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

My mum was one of those people who would take a bus home and have a new friend by the time she got there. I was always very envious of her social skills. I find walking the dog is a good way to meet other, like minded, folk. It doesn’t matter if you can’t recall all their names as long as you remember their dogs.

I don’t drive so in the 15 years I have lived in this small town I have walked to the local park, shops etc. I now know lots of people to say hello and have a chat with.

couldnt agree more!

I can talk to people I meet but as soon as it comes to getting together socially I become wrapped with anxiety and end up in a corner and no one talks to me. End up an embarrassed wreak wishing I hadn’t gone. Anyone else like this and what can I do.
I have no confidence.

I took up as a volunteer a few years back with a walking/cycling organisation and started off helping with ladies cycle rides. From there I started joining in with mixed rides designed to build your confidence and also to learn some of the local cycle routes. A lot round here are on 60mph country roads with stretches of cycle path joining them.
I did not own my own bike at the time and was missing cycling, so by joining in not only was I getting training but also access to a cycle to use.
Since then I purchased my own one and have meet lots of like minded people and met up with others localishish to me and we go cycle together.

I’ve started a sideline job. It’s helping others, provides me with extra income and helps me meet new people and go on outings with the team.

I have been to about 3 GN coffee meetups and I have met some really nice people. 4 of us meet monthly and have been doing so for over 5 years now.

I also have Macular disease so we also meet for a coffee monthly which is really good.

A couple of ladies live too far away so I email them frequently.

Nobody is going to knock on my door- I have to make the effort and so far it has been well worth it.

I have joined a bowling club and find it really good.
I have also volunteered to do dog walking for people who can't walk their pets. It is amazing how many people you meet while you're out.
I am also joining the local ramblers - I don't want to walk great distances so this will suit me and give me exercise and plenty of time to chat to people in a relaxed informal way

If you're lonely and down, put on some clothes and go into town.

Join a club, volunteer, give it time, you'll be fine.

If you see someone you know, smile and say "hello".

Fix a date, place, and time, with Gransnet online.

Meeting new people, smile and be yourself, find a common interest and it's all plainsailing from there ?☺️

I joined Rock choir.

I thik the mosst difficult aspect of making new frineds lies not in the places to go the things to do, it lies in ourselves.

Quite often you will hear people who are struggling also turn down every suggestion that is made to them to help them.

You need to accept that you do not find making friends easily and try to analyse why and then grit your teeth and start with anything you can find. If there is a local WI join that. It was somethin I was prepared to consider it at one point, even though after reading the local WI reports in the parish magazine, it didn't sound as if I would want to join long term.

Be prepared to walk in confidently, keep your head up, look around and smile and try to make eye contact with someone.

You have the perfect opening gambit for aany conversation 'hallo, this is the first time I have come to a meeting, How ong have you been a member'. make an effort to go up to whoever seems to be in charge and introduce yourself. Say you are new.

Unfortunately, all the hard work has to be done by the friend seeker - and it does not always work. DH, the friendliest of people, left the local choir because it was too cliquey, he felt completely cut out, even though he went with our next door neighbour who was a long established member.

I have got a lot braver in recent years, after the deaths of two close friends and the near death of DH and I am already two friends the richer.

I ve been working (volunteering) in a charity shop for about 18/20 hours a week I feel useful I know I am useful I talk to the customers and make friends with the other volunteers I ve been doing it since I retired at 69 I m now 77
I ve also joined an ‘all the year round’ sea dipping group mostly women with a handful of guys I believe that cold water swimming is good for the brain and getting the blood moving (I ve been dipping today)
I just talk to everyone although I m actually quite a shy person strange isn’t it

For me, it's just talking to people, In a queue, at a bus stop, in the doctors.. I just mention the weather or whatever the topic would be good for that place, I don't really have a problem starting a conversation.

For four years after retiring (until the lockdowns) I worked as a volunteer once a week, arranging and displaying flowers at our local hospice. I loved it, as I was doing something useful to cheer up the patients, something I enjoyed and I was also meeting other volunteers during breaks.
At last after two years it looks as though I may be able to volunteer at the hospice again, this time helping with craft activities at the Day Hospice. Looking forward to it! ?

Until recently I haven’t had time to join clubs, with the exception of the local W.I. and a walking group that I never could find time to get to after only doing two walks.

I meet people through my voluntary work and by befriending people that spend a lot of time alone.

Joined a gym and made two new friends.
Keeping fit with yoga , tai chi and aqua aerobics ?‍♀️ ?‍♀️
Bonus great teachers and cafe to meet up with others after class for ☕ and a chat.

I have made some very good friends when I have been travelling on solo holidays. I once met an Australian lady on a tour in America and we are still friends 40 years later. I also made a friend on a trip to Sri Lanka and we are still in touch 3 years later. Travelling solo, even in the UK, means you meet like minded people as well as seeing different places.

My advice is general : Wherever you are, be interested in the other person. Talking about yourself too soon can often seem needy or arrogant – very off-putting. If they want to know more about you, they will ask. If they don’t ask about you then they are probably not people you want to spend time with. And a smile usually gets a smile in return.

In Buckinghamshire there are organised walks called 'Simply Walk'. They are grades so there are ones for different abilities. Since retiring I go on a regular 1 hour walk every Friday which ends with a sociable coffee. When I first joined the group I found I already knew a few people, some from my church, one through volunteering and one was a former member of a choir I sing with. I expect there are similar groups elsewhere. For keener walkers there is 'The Ramblers' though they are a bit too energetic for me!
I'm planning to relocate to a new area before long and will need to put these ideas into practice. I'll be moving to be nearer family, but need to build new friendships of my own as there is no guarantee my family won't move away in time. My priorities will be a church, volunteering, a choir and a walking group. Hopefully that will also keep me fit and active so I can cope with a bit of helping with my young grandson.

Re Ourtime: A friend of mine did this after he was divorced, aged 74. He met quite a few ladies aged between late 60's and mid seventies, and was happy to go on dates with all of them. There were two he was quite taken with. The only reason he didn't really develop a relationship with any of them was that they all lived a bit too far away for spontaneous outings etc. He is having a bit of a rest from dating over the summer while he does work on his house, but I think he will re-join in the autumn.

Bridge at my local club and on line keeps the brain going,most bridge clubs have beginners classes.
Also patchwork, colours and patterns an endless source
Of pleasure and fulfilment.

Join a band. If you are not very musical and just want a bit of fun, a ukelele band will be just the job, often a free few lessons can be undertaken at a public library but if you want to really swing then nothing beats a bagpipe and drum group. Virtually all pipe bands offer free tuition on the practice chanter or drum pad until you get going and there are tons of free videos to learn the basics.

I’ve been toying with the idea of joining a dating site such as Ourtime, having seen the adverts for it in tele.
I will be fifty this year.
Something that puts me off joining is that I’ve heard people say that the many of the men around my own age are normally looking for ladies ten to twenty years younger than themselves.
Is this true or just a rumour?