what they are interested in! We then match you with a like-minded Pen Pal and provide you both with some fun talking points to get the conversation rolling.
Students can also keep up to date with this project by following the Love your Community Social Action Project on Instagram and Facebook.
You can sign up to the scheme here.
4. What are the benefits of being involved in the scheme?
There are many benefits for joining the Pen Pal Scheme:
● You can connect and get to know someone from the university with similar hobbies and interests and make a new friend
● You can communicate in your own time, making this a very flexible opportunity
● Allows for the development of interpersonal and communication skills
● You can log your hours on the Royal Holloway Volunteering Platform and gain community awards when reaching hour milestones
5. When do you plan to launch the scheme?
Students can fill out the enrolment form today and expect to be paired up with another pen pal within the next few weeks. Each pair will be provided with a conversation starter pack. So please do sign up if you want a pen pal and we will do our best to let you meet your match!