Friends For Life

Who Are We?
We are a friendship group for people with learning disabilities, mental health needs, and autism spectrum conditions. If you want to make friends and share the same interests, everyone is welcome. Why not come and join us!

‘Making friends, making memories’

As well as exciting events and activities all year round, we can help you make friendships.

This is how we do it!

We help you make new friends and develop lasting friendships.
We organise events that bring us all together within Future Directions and your local area.
We can help you to be less isolated, lonely or bored.
We make sure you have some great memories – as well as good friends.

How we started

In Spring 2018 the people we support at Future Directions told us that they wanted to make more friends and have lots of things to do.

A group of people supported by Future Directions looked at how we could make things better. The group decided to form The Friends for Life Group. The group came up with lots of ideas from meeting up monthly to having bigger events throughout the year where people can meet new people and see old friends.

Funding from the National Lottery

The group was successful and awarded a Big Lottery Fund ‘Reaching Communities’ fund of £66,252.00, this is to support the project for two years. After the funding ended, it has continued to go from strength to strength.

What do we do?

Green Super Heroes Craft Sessions.
Bake off with Jayne.
‘Do Something New’ Fund: Where you can apply to “do something new” with the help of ‘Friends For Life’.
Trips Outs: we have regular trips to Blackpool, Chester Zoo and local theatres.
Litter Pick Walk and Talk Group: we meet up in person to go on a walk, with the chance for a chat and drink.
Tea and Transport Group: lots of trips to transport related venues like Runway Visitor Park at Manchester Airport, the East Lancashire Railway, and the Greater Manchester Museum of Transport.
Lots of Christmas activities including trips to local pantomimes, Dunham Massey and lots of parties.

We listen to the people we support, always trying new activities to help connect and form friendships. We will help you to find local activities and events to go to and make friends.

Smithills Farm Big Trip - Thursday 3rd April 2025

Join us for an exciting day out at Smithills Farm
on Thursday, 3rd April 2025!

Details:
Admission: £12 per person
Carers: FREE (with ID badge)
Payment: Online or on the day

For any other information on the day,
please contact Jayne 📞 07579 892194

Meet & Eat - Thursday 10th April 2025

Meet & Eat,
Thursday 10th April 2025
The Boat & Horses Chadderton, OL9 8AU
Meeting Jayne & David at 12:30pm

If you are attending, please contact Jayne on: 07579 892 194 as booking is required to reserve tables.

Arts & Crafts Afternoon -Tuesday 15th April 2025

Easter Arts & Crafts session,
Thursday 15th April 2025
River Beal Cafe & Community Hub
Event commencing at 1:30pm

Come along this Easter and get creative with Jayne and David.

For more information please contact Jayne on: 07579 892 194.

Meet & Eat - Wednesday 23rd April 2025

Meet & Eat,
Wednesday 23rd April 2025
Sycamore Farm, Burnley, BB12 6HH
Meeting Jayne at 12:30pm

If you are attending, please contact Jayne on: 07579 892 194 as booking is required to reserve tables.

Bingo Afternoon at River Beal Cafe & Community Hub - Tuesday 29th April 2025

Come & Join us for a Bingo Afternoon at
River Beat Cafe & Community Hub, OL16 4GQ.

There are plenty of prizes up for grabs for our bingo winners!

The event starts at 1:30pm, please arrive 15 minutes earlier to get your seats.

For any other information, please contact Jayne on 07579 892 194.

Bowling at Namco- Trafford - Thursday 8th May 2025

Come & Join us at NAMCO Bowling,
The Orient, The Trafford Centre, M17 8ED.

Games are £6 for concession and carers go free.
(You MUST have your ID Badge for this)

Please meet Jayne and David at the Entrance at around 1:15pm for games to start at 1:30pm.

For any other information, please contact Jayne on 07579 892 194.

Chester Zoo Big Trip Out - Thursday 15th May 2025

Come and join us on the 15th May 2025. You can travel in style by coach or make your own way.

By coach, there will be three pickup points:

☕ River Beal Café and Community Hub (Elizabethan Way): 8.45 am;
🏢 Marle House (Broadgate): 9.00 am;
🎭 Wythenshawe Forum (outside car park): 9.45 am.

We shall arrive at the Zoo for 10.45 am. Our coach will leave Chester Zoo at 3.00 pm.

If you are making your way to the Zoo, your SatNav postcode is CH2 1EU.

All payments must be made through the Future Directions CIC Finance Department at Marle House in full two weeks before the travel day.

To book a place, please contact Jayne on 07579 852194 or Kim on 07730 165004.

Meet The Team

David, Jayne, Kim, Ruth, Noel

Do you like what we do?

If you are interested in Friends For Life, or like to know more about our events, please get in touch with Kim Barrett, our Personalisation Lead on

You can also email: