50-70 years

  • Week 1

    • Workshop (Welcome to our community)

    • Go out for a walk

    • Start a conversation

    • Think about who you would lie to reconnect with

    • Think about a hobby you would like to try

    • Write a letter to yourself about how you feel

    • Commit to making the changes

    • Listen to uplifting music

    • Make 3 AFIC calls

  • Week 2

    • Go out for a least 3 walks

    • Seek out at least 4 orginasations in your local area that address loneliness

    • Reach out to the person/people that you want to reconnect with. This could be via social media. Send some friend requests

    • Make some enquiries about you hobby, this can be an old or new hobby

    • Surround yourself with positivity, this could be written messages, music, the shows you watch

    • Make 3 AFIC calls

  • Week 3

    • Go out for a walk

    • Worksop (starting a conversation)

    • Start a conversation

    • Join a group

    • Research all you can about loneliness

    • Start a group exercise program

    • Research a dance class

    • Phone at least 3 friends or family members

    • Make 3 AFIC calls

  • Week 4

    • Research loneliness forums

    • Share your feelings

    • Start your hobby

    • Workshop (Social media explained)

    • Reward yourself, as you are making the changes needed

    • Make 3 AFIC calls

  • Week 5

    • Go our for at least 4 walks

    • Start 2 conversations, tell somebody the changes that you have made

    • Volunteer for something

    • Write 5 things good about yourself

    • Join a dance class

    • Make 3 AFIC calls

  • Week 6

    • Reach out to other lonely people

    • Share your experiences

    • Workshop (Staying fit)

    • Continue with you exercise, groups and volunteering

    • Review the last 5 weeks and any points missed try and initiate them

    • Write another letter to yourself

    • Compare the letters

    • Make 3 AFIC calls

Join Us

Useful Information

Start a conversation

First things first: start a conversation. There are lots of ways to do this, and I urge you to experiment. First you can comment on something you have in common, starting with the old classic, the weather! You can also chat about shared location, or something you’re both looking at. This may seem trivial, but you only need to make that initial connection before moving on to more interesting topics.

Another option is to start with a compliment. It’s fun to deliver compliments, and even better to receive them, especially from a stranger. Compliments can be easier to believe when they come from someone who doesn’t know you.

You can also use your observational skills to tap into your curiosity to ask questions, or ask for advice.

I’ve asked people why they were wearing airplane earrings, what race their t-shirt was for, what book they were reading. I often combining my observations with humour. I once commented on a young man’s ‘breakfast of champions’ (a packet of biscuits). That same day, I asked two Freemasons wearing matching striped trousers if they had coordinated that morning!

Dr Gillian Sandstorm