Find social activities and groups
Helping you to find out what is happening in your local community and beyond!
This is not an exhaustive guide, but provides suggestions which we hope will help you find activities in your area.
Find a club, group or social activity
We have collated an information directory below for a variety of clubs, groups and organisations that you may be interested in - click on a heading to expand it and show the lists/external links under that category.
If you have trouble using the list of searches and links below then please contact us and we will try to provide the information another way.
DISCLAIMER
The results that are produced by the following searches are for information only. Age UK Wiltshire does not recommend any of the organisations or services that will appear in the searches below, nor do we recommend the search providers. If you follow a link you will be taken to an external website, the content of which Age UK Wiltshire is not responsible for. Please refer to our Privacy Policy for more details.
Befriending and Wellbeing services
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Wellbeing, social support and befriending-type services (free) |
Independent Age (nationwide befriending) Our Good to Know telephone groups invite a different guest speaker each week to discuss issues that matter to older people. Topics include scams, the cost-of-living crisis, social care, benefits and finding new social connections - things that are simply 'Good To Know' about. Alzheimer's Support - Support at Home (paid-for service offering companionship and practical help for those with dementia) Alzheimer's Society 'Dementia Connect' (one-to-one social support for people with Alzheimer's or dementia) Sighted Guiding Service from Guide Dogs Association (one-to-one social support to get out and about for visually impaired) Letter from Louise penpal service Wiltshire Council Prevention and Wellbeing team (previously Local Area Coordinators) Tel: 0300 456 0111 - (supporting people in a strengths-based way, helping to develop and strengthen their networks and engage with community-based support) There might be a local charity linked to your previous occupation or a particular health problem that offers a befriending service e.g. Royal British Legion |
Swindon Circles / Swindon Local Heroes Tel: 01793 465513 (befriending and support for Swindon residents- part of Swindon Council Live Well hub) Swindon MHA -Tel: 01793 827771 befriending, lunch clubs, assisted shopping, activity and friendship sessions, outings, escorts to appointments. Some elements incur charges. Wiltshire CIL Community Connections (one-to-one support to help you live your Good Life and what this means, referral by GP only). Offering some limited socially distanced support during COVID. Care Home Volunteers Tel: 07931 022824 (friendship and social contact for people living in care homes) Royal Voluntary Service Tel: 01305 236666 (RVS Dorset, Wiltshire and Swindon Hub) operate services in Swindon such as Home from Hospital support, social clubs and a 'One-to-One service' Celebrating Age Wiltshire (short-term projects) If you're an informal carer then you could be eligible for support servies through Carer Support Wiltshire or Swindon carers centre. WSUN Walking Buddies - If you have a long-term health condition or disability, which makes it harder to connect with people and go outside, we can provide a walking buddy to accompany you on a regular walk around your local area. |
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Telephone befriending services (free) |
Age UK Wiltshire telephone befriending Age UK Call in Time (nationwide) Alabare - Mental health and wellbeing support project - temp project during COVID19 Carer's Support telephone befriending (for informal carers) |
Silverline (nationwide) RVS/NHS volunteershttps://nhsvolunteerresponders.org.uk/services - 'check in and chat' free befriending calls for those in need of a friendly chat and some encouragement to improve their mental health and wellbeing.
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Support to make small lifestyle changes to improve wellbeing (free) |
Wiltshire Health Improvement coaches (prev. Health Trainers)Tel: 0300 0034566 Swindon Live Well Hub - 01793 465513 |
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Befriending/ wellbeing services (Paid for) |
Wiltshire Council Shared Lives - a scheme which provides support, care and companionship to adults who have mental health needs or learning disabilities, physical impairments, or are elderly. |
MHA - Live at home nationwide schemes Driving Miss Daisy - Companionship where there is an element of travel You could consider employing a carer to complete outings and activities with you |
Exercise and Sports
| Fitness & Friendship Clubs | View Age UK Wiltshire's Fitness & Friendship clubs here | |
| Local exercise and fitness classes for over 50s | List of exercise groups across Wiltshire - Age UK Wiltshire info list | |
| Walking Sports | ||
| Cricket |
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| Bowls Clubs | Bowls Wiltshire | |
| Walking and Rambling |
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Lunch clubs, day centres and social groups
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Local lunch clubs, day centres and friendship groups (Please note Age UK Wiltshire do not run any lunch clubs or day centres ourselves) |
North Wiltshire Lunch Clubs, day centres and friendship groups - Age UK Wiltshire info list(Chippenham, Calne, Royal Wootton Bassett, Malmesbury)
