“I’m more confident talking to others and interacting with them. I’m less nervous and anxious around people. It’s boosted my confidence and assurance to change for a better future.”
Penfriends is The Hardman Trust’s letter-writing programme, connecting people in prison with volunteers across the UK. By matching participants with volunteers based on shared interests and hobbies, the programme creates meaningful, non-judgemental relationships and vital connections to the outside world. Over the last year, 91 people in prison were matched with a Penfriend, with over 936 letters exchanged.
Our recent survey* highlighted the particular value of the programme for people experiencing long-term isolation and limited contact with family, friends and their wider community. health, compliance, and effective resource allocation.
What We Found
- Two-thirds of participants reported limited or no outside contact with family or friends, with many joining because of loneliness, isolation or mental health needs.
- Penfriends was particularly valuable for people serving long or indeterminate sentences, including those serving life and IPP sentences.
- Participants reported reduced loneliness, greater connection to the outside world, increased confidence and positivity, and a stronger sense of hope for the future.
- Many described their penfriend as someone who listened without judgement, treated them as a person rather than an offender, and gave them something to look forward to.
- Volunteers also reported significant benefits, including a sense of purpose, companionship, perspective and genuine two-way connection.
- Strong volunteer retention demonstrates the programme’s lasting value: 70% of respondents had corresponded with participants for multiple years, while around one-quarter had volunteered for more than 10 years.
“Before my penfriend started to write to me I felt isolated. But now I have something to look forward to and I like to write back. I do not feel so alone anymore.”
What We Are Learning
The findings suggest that simple, consistent and low-cost relational support can have significant emotional value for people serving long prison sentences. They also highlight opportunities to broaden volunteer recruitment, strengthen data collection and improve connections between Penfriends and other Hardman Trust programmes, including Grants, the Directory, and the London Support Project.
*These findings are based on survey responses from 43 active Penfriends and 31 volunteers and should be considered alongside other Penfriends data (2026).
