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How it all started
As a result, I started Social Buddies in December 2005 with just one meet, using the meets function of a friends-and-dating website. The programme soon grew to 8 meets and then the usual 15 or so a month, by which point our hosting software had become too cumbersome. For a short while the group was run through email before we found our current home with Yahoo Groups. Yahoo has its strengths and limitations, and the intention is to move Social Buddies to a better software platform, to give us more flexibility in how we run the group. But, having looked at a fair few possibles in the last 18 months, amazingly we haven’t yet found anything which will be better than Yahoo whilst still being user friendly and affordable. The search continues, but in the meantime we are using this site as the 'public' part of the site, and Yahoo groups as the 'members only' part of the site.
What makes Social Buddies different?
 Social Buddies is probably unique in actively seeking to create a sense of consistency and safety around meets – you know that: · details of events have been personally researched · each month will hold a very broad balance of good quality events
from mainstream stuff to art and the arts - normally around 15 events a month, fewer in August and December/January · you are likely to meet independent-minded professional people like yourself · there will be someone at each meet who is committed to helping each person feel welcome and included · all this, plus we take great pride in finding a good number of interesting events that are free or
very low-cost Plus we will be negotiating special Members' Benefits with selected local organisations.
What kind of person joins this group?
The typical age range of our group is 40's and 50's. Most people in the group are single, some are in relationships. We have a mix of men and women. We all seem to be friendly and young in outlook, with a fair sprinkling of intelligent, independent-minded people. Members tend to be professionals and creative types: teachers, social workers, therapists, solicitors, artists, nurses, office and IT workers.
Have a listen to our interview on Radio Norfolk, with Jacky plus group members Tim and Debbie.
What type of meets do we do?
 Each month we typically arrange around 15 events, up to as many as 20 (fewer in August and December/January as these can be quieter months). Click here for the current month's events, or a sample of a typical month's events.
Many of the meets are free or low cost, and we try to organise a wide range of things to do (based around things to stimulate the mind and imagination rather than alcohol and clubbing) so there should be something to interest most people.
Activities cover a very broad spectrum, from films, meals out, music, exhibitions, street theatre, pub socials, Quiz Nights, walks, art and the arts, salsa, bowling, book club, bridge group and more.
What to do next?
Sounds good? Simply join this group now to start receiving regular details of events.
We hope to see you at some of them soon.
Jacky |
