For the older person, meeting that special someone can have a number of benefits – from combating loneliness to alleviating physical ailments.
According to a wealth of data, the positive side effects of a romantic relationship can help with a variety of ailments, from depression to heart disease. Research also shows that single people are 20 percent more likely to die earlier in life than the average for their age group.
But statistics also show that the number of single elderly Britons is at an all-time high, with more than three million people living alone after the death of a partner. Researchers also predict that so-called “grey divorces” will triple by 2030.
Over the past two weeks, The Mail on Sunday has brought you a range of creative and fun ways to tackle loneliness as part of our partnership with the charity Age UK.
For the elderly, meeting that special someone can have a number of benefits – from combating loneliness to alleviating physical ailments (stock photo)
This week we offer help for those who are looking for more than just friendship.
From cooking classes to ghost tours, we’ve scoured the UK for groups and events that specialize in bringing older singles together.
MURDER, MYSTERY… AND MEDIATION
WHAT IS IT?
RSVP is a service across England, Wales and Scotland offering fine dining, evening parties, nights out, walks and weekend getaways to singles, mainly over 50s.
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From relaxed Sunday lunches to murder mystery nights, RSVP hosts several one-on-one events at least once a month. The experienced matchmaking team also operates a dating service where members are matched by interests – without having to search through many dating profiles.
“At our events, you’ll always find friendly hosts to introduce you and tend to nervous guests,” says RSVP’s Karen Harvie. “Some people go back after a divorce or a bereavement, and I’ve seen their confidence grow. There was always laughter, laughter and conversation.’
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Visit rsvp-int.co.uk. Membership costs £745 once and £32.99 per month thereafter.
YOU ARE NEVER TOO OLD FOR SPEED DATING
WHAT IS IT?
Date In A Dash runs weekly speed dating events in hotels, clubs and restaurants in London and from January in Bristol, Brighton, Manchester and Birmingham.
Date In A Dash offers weekly speed dating in hotels, clubs and restaurants in London and from January in Bristol, Brighton, Manchester and Birmingham (stock photo)
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The events are organized into age categories, including 40 to 60, where participants enjoy five-minute mini-dates with members of the opposite sex.
The sessions last two hours and the women sit at a specific table while the men move between them. The dates then write down who they would like to see again. Results are emailed to participants and at least 80 percent score a “match.”
Director Rob Ryall says: “People often meet in the bar afterwards or stay for a drink.”
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Visit datesadash.com. Events cost between £15 and £20.
SADDLE AND FIND LOVE ON A BIKE RIDE
WHAT IS IT?
Stitch is an online community for the over 50s that fosters friendships and romance through shared interests.
The non-profit platform encourages users to organize hobby activities among themselves – and advertises them on the site.
Stitch is an online community for the over 50s that fosters friendships and romance through shared interests. People can then search for a match through their own hobbies – with interests ranging from long bike rides (stock photo) to fine dining and etiquette lectures
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Members are invited to create an online profile where they can add interests, add a photo and say if they are looking for romance.
People can then search for a suitable partner through their own hobbies – with interests ranging from long bike rides to good food to ethics lectures. Members can send a message to anyone who has their will, or register for one of hundreds of events across the country.
“On the website you can see the profiles of other people attending an event, so you might want to go if someone likes you,” says founder Andrew Dowling.
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Visit stitch.net. Lifetime membership is free.
IT’S ALL KOSHER ON A DATE ON A PLATE
WHAT IS IT?
Date On A Plate offers cooking classes – followed by a three-course meal with champagne – for Jewish singles, mostly over 50, in North West London.
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Chef Denise Phillips hosts Sunday kosher dining events at her home. The staple food is prepared ahead of time and singletons handle basic tasks such as stirring sauces and chopping onions.
After the hour-long cooking class, guests move to an adjacent candlelit dining room to dine.
After each class, the men switch places to sit next to another woman, and at the end of the evening, Denise shares everyone’s email addresses.
One couple who owe their romantic happiness to Date On A Plate is Allan and Paula Messing. The couple, aged 67 and 65, recently returned from their honeymoon in Mauritius – ten years after they met at one of the dinner events.
“You could tell the chemistry at dinner and I knew I was attracted to Allan,” says Paula. “He was intelligent and not arrogant.”
Allan describes his attempt at online dating before meeting Paula as “disastrous”. He says: “My faith and culture are very important to me and I wanted to find someone who shares those things. It is very difficult to find this person online.
‘I thought she [Paula] there was such a beautiful way about her, and I was right. It calms people down.”
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Visit jewishcookery.com. Cost £75 for tuition, dinner, welcome cocktail and unlimited wine.
SHARE A DANCE AT A QUEEN GIG
WHAT IS IT?
Spice Social runs group events across the UK, bringing together up to 100 singles, mostly over 50 – from ghost tours to weekend getaways.
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Instead of creating a dating profile, users enter their zip code on the site and search for nearby opportunities. You can also ask the organizers all your questions through the web chat.
Smaller events, such as a Christmas pub dinner or a Queen tribute concert, cost around £25-30 and cater for up to 50 guests. Bigger ones, such as an all-inclusive culture and walking weekend in Dumfries, cost between £150 and £200.
“I’ve been to so many weddings where the couple met at our events,” says Jamie Morris, Spice Social Scotland co-ordinator. “Romance happens naturally when we bring people together to enjoy.”
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Visit spiceuk.com. Members pay £99 a year to meet without pressure to seek romance.
MoS is praised as readers join the army of telephone friends
Age UK would like to say a big thank you to the generous readers of The Mail on Sunday who are fighting loneliness by volunteering for the charity’s befriended phone service.
Last month we launched a campaign to encourage 1,000 readers to sign up for the programme, where we call an elderly, lonely person each week. Since then, enrollment has increased by 73 percent, with 249 readers signing up within four days of launch.
“I would like to thank the readers for all their support,” said Alasdair Stewart, director of national services at Age UK.
“Thanks to The Mail on Sunday’s call for volunteers, we have received many new applications from readers who would like to dedicate their time to helping older people.
“But there is still a lot to do. With the holidays approaching and costs continuing to rise, times will be even tougher for the elderly population.”
Recruits are interviewed and undergo rapid online training before being assigned to a senior individual. Conversations go through a switchboard, no contact details are exchanged and only first names are used.
- Join now by visiting ageuk.org.uk/friend.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
