Our Story

A Message from Bev Sykes

Hi everyone, just to give you an update on what’s happening in Just Good Friends. 

 We are blessed with 40+ amazing dream team volunteers helping in lots and lots of ways, anything from making the teas and coffees to website design plus lots more. Every single volunteer has the expertise to help take Just Good Friends forward. 

 We are now meeting every day of the week at various venues and I attach a copy of our activities.  There’s so much going on and everyone is very happy with the programme  Just Good Friends is arranging. We are also looking into Keep Fit and will let you know when that starts. 

 We have had and are still having lots of fun fundraising events, the latest one for October is a Singalong to Mama Mia, we’ll be watching the film and singing along, snacking on nibbles and popcorn and again fun. We are also arranging a Hallowe’en event at St Annes Tennis Club which is going to be Spooky!!! 

 People are still chatting to each other on Whatsapp and really enjoying it. New friendships are being formed and jokes and laughter shared. It really is a tonic for everyone. Twenty-two people are now connecting daily with each other. 

 One of our Patrons, Mark Menzies MP has stepped up to help us on a few occasions and we are extremely grateful for his help, it has made a difference to us and the life of some of our members. 

 We are also so very grateful to Dr Russell Thorpe who has and is still so very supportive of everything we do and he recently attended our Tenth Year Anniversary which was held at St Annes Palace on the 7 September 2022. Seventy-five people attended and we had lovely meal and lots of entertainment. It was so good to have our lovely Patron Anne Nolan and Fylde’s Mayor, Ben Aitkin also joining in the celebrations. 

 We are also blessed with some amazing Trustees and my thanks, as always to you all. 

 Bev xxx

 

After my mum passed away, I wanted to set up a friendship group as I realised that there were so many people in the community who were very lonely and unhappy.

In 2012, just as I was in the process of setting up ‘Just Good Friends’, there was a programme on BBC ‘Only the Lonely’. The programme identified two older ladies who were completely on their own. No-one visited, no-one telephoned and the ladies went to the supermarket simply in the hope of talking to someone. It made me realise that ‘people need other people’ and strengthened my determination to change lonely and empty lives to lives that are happy and fulfilled’.

In September 2012, Just Good Friends Community Group had its first meeting and the dream of turning loneliness to happiness became a reality.

JGF is both a Company Limited by Guarantee (No 9847839) and a Registered Charity (No 1167124) with 250+ members of all ages and a dedicated team of people who make a very real difference

2015 ‘Making a Difference’’ From CCG

2017 “Time to Shine” Sir Tom Finney Award from Rock FM

2018 Award from the Prime Minister on becoming the 906th Point of Light

2018 Invitation to attend the Queens Garden Party by The High Sheriff of Lancashire

2018 Shortlisted in BBC Radio Lancashire’s ‘Heroes in the Community

2020 Covid19 Hero Award from the Mayor Fylde Borough Council for ‘recognition of service to others during the 2020 pandemic’

Just Good Friends

Just Good Friends has been set up to combat loneliness and social isolation by bringing people together in friendship.