From speed dating to getting on your bike… five ways to rediscover romance in your 50s and beyond
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For the older person, meeting that special someone can provide a variety of benefits, from combating loneliness to alleviating physical ailments.
According to a wealth of data, the positive results of a romantic relationship can help with a variety of ailments, from depression to heart disease. Research also shows that single people in old age are 20 percent more likely to die earlier than the average for their age group.
But statistics also show that the number of single older Britons is higher than ever, with more than three million living alone after the death of a partner. The researchers also predict that so-called “grey divorces” will triple by 2030.
Over the past two weeks, The Mail on Sunday has brought you a number of creative and fun ways to beat loneliness, as part of our partnership with the charity Age UK.
For the older person, meeting that special someone can provide a variety of benefits, from addressing loneliness to alleviating physical ailments (file photo)
This week, we offer help to those who may be looking for a little more than friendship.
From cooking classes to ghost tours, we’ve scoured the UK for groups and events that specialize in connecting older singles.
MURDER, MYSTERY… AND MATCHING
WHAT IS IT?
RSVP is a service in England, Wales and Scotland