Letter writing is being used as a way to connect people offline in Doncaster

Letter writing is second nature to Amanda Pratt from Carcroft who is setting up a pen pal project in the hopes that it will bring people together during a global pandemic.

She and her friend Sam Davis already send letters to one another and thought it would be a great idea to get others to join in.

Amanda, aged 40, said: “Letter writing is a bit of a dying art form and it’s a shame that it’s not widely used in the present day.

“It’s quite unique to receive a letter and know that someone has gone to the trouble of putting pen to paper.

“It’s so easy to send a text or an email but letters are just that bit more special.”

Amanda has kept letters throughout her life including ones from a friend at university and her father who worked abroad as a diving superintendent.

“He could be gone for months at a time on a boat in the middle of the ocean and we could sometimes be waiting weeks for a letter,” she said.

“But the joy when we got one was immense, we missed him so much.”

Amanda hopes that the pen pal scheme will be able to connect others in this way - she is asking people to email their name along with three of their interests to her and she will then match people up.

The scheme is aimed towards adults but if parents contact on behalf of children and give permission for their child to take part then they would be happy to organise a match.

Amanda said: “We’re living in a time of great uncertainty and letter writing takes you back to a simpler time.

“I myself have mental health issues and I see writing as a therapy - it helps to get my thoughts out.”

Amanda hopes that the connections people make over these letters will lead to lifelong friendships.

If you want to get involved you can email [email protected].

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