Real connection. Real numbers. Real lives changed.

Loneliness among older people is widespread, quiet, and damaging — but it is also preventable. Circle of Friends CIC exists to prove that consistent, local connection works.

Here’s what that looks like in practice.

In 2024, Circle of Friends delivered:

• 15 different activities and engagement opportunities
• 87% of them running regularly (weekly or monthly)
• 2,052 total attendances across the year

This wasn’t one-off contact. It was sustained connection.

Using the UK Social Value Bank methodology, the total social impact value created in 2024 was calculated at:

£22,384 of social value

That value comes from improved wellbeing, reduced loneliness, stronger independence, and people feeling part of something again.

Where the impact happens:

• Coffee mornings that turn strangers into friends
• Friendship cafés inside care settings
• Group lunches for people who live alone
• Walks, outings, bowling, cinema trips and shared experiences
• Home and hospital visits when life gets difficult
• Intergenerational “Tea & Tech” sessions that build confidence
• Day trips and short breaks that many thought they’d never do again
• Christmas events for those who might otherwise spend the day alone

Behind every number is a person choosing to leave the house again.

Why it matters

• Many members live alone
• Many have experienced bereavement, illness, or loss of confidence
• Small, regular social contact prevents bigger problems later

Families tell us they see the difference; confidence grows, mood lifts, the week feels manageable again.

And sometimes, the impact lasts a lifetime.

Clare’s story about her father Eric shows what happens when someone takes the brave step of attending a coffee morning — and finds not just company, but belonging. The friendships he built through Circle of Friends supported him through the pandemic, through illness, and through some of the hardest moments of his life.

That is the impact we protect and grow.

If you want to help us increase these numbers — and the lives behind them — contact us, we’d love to talk.

Click on the images below to see some impact figures.