As life opens up after lockdown, friendship group Cumbria Oldfellows is inviting people new to the area to give one of its social events a try.
As the society returns to holding face-to-face activities, it wants to help those who have recently relocated to get to know more people in their neighbourhood, something which has been difficult to do throughout the pandemic.
The friendly society, which has been running in Cumbria for many years, holds regular indoor, outdoor and online social events and activities for its members.
Linda Cooper, social organiser said: “The Oddfellows is all about helping people forge local friendships and offering others help in times of need.
“We are more than aware of how difficult it is to meet people and settle into a new community when you relocate later in life, and lockdown has made it twice as hard.”
She added: “Most of our members have lived here for years and love to meet new people. So, if you are looking to explore the area in friendly company, we’re always ready to welcome new members to our group. It doesn’t matter if you’ve lived in Cumbria for years, or have only recently moved here.”
2020: a year of change
2020 has seen many people reassess their lives and reconsider their living options, whether that’s leaving a long-term home to be nearer family, downsizing, or to be somewhere better suited to their changes in their lifestyle.
Linda added: “We’ve been very busy during lockdown, looking after our members’ welfare and taking our group’ social activities online so we could stay in touch. Now we’re able to run face-to-face events again, we’re excited to welcome more people to the group.”
The Cumbria Oddfellows gets together regularly to enjoy events such as quiz nights, organised walks and meals together.
The next event is a walk at Caldbeck on June 28. Due to COVID-19 Guidelines for events, booking is required, so anyone interested in joining in should contact Linda for information on 07305 591757 or email linda.cooper@oddfellows.co.uk.
The Oddfellows has also shared its advice on how to settle into a new area on its website at www.oddfellows.co.uk/newstart.
The guide includes the following top tips:
- Join a club – finding a club or organisation that interests you is a great way of meeting people with similar interests. Start with searching for ‘clubs or associations near me’ in a search engine, or check out your local community centre or library notice board.
- Meet your neighbours – your street, local park or village is your closest and most convenient community, so don’t be shy when it comes to introducing yourself. Be confident and chat to your neighbours. Just start with a hello, a smile or a wave.
- Volunteer – volunteering some of your free time to a local cause will open a door to meeting other people who care about the same things as you do. You’ll also be able to tap into lots of local knowledge and networks.
