Friendship Alliance
The Friendship Alliance is an initiative brought together by The Link Visiting Scheme, Age UK Berkshire, Involve Community Services and the Wokingham Volunteer Centre to tackle loneliness and improve the mental and physical wellbeing of residents in Wokingham Borough.
Volunteer with us!
Friendship Champions
Our plan is to establish a network of Friendship Champions whose role it would be to promote the Friendship Alliance’s services, actively encourage friendships and develop community spirit.
If you organise a group or activity, or work in your local café, library or community space, we’d love to hear from you.
Please contact jayne@linkvisiting.org to find out more.
Friendship Tables
Our aim is to identify places where people can come together regularly for a chat and make some friends. For more information on how to join or if you would like to host, please contact jayne@linkvisiting.org
To Join We continue to hold a weekly Friendship Cafe online via Zoom. It is easily accessible - you don’t even need to make an account! We will send you an email with a link which will take you straight to the cafe. Feel free to ‘pop in’ and see what it’s all about, or pass this information on to someone who may benefit from a welcoming environment and some company.
To Host We are looking for community spaces, local cafes and pubs in Wokingham borough to host a Friendship Table on a regular basis to encourage people to sit and have a friendly chat. It is flexible to suit you! Let us know the day and time you would like to host a Friendship Table with your volunteers or staff. We will promote the table and your venue on our social media channels, newsletter and website along with referring local people who could benefit.
Download the conversation starters.
Pinewood Bar and Cafe
Unit 8 Pinewood Leisure Centre, Old Wokingham Road, Wokingham, RG40 3AQ
Monday to Saturday 09:00 - 16:00
Finchampstead Baptist Church Cafe
FBC Centre, Gorse Ride North, Finchampstead, Berkshire, RG40 4ES
Tuesdays from 10:00 - 12:00
Open Door
Brookside Church, Brookside Close, Earley, RG6 7HG
Wednesdays from 14:00 - 16:00
Coffee & Chat
St Paul's Parish Rooms, Reading Road, Wokingham, RG41 1EH
Fridays from 14:00 to 16:00
Arborfield Royal British Legion
Everlsey Road, Arborfield, RG2 9PR
Mondays from 10:00 - 11:30
Café Refresh
Wokingham Salvation Army, Sturges Road, Wokingham, RG40 2HD
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10:00 - 13:30
A Place to Meet
Wokingham Salvation Army, Sturges Road, Wokingham, RG40 2HD
Thursdays from 10:00 - 12:00
Cameo Lunch Club
Woodley Baptist Church, Hurricane Way, Woodley, RG5 4UX
Tuesdays from 10:00 - 13:00
Coffee Morning
Woodley Baptist Church, Hurricane Way, Woodley, RG5 4UX
Wednesdays from 10:00 - 12:00
Cafe Mosaic
The Bradbury Centre, Rose Street, Wokingham, RG40 1XS
Wednesdays from 11:00 - 12:00
Re:Fresh Cafe
Trinity Church, 9 Chalfont Close, Earley, RG6 5HZ
Thursdays from 14:00 - 16:00
Re:Fresh Cafe
St Nicolas Church, Sutcliffe Avenue, Earley, RG6 7JN
Fridays from 10:00 - 12:00
Sip & Share
Woosehill Church, 32 Chestnut Avenue, Wokingham, RG41 3RS
2nd Saturday of the month from 11:00 - 12:00
CLASP
The Bradbury Centre, Rose Street, Wokingham, RG40 1XS
10:00 - 12:00 every 3rd and 4th Tuesday of the month.
We welcome carers, support workers as well as their clients. We would love to meet more people who have learning disabilities, autism etc, no matter how profound or mild.
Social Seniors Tea & Coffee
Spencers Wood Pavilion, Clares Green Road, Spencers Wood, RG7 1DY
Thursdays from 10:00 - 12:00
T & C at Share, Wokingham
Norreys Church, Norreys Avenue, Wokingham, RG40 1UU
Fridays from 12:30 - 14:30
Lunch Club
The Bradbury Centre, Rose Street, Wokingham, RG40 1XS
Thursdays from 12:00 - 13:30
Share Shinfield
Shinfield Community Church, 1 Fairmead Road, Shinfield, RG2 9DL
Mondays from 12:30 - 14:00
Coffee Morning
Shinfield Community Church, 1 Fairmead Road, Shinfield, RG2 9DL
Thursdays from 10:00 - 11:45
Cameo
St Bartholomew’s Church Hall, Church Lane, Arborfield, RG2 9JD
2nd Monday of the month from 13:30 - 15:00
S.N.A.C. (St Nicolas Afternoon Club)
St Nicolas Church and Centre, Sutcliffe Avenue, Earley, RG6 7JN
Fridays from 14:15 - 16:00
Board Games Cafe
St Nicolas Church and Centre, Sutcliffe Avenue, Earley, RG6 7JN
Tuesdays from 10:00 - 12:00
Tea and Chat
St Mary and St John Parish Centre, Vicarage Close, Finchampstead, RG40 4JW
Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month from 14:00 - 15:30
Community Club
Arborfield Village Hall, Eversley Road, Arborfield Cross, RG2 9PQ
Fridays from 12:00 - 14:00
Warm Fridays
