Black Country group offers easy routes to friendship with two meeting launches
A Black Country group has launched two new monthly get-togethers to welcome people looking to make new friends as they aim to expand their social circle.
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National organisation Oddfellows already has flourishing groups in Wolverhampton and Dudley and has now also started regular meetings in Aldridge and Wednesbury.
A Black Country Oddfellows spokeswoman said 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 Oddfellows campaign as it invites anyone looking to give one of their friendly meetups a try.
A recent survey of 138 Oddfellows members showed the top three reasons behind initially giving their group a try was to spend time with people, to build a new circle of friends and to get out the house more.
“People are not alone in how they feel. It’s essential for us as humans to socialise and spend time with others,” said Liz Blackhurst, Black Country Oddfellows Secretary.
“Knowing what steps to take to meet new people as an adult, however, is often the stumbling block. That’s where we come in.”
Black Country Oddfellows is made up of a growing number of mostly older and retired members and hosts events each month. Members are also welcome to join a wealth of online meetups each week from across the country.
The new Aldridge meeting is at The Crown in Anchor Road on the first Thursday of the month, at 12.15pm, with members next coming along on March 6. The new Wednesbury meeting is at 11am on the second Tuesday of the month at Morrisons café on Holyhead Road. The next meeting is on Tuesday, March 11.
Almost all the Oddfellows’ members surveyed 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.
Member Chris Roach, 70, of Sedgley said: “The best thing has been meeting new people and then organising our own activities outside of the Oddfellows meetings – a number of us now get together to walk our dogs, we have also enjoyed meals out and theatre performances.”
Liz added: “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 find out more about Black Country Oddfellows and its upcoming events, get in touch with Liz on Elizabeth.Blackhurst@oddfellows.co.uk or 0121 707 5626 or visit oddfellows.co.uk.
