A NEW community group has started up in Aberystwyth for people aged over 50 who want to make new friends.

Aberystwyth Friendship Group was launched at the town council offices, 11 Baker Street, with guests including mayor Cllr Endaf Edwards, MP Mark Williams and storyteller Peter Stevenson, who engaged the room in a story about friendship on the launch.

The group’s chair is Suzanne Edwards and secretary and founder is Aislinn Knight, who said: “We are a new friendship group based in Aberystwyth offering a programme of various activities tailored to the over-50s, but anyone over 18 can join.

"We aim to offer friendship and support, and also make provision that we always have access to a safe and secure venue to meet in. 

“Our monthly meetings will be held in Morlan Centre. Our first will be on Friday, 13 May, when Jill Piercy will talk about HAUL – arts in health, the benefits of creative activities on health and wellbeing.

“We will endeavour to work together to build a varied programme of social activities relevant to our members’ needs and encourage each other to explore, get involved with and take part in new and exciting projects."

Fifty five members of the public attended the launch of the group.

Dates for the diary of the new club are: 13 May, 11am, meeting and speaker, Jill Piercy; 27 May, 12pm, lunch at Harry’s; 10 June, 11am, meeting and speaker, Rachel Lilley on mindfulness; 24 June, outing; 8 July, 11am, meeting and speaker with Colin Smallman, an occupational therapist who will chat about his role in the Targeted Intervention Service in Ceredigion.

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