A Newton Abbot friendship group is offering adults who may be feeling lonely over the festive season the chance to connect with others through a range of online and in-person events.

The Oddfellows ‘Stay in touch this Christmas and New Year’ initiative offers a range of online social events to help people stay in contact, form new friendships and enjoy companionship at what can be a difficult and sometimes isolating time of year.

The activities, hosted on Zoom, include quizzes, games, informative talks and relaxed social chats.

‘The festive season can be an isolating time. We want people in Newton Abbot to know they don’t need to feel cut off or on their own – there are friendly faces and regular opportunities to connect through our group,’ said Heart of the West Oddfellows social organiser Tara Carlisle. ‘We have regular coffee mornings and a Thursday lunch club, as well as tours, sailing, taiko drumming and talks. All our events – both online and in person – are open for anyone to try. They’re relaxed, informal and designed to help people feel part of a community,’ she added.

Heart of the West Oddfellows is also organising seven in-person events over the festive period and into the new year to give people the chance to meet face-to-face in a warm and welcoming setting including carol singing and late-night shopping in Newton Abbot on December 17 and a beans and pulses workshop and talk in Newton Abbot on January 13.

The friendship group currently has around 50 members locally and regularly meets in and around Newton Abbot and Torbay.

The Oddfellows, a not-for-profit organisation with 96 branches across the UK, is one of the UK’s oldest and largest friendly societies and supports friendship and community connection for people of all ages.

For more information about the group’s events, visit www.oddfellows.co.uk/events or contact Tara Carlisle at [email protected] or 07909 449703.