What are your tips for meeting new people and making new friends? £200 voucher to be won

Volunteer work in a new area I moved to a year ago has brought me a lovely new friend. It's not easy at 71, I must say.

I have a small dog and walk him every day about 3 times. He is cute ( if I say so myself) and we are getting to know other dog owners in the area. No one is yet a friend, but I chat to these folks every day and it helps me to feel more like I belong.

Without a dog you can always join local groups. Any group just to meet folk and get involved. Once my pooch is over his separation anxiety I plan to join several local groups including the knit and natter because I want to learn to crochet. I don't think it matters what group you join, just jump in !!

Find your nearest National Trust property and volunteer. I did this 10 years ago after I retired and have been doing it one day a week ever since. I've made lots of friends, some of which have helped get me through the pandemic by meeting up outdoors one-to-one once a week. Your petrol expenses are paid so you incur no cost. Try it - you can always drop out if you find it's not for you.

When I first retired I started looking after grandson and took him to the clubs and library sessions our daughter had started with him. There were always other grandparents there to talk to. I also made some virtual friends on social media. It takes effort to get to know strangers but think that the other person may feel the same. As others have said smile and be positive. In lockdown I was so pleased I had virtual friends who kept in touch and supported one another.

I belong to a knit and natter group.
Cannot knit but do well at nattering.
Ladies at group do various activities.
Wi
U3a
Choir
Walking Group
Poetry Group
Painting
Reading Group
Church
Volunteering. Wine Club
Try everything on offer and see what is for you.
Suggest going on your own.
Good Luck

It doesn’t matter much what you do, just do something. Smile and be friendly but not too needy. Get out, volunteer, join things and be patient. It sometimes takes a little time, but it is possible to make a whole new group of friends, Be brave.

Me again! I forgot to add that as a brown owl I made many friends with the parents and the other brownie leaders, and I still see some of them now. Best time of my life.

Sequence dancing; walking group; library reading group.
Making friendships is not that easy at this age, because people often have built up longstanding relationships. However, hopefully new acquaintanceships with something in common may develop into friendships over time

Ive had a look for my area in North Devon - sadly no one seems to have added anything so I’m going to add a post to see if it gets a response

When I moved here I had to take my granddaughter to her brownies group as her parents both worked. It was so interesting. I had never been a brownie or guide, but decided to offer my service and became a brown owl. I loved it and when I finally gave up I got such a lovely letter from the head guide and I will always treasure it. My granddaughter of course is grown up now. It was a lovely time for us both and she was very proud of me!

Craft clubs. Learn some thing new, improve on what you know, teach others and socialize at the same time.

Join a dance class, I was in Silver Swans, a ballet class for mature people. I'm now joining a pop dance group. Do what you want to do, then explore where it is.

Have a go at going to anything you see is going in. Be friendly, try to hang around and chat, find out other things that people ho to there and try those too volunteering, older keep fit group were both good for me. I think the local rambling/walking groups would be good too but haven't found time yet to try them. Also events, meet ups advertised on our local next-door website. One thing often leads to others

I have stayed mainly in my local area for two years now. On my short outings on foot (I don’t drive) I greet everyone who passes. If I am ignored that’s fine, we all have off days. However most people do respond and many even want to chat. I now feel that there is a lot of goodwill and kindness in my immediate neighbourhood and feel happier and more secure than before.
Dog owners and people gardening are often delighted by a brief comment or compliment. I really feel I have opened up my days, you never know who you might meet!

Hi,
Volunteering or craft groups are a great way to meet people and make friends. I do both. Being disabled people find you unapproachable at times. But I have stuck with it and made lots of friends

After finished work realised only knew neighbours for a quick hello, joined the womens institute and church then lockdown came, but now meet friends made at these places for coffee. We have joined the National Trust to get out locally into the fresh air. But if anything happened to my husband would think of this firm mentioned here as for the age group as you read and see so many dating sites where people who have been widowed and who never ever meet the person to start sending money over to them, something which cant even get my head around, as to why you would do that. My mother is law who was widowed early on met the person first for coffees/pub lunches and took friendship further after that, even if you dont want a physical relationship its a way of meetimg others your own age a male who you could share similar interest with. Also lots of places want volunteers at this time.

I missed my friends badly when I moved from Sussex to Devon. Luckily I had small Grandkids to take to a Playgroup. although younger mothers they were kind & full, of advice about things to do.
I then joined a Pilates class & an Aqua gym with plenty of other oldies & made some nice friends. If my Partner dies before me I will volunteer at Cotehele NT.

Find a local walking group. I walk with a local walking for health group and with ramblers. People will usually make sure new members and visitors get chatted with and there is often a visit to the local tea shop at the end

Definitely get a dog if at all possible. And obviously not just for making friends. But I've had dogs for years and have numerous friends due to meeting people walking their furry friends.

Walking groups. Amateur Dramatics Group. Volunteering wherever opportunities arise.

Just one tip. Wherever you go hoping to meet new people. SMILE ?

Join a local club, or even start your own. I joined a table tennis group and after getting to know them, a few of us started. Knitting club- although my partner calls it a natter club!

If you're still fairly mobile my suggestion would be to give line-dancing a go if there's a group in your neighbourhood but if you prefer more sedentary pursuits, my tip might be the local library who often run myriad groups including photography and art clubs etc, all of which are an excellent way to socialise.

Joining walking groups, choirs, charity fundraisers etc are all good ways to meet people.

But .... it then all depends on how you come across. Sometimes people can be too enthusiastic, wanting to make suggestions etc before they have really got to know the group or being too "needy". Just enjoy the group and what they are doing - take things slowly, be friendly yourself and be patient.

Some groups, unfortunately seem rather closed to newcomers, so don't be put off if things don't work out the way you would like. We can all find a place somewhere.

I joined a local women's group. It's a bit daunting walking in for the first time but through the friendly people I met there I found out about other interesting things to do in the village. E.g. yoga, badminton, community choir and volunteering at the charity shop.

Join a Meetup group. I moved north to be near my daughter leaving a difficult marriage. I knew nobody, the group I joined are really friendly. It's not a dating site, not interested as I am enjoying my own company. We have coffee mornings, lunches, theatre visits, trips to the coast and are celebrating the Platinum Jubilee. There are a variety of Meetup groups, walking etc.