What is Facial Palsy UK’s Penpal Scheme?
Facial Palsy UK Penpal Scheme aims to connect young people in the UK, living with facial palsy, aged 6-15 through letters, emails, videos and audio messages.
The messages are sent through Facial Palsy UK to keep everyone safe and protect young people’s identities and locations.
Our first cycle of Facial Palsy UK’s Penpal Scheme is now closed!
Thank you to all of those who supported their children to register and become a PenPal.
Join our community to receive updates about our second cycle of Facial Palsy UK’s Penpal scheme. Registrations will open on 1st April 2027.
Join our community here.
Taking part in Facial Palsy UK Penpal Scheme can help young people living with facial palsy to:
- Create new friendships and share experiences with other young people living with facial palsy
- Feel more positive about their facial palsy
- Increase confidence and reduce feelings of isolation
- Encourage creativity and develop communication skills
- Join our Mandy Brailsford Family Day!
How the Penpal Scheme Works
- Fill in the Facial Palsy UK Penpal Scheme form.
We ask lots of questions so we can find the best penpal match for you. Young people can fill in the form themselves, but a parent or carer must give permission. - Facial Palsy UK will match you with a Friend.
We try to pair young people who are a similar age and have similar interests. - Friend 1 writes the first message.
Send your message to Facial Palsy UK first. We check it to keep everyone safe and remove personal details like full names, phone numbers, or addresses before sending it on. - Friend 2 writes back.
Facial Palsy UK checks the reply before sending it to Friend 1. - Keep writing to each other!
You can send responses for up to 6 months, or until you have each received 5 messages. - Staying in touch.
At the end, we will ask if you would like to stay in contact outside the Penpal Scheme. If both Friends say yes, Facial Palsy UK will share the agreed contact details with families.
You can join as many cycles of the Facial Palsy UK Penpal Scheme as you like!
Who Can Take Part?
Any child or young person in the United Kingdom aged 6–15 with facial palsy can join.
We welcome children and young people from all backgrounds and with all abilities.
You do not need to be able to read or write to take part. We can support different ways of communicating, including video and audio messages.
Language should not stop anyone from joining. We will do our best to make the scheme flexible, welcoming, and easy for everyone to use.
Before signing up, please make sure your child would like to take part, so that no Friends are disappointed.
Information about writing your letters
Topics you could talk about in your letters:
Everyday life
- Favourite subjects at school
- Pets or animals they like
- Sports or games they enjoy
- Music, books, films, or TV shows
- Hobbies (drawing, football, dancing, crafts, gaming, baking)
- Favourite foods
- Seasonal activities or holidays
Cultural sharing
- Traditions in their country or town
- Weather and seasons where they live
- Local wildlife or nature
- Festivals or celebrations
- Popular children’s games
Creative and fun ideas
- Drawings or doodles
- Simple jokes or riddles
- “A day in my life”
- “If I could visit anywhere…”
- Favourite fictional characters
- Questions like:
- “What games do children play where you live?”
- “What is your favourite meal?”
- “Do you have any pets?”
Encouraging themes
- Dreams for the future
- Things they are proud of
- Kindness and friendship
- Learning new things
Staying Safe
Facial Palsy UK will read every communication that comes in, and will remove any information which could potentially be a safeguarding concern – this means any information that could be dangerous to share with a stranger.
Never share identifying information
Avoid sharing:
- Full name
- Home address
- School name
- Phone number
- Email address
- Social media handles
- Photos in school uniform with logos visible
- Exact locations or routines
Avoid private online contact
Children should not:
- Move conversations to another communication channel e.g. WhatsApp, Instagram, Snapchat, Discord, etc.
- Arrange video calls privately
- Contact the Friend outside of the charity system
Be careful with photos
- Use first names only
- No location markers
- No identifying uniforms, street signs, or house numbers
- No other children in the photo
Guidance for parents/carers
Before sending the communication to Facial Palsy UK, please:
- Read or review letters where appropriate for age
- Explain “safe sharing”
- Encourage them to tell an adult if anything feels odd or upsetting
- Use only established, moderated charity programmes
Download the penpal leaflet here: penpal leaflet
Email penpals@facialpalsy.org.uk if you have any questions.
Join our community to receive updates about when we are opening our first ever cycle of Facial Palsy UK’s Penpal Scheme!
Last reviewed: 07-09-2026 || Next review due: 15-02-2027