A simple idea with a big impact
A Friendship Event is a low-cost, easy-to-run gathering designed to help people in your community meet, connect, and feel less alone, with Conexus acting as the connector between people. Anyone can host one, no experience needed.
The bigger picture
The data is striking, but the good news is that human connection is within reach, and small, local events can make a real difference.
of adults in the US report measurable levels of loneliness
U.S. Surgeon General, 2023
Chronic loneliness is as harmful to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day
Holt-Lunstad, 2010
of Americans, including 61% of young adults, feel "serious loneliness"
Harvard, Making Caring Common, 2021
greater chance of survival for people with strong social connections
Holt-Lunstad meta-analysis, 148 studies
"We have underinvested in the social infrastructure, the clubs, the leagues, the faith communities, the community centers, that once bound us together."— Vivek Murthy, 21st U.S. Surgeon General
What is a Friendship Event?
A Friendship Event is a structured, but relaxed, gathering where people meet others they wouldn't normally encounter. Unlike a party or a networking event, the goal is simple: to help people feel seen, welcomed, and less alone.
It can be as small as 8 people in a living room or as large as 100 people in a community hall. The format adapts. The warmth doesn't change.
Common formats
Step by step
Decide whether you want an intimate gathering (8–15 people) or a bigger community event (30–100+). Your first event should probably be small, easier to manage, and more personal.
Quick tips
A Friendship Event works best when it's a mix, some people who know each other, some who don't. Aim for about 50% familiar faces, 50% new to each other.
Quick tips
The secret ingredient is light structure. Without it, people stick to who they already know. With too much, it feels like a corporate workshop. The sweet spot is 2–3 gentle activities or prompts.
Quick tips
Environment matters. Warm lighting, music at background volume, seating arranged so people face each other, these small choices make a big difference to how safe people feel opening up.
Quick tips
You don't need to be an extrovert. Your job as host is just to make people feel welcome. Greet everyone at the door, introduce people to each other, and watch for anyone who looks left out.
Quick tips
The event doesn't end when people leave. A message the next day keeps the warmth alive, and sets up your next one.
Quick tips
Inspiration
Everyone brings a dish. It's instant conversation fuel, people love talking about food, where recipes came from, family traditions. Low cost, high warmth.
A daytime outdoor gathering. Relaxed, free, and naturally inclusive. Great for families. Works in any season with the right expectations.
Board games, card games, or simple group games. Games give introverts permission to interact indirectly, the game is the social lubricant.
Low commitment, daytime friendly. Works well for parents, retirees, or remote workers. Add a simple discussion prompt to give it structure.
Close a section of street (or use a driveway) for a bigger community gathering. Requires more planning but creates the strongest local bonds.
Each guest teaches the group something in 5 minutes, a card trick, a phrase in another language, how to fold a napkin. Memorable and revealing.
Each person shares three statements about themselves, two true, one false. The group guesses which is the lie. Sparks real conversations instantly.
Put a world map on the wall. Everyone pins where they were born, grew up, and would love to visit. Rich conversations emerge naturally.
Print cards with one question each, place them face-down on tables. Guests take turns drawing. Simple, structured, and disarmingly effective.
Like speed dating but for friendship. Pairs chat for 4 minutes, then rotate. A fun, slightly silly activity that guarantees everyone meets everyone.
Teams of 3 complete a list of photo challenges in the venue or neighbourhood. Creates shared memories and inside jokes, fast.
Each guest submits one song before the event. Build a playlist. Play each song briefly, the group guesses whose it is. Reveals personality beautifully.
"What's something you've changed your mind about in the last five years?"
"What's a small thing that reliably makes your day better?"
"Is there something you've been meaning to learn or try? What's stopping you?"
"What's the best piece of advice you've ever received, and do you actually follow it?"
"Who in your life would be surprised to know you're here today?"
"What's something about your neighbourhood or city that you love, that others might not know?"
"If you could invite anyone, living or dead, to this table, who would it be and why?"
"What does friendship mean to you at this stage of your life?"
"What's something you're quietly proud of that you rarely talk about?"
"What would you do with your time if you weren't worried about what people thought?"
"What's a skill or interest you have that surprises people when they find out?"
"When did you last feel genuinely part of a community? What made it feel that way?"
These prompts are included in the downloadable guide, print and cut them into cards for your event.
From hosts
"I had lived on my street for six years and didn't know any of my neighbours. After one Friendship Event, I knew eight of them by name. It felt almost embarrassingly simple, we just needed a reason to meet."
— Sarah, hosted a street dinner for 14 neighbours
"I was anxious about hosting something structured, what if people hated the activities? But everyone loved the conversation cards. People kept going way over time. I had to kick them out."
— Marcus, hosted a coffee morning for 10 colleagues
"Three people at our event were going through difficult things they wouldn't normally have shared. The format gave them permission to be honest. A few of them are now in regular contact. That's the point."
— Priya, runs a monthly Friendship Event in her community centre
Free resources
Both resources are free to download, share, and use. No sign-up required.
Everything you need to plan, run, and follow up on a Friendship Event, from choosing a format to the perfect closing activity. Includes printable conversation cards.
A presentation-ready slideshow with the key statistics on loneliness, its health impacts, and the evidence for why in-person community events work. Use it to make the case for your event.
Know someone who should host a Friendship Event?