St Mary’s Church Hall, Church Lane, Shinfield, RG2 9BY
Fridays from 12:00 - 14:00
Coffee Corner
Davies Room, Swallowfield Parish Hall, Swallowfield St, Swallowfield, RG10 0SQ
Wednesdays from 10:30 - 12:30
Friendship Cafe
Alexandra Grange Care Home, Oaklands Drive, Molly Millars Ln, Wokingham, RG41 2RU
Last Thursday of the month from 15:00 - 16:00
Pop-in Club
Hannen Room, St Mary's Church, Station Road, Wargrave, RG10 8EU
Mondays from 10:30 - 12:30
The Welcome Cafe
Hannen Room, St Mary's Church, Station Road, Wargrave, RG10 8EU
Tuesdays from 14:30 - 16:00
The Sunflower Club
Rainbow Community Centre, Rainbow Park, Winnersh, RG41 5SG
Fortnightly on Wednesdays from 10:00 - 11:30
Friday Lunch Club
The Cornerstone, Norreys Ave, Wokingham, RG40 1UE
1st Friday of the month from 12:30 - 14:00
Shinfield Risers
Lower Earley Library, Chalfont Close, Lower Earley, RG6 5HZ
Mondays (except for the 1st Monday of the month) from 10:00 - 11:30
Shinfield Risers
Parsons Grange Care Home, Westall St, Shinfield RG2 9AU
1st Monday of the month from 10:00 - 11:30
Shinfield View Coffee Morning
Shinfield View Care Home, School Green, Shinfield, RG2 9EH
Tuesdays from 10:45 - 12:15
The Well
Kings Place, 9 Station Road, Wokingham, RG40 2AD
Wednesdays from 11:00 - 15:00
Cosy Coffee Morning - Woodley
Woodley Library, 6 Headley Road, Woodley RG5 4JA
1st and 2nd Thursday of the month from 10:00 - 11:30
Cosy Coffee Morning - Lower Earley
Lower Earley Library, Chalfont Close, Earley RG6 5HZ
4th Friday of the month from 10:00 - 11:30
Cosy Coffee Morning - Wokingham
Wokingham Library, Carnival Hub, Wellington Road, Wokingham RG40 2AF
4th Thursday of the month from 10:00 - 11:30
Let’s Connect
Community Hub, Waterford House, Erfstadt Court, Wokingham RG40 2YF
Fortnightly on Thursdays from 13:00 - 14:00
Renew Wellbeing
Woodley Baptist Church, Hurricane Way, Woodley, RG5 4UX
Fridays from 10:00 - 12:00
Friendship Cafe
Parsons Grange Care Home, Westall St, Shinfield RG2 9AU
Fridays from 11:00 - 12:00
Coffee Afternoon
Buckler’s Lodge Care Home, Woodcote Green, Crowthorne RG45 6HZ
2nd Friday of the month from 14:00 - 16:00
Coffee, Cakes and Bakes
Wargrave library, Church St, Wargrave RG10 8EP
2nd Wednesday of the month from 10:00 - 12:00Men’s Breakfast
Salvation Army, Chalfont Close, Lower Earley RG6 5HZ
3rd Saturday of the month from 10:00 - 12:00Friendly Finches
Finchampstead Memorial Hall, The Village, Finchampstead RG40 4JU
3rd Thursday of the month from 14:30 - 16:00
Lunch... Munch... and Chinwag!
St John's Church Centre, Church Rd, Woodley RG5 4QN
Fridays from 11:30 - 14:00
Link Thursdays
All Saints Church, Wiltshire Rd, Wokingham RG40 1TN
Thursdays from 10:00 - 15:00
The Kingfisher Club
St Mary the Virgin Church hall, Church Close, Winnersh RG41 5NA
Fortnightly on Wednesdays from 13:00 - 14:30
Twyford & District Over 60s Club
St Mary’s Church, Station Rd, Twyford RG10 9NT
Fortnightly on Wednesdays from 14:00 - 16:00
Sue Ryder Grief Kind Space
For those experiencing bereavement
Sheeplands Garden Centre Cafe, London Rd, Hare Hatch RG10 9HW
Wednesdays from 10:00 - 12:00
Sue Ryder Grief Kind Space
For those experiencing bereavement
FBC Centre, Gorse Ride North, Finchampstead, Berkshire, RG40 4ES
Wednesdays from 10:00 - 12:00
Nuffield Natter
Nuffield Health, 1 The Plaza, Denmark St, Wokingham RG40 2LD
Last Tuesday of the month from 14:00 - 15:00
Community Connect
The Green Man, Hinton Rd, Hurst RG10 0BP
Wednesdays from 14:00 - 16:30
Community Cafe
Waitrose, Rectory Rd, Wokingham RG40 1BB
Usually 3rd Wednesday of the month from 15:00 - 16:00 but sometimes varies so check in store
Community Cafe
Waitrose, London Rd, Twyford RG10 9EH
Last Monday of the month from 10:30 - 11:30
Senior Social Club Coffee Morning
Age Concern, Polehampton Close, Twyford RG10 9RP
3rd Thursday of the month from 10:30 - 12:00
Thursday Group
Woosehill Church, 32 Chestnut Avenue, Wokingham, RG41 3RS
Thursdays from 10:00 - 12:00
The 3Cs Cafe
Emmanuel Church, Southlake Crescent, Woodley RH5 3QW
Fridays from 13:30 - 15:30
Download the full Friendship Table Calendar
What’s On
The Friendship Alliance produce a fortnightly e-newsletter which you can sign up for here. We share local activities, groups, events and services in a simple, tidy layout that is easy to read, with links for further information.
We also post regularly on our social media channels, often updating on local news or reporting about a great new group we’ve found that we’d like to recommend. We’d love you to follow us and tell us about what is happening in your local community.
Loneliness and Isolation
Here are some helpful links to reports about loneliness: