What it really feels like to receive a letter

You have your blank piece of paper, an open card, a cheeky postcard waiting to be written. Your pen is hovering over the white space, ink just waiting to flow... Then, a little thought pops up. What should I write?

When we talk to both our writers and recipients, there is a wonderful overlap between the concern of writing the "right" thing, and the gratitude of receiving just the "right" words at the "right" time. But this rightness is orchestrated. It's the synchronicity of the empathy we can give and how it feels to receive it.

In the run up to Christmas, we had hundreds of letters and cards fly in for our Christmas campaign. This is what it looked like when we emptied our PO Box bags each time!

Now that Christmas is over, and our thoughts go to the new year, many of us may have the itch to write again. To sign off the old year, to celebrate what's to come, to reconnect with those we haven't been able to be with this year, to donate a letter to a stranger who may be facing difficulties to come next year.

Your pen might be hovering. If so, know you're not alone, and we are here to help inspire you.

Here are just a few of the experiences our letter recipients have felt because of our community's wonderful words.

If you're still not sure where to start, how about checking out this writing exercise or read some samples to give a little inspiration.

There are of course other ways you can support us as we head into the new year but please remember - whatever you are writing right now, know that it is the right thing.