2.) Widen your social circle
As one gets older, it’s more difficult to make friends than when we are working or we have younger children but it’s certainly possible and if you decide that you are going to widen your social circle, it will bring many benefits.
If you join a group, you don’t have to take part in every activity or attend every event but many organisations offer walks, talks, lunches, days out and volunteering opportunities.
Odfellows
Oddfellows runs regular events and activities for local members online and in person – walks and talks, craft sessions, exercise classes, singing sessions, games afternoons, coffee mornings and lunches as well as hosted group getaways.
In 2025, holidays include 4 nights in Torquay with coach pick up and drop offs with the holiday costing from £295 per person. If you’re interested in Oddfellows, just request a free information pack on the website and there are details of all local branches.
Visit the Oddfellows website >
Attend local groups
Attend workshops, book groups, language lessons or creative writing courses.
Educational events that relate to your interests will help you connect with other like-minded people. If you attend daytime courses, you’re more likely to meet people within the same age groups but age doesn’t really matter if you’re mixing with like-minded people.
Get musical
Join a choir or music group.
If you’re not able to get out and about to join a group, there’s a friendly online singing group for people wishing to connect with others through the creative activity of singing – details are available at naturalvoice.net.
All over the UK, branches of the Rock Choir bring people together. You don’t need to read music or have singing experience and there are no auditions. It’s all about singing, fun, community, friendship and life changing experiences. There are branches in over 400 towns across the UK.
Join a cookery class
There’s nothing quite like cookery to bring people together.
You learn a new skill, produce delicious food that will help you maintain your physical health and meet new friends as you chat over the recipes or whilst cooking or baking.
Move to a retirement community
It may be that you are living in an older, family home which is proving difficult and costly to maintain and heat – or you may be living in an area where there are few people of your age.
Why not consider making a move to a Beechcroft community where you’ll have the possibility of a whole new social life on your doorstep.
Many Beechcroft developments provide a communal lounge or residents’ pavilion where neighbours gather for coffee mornings, activities or events.
Some neighbours choose to go shopping or on holiday together, to walk dogs or join the local U3A or Women’s Institute.
From luxurious apartments to elegant houses, Beechcroft homes are energy-efficient, easy to maintain and owners benefit from the services of an onsite Estate Manager.
View Beechcroft's developments >
