Guest Blog by Judith Catton, Ormskirk and Southport Oddfellows.
Local friendship group, Ormskirk and Southport Oddfellows, says there’s no shame in admitting you’d like more company or friends in your life and it should instead be seen as a promising turning point.
The message is part of a mini-campaign being run by the group as it invites anyone looking to expand their social circle to give one of their friendly meet-ups a try.
A recent survey¹ of 138 Oddfellows members showed the top three reasons behind initially giving their group a try was to spend time with people (77.54%), to build a new circle of friends (65.22%) and to get out the house more (58.7%).
“People are not alone in how they feel. It’s essential for us as humans to socialise and spend time with others,” said Judith Catton, Social Organiser for Ormskirk and Southport Oddfellows.
“Knowing what steps to take to meet new people as an adult, however, is often the stumbling block. That’s where we come in.”
Ormskirk and Southport Oddfellows, made up of mostly older and retired members, hosts around 6-7 events in and around the local area each month. Suggested upcoming great first-try events include Coffee meet ups in Southport (The Office Restaurant March 5th 10.30am; Duke’s Folly March 6th 1.30pm); Formby Tues 11th March 10.30am at The Bay Horse and Ormskirk Wed 12th March at O‘Brien’s Tea Rooms at 10.30am. Their new events diary will be published in the next month which includes day trips to interesting places, lunch get togethers and theatre outings.
Almost all of the Oddfellows’ members surveyed (97.83%) also agreed that it was important to regularly participate in interesting activities in later life, with the most cited reason being to keep the mind and body active.
Added Judith “We’ve a great bunch who come on their own, as a couple, or with friends, and there’s always a host who’ll look out for you. Everything is organised, you just need to turn up and enjoy yourself.”
To receive a copy of the new events diary when it is published, or to chat more about your local Oddfellows group, get in touch with Judith Catton on judith.catton@oddfellows.co.uk or 01704 545279 or visit www.oddfellows.co.uk/activities.
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