East Wiltshire Lunch Clubs, day centres and friendship groups - Age UK Wiltshire info list(Devizes, Lavington, Marlborough, Pewsey)
Salisbury and South Wiltshire Lunch Clubs, Day Centres and friendship groups - Age UK Wiltshire info list(Salisbury, Amesbury, Alderbury, Whiteparish, Wilton, Mere, Tisbury)
West Wiltshire Lunch Clubs, Day Centres and friendship groups- Age UK Wiltshire info list(Trowbridge, Bradford on Avon, Westbury, Warminster, Melksham)
Swindon Lunch Clubs, Day Centres and friendship groups - Age UK Wiltshire info list
Wiltshire Together - Community website listing lots of groups and volunteer opportunities across the county |
| Re-engage (formerly 'Contact the Elderly') monthly tea parties | Re-engage monthly tea parties (Devizes, Trowbridge, Swindon, Melksham, RWB, Chippenham) |
| Faith in Later Life - national directory of church-based groups and clubs | Faith in Later Life |
| Your local church, sheltered housing scheme or village hall is quite likely to have a coffee morning or social group - just ask! |
Hobbies, Lifestyle and Occupations
| University of the Third Age (U3A) - member-led hobby and interest groups across the county. | U3A - groups including book groups, language, arts and games |
| Arts, crafts, knitting and film |
Arts Together (Devizes, Pewsey, Marlborough, BoA, Trowbridge and Corsham) Amdram (listings of amateur dramatics groups) Reach Inclusive Arts (Swindon) Wiltshire Creative (Salisbury) Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts (DOCA) Creative Minds Trowbridge (offering children and adults a range of therapeutic arts and crafts activities). |
| Board games and Bingo | |
| Books and Reading | |
| Singing, choirs and music |
Wiltshire Sing 'n' Smile clubs |
| Gardening, DIY and tools | Men's Sheds |
| Photography |
Society of International Nature & Wildlife Photographers - Wiltshire camera clubs directory |
| Campaign for Real Ale | CAMRA |
| Nationwide social-led organisations | |
| Diet and healthy eating |
Vegetarian for Life - pen and phone pals |
| Veteran's groups and organisations |
Armed Forces Breakfast Clubs (Devizes, Salisbury, Chippenham, Warminster and more) |
Health and carer related groups
| Physical health and disability related support groups | ||
| Hearing and Vision loss |
Wiltshire Council Hearing and Vision team |
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| Mental health and disability related support groups and friendship clubs |
>Wiltshire Mind 'Side by Side' online group Wiltshire IAPT (free psycho-educational courses around a range of psychological and emotional difficulties) Swindon & Gloucestershire Mind Alzheimer's Society (nationwide) |
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| Groups for carers |
Alzheimer's Society carer's groups (select 'Support in the community') |
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| For other health-related groups you could look up charities that may have a local presence - such as Stroke Association, Parkinson's Society, Arthritis Care, Headway, South Wilts Mencap | ||
Village and town area specific resources
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East Wiltshire (Devizes, Lavington, Marlborough, Pewsey) |
Love Devizes neighbourly group |
The Pewsey Messenger (Alton, Pewsey, Woodborough, Milton Lilbourne) |
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West Wiltshire (Trowbridge, Melksham, Bradford on Avon area, Westbury, Warminster) |
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North Wiltshire (Chippenham, Calne, Royal Wootton Bassett, Malmesbury) |
Malmesbury Seniors Club Contact: ellen.blacker@wiltshire.gov.uk (Community Champion) HomeInstead 'What's on Where' (WOW) guide - North Wilts & Swindon |
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| Salisbury city centre |
AUKW list of leisure activities - Salisbury Silver Salisbury community events |
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Southern Wiltshire (Amesbury, Whiteparish, Wilton, Mere, Tisbury) |
Silver Salisbury community events |
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| Swindon area |
Swindon council website - directory of clubs and groups HomeInstead 'What's on Where' (WOW) guide - North Wilts & Swindon |
Swindon U3A |
Can't find what you are looking for?
If you want to know what is going on in your community you might also try the following:
- Town, parish and church newsletters and websites are a good place to look for current information
- The council websites have databases of activities Wiltshire Council and Swindon's My Care My Support have a directory of clubs and groups.
- Wiltshire Together is a place where you can find out about local activites, events, groups and volunteering opportunities.
- Your local library can be an invaluable source of local information and may also host activities.
- Your town may have a Wiltshire Our Community Matters page which is like an online noticeboard for clubs and events.
- Word of mouth is often a good source of local information and friends, family or a neighbour may be able to recommend something from their own experiences
- Charities related to particular health conditions (e.g. Stroke Association) may have local activities and support groups in your area
WoW - What's on When
The What’s on When (WoW) Guide highlights some of the activities that are currently available in the local area (mainly for older adults), and through ‘The Directory’ at the rear of the guide signposts some of the organisations and websites that provide help and support, to older adults and their family and carers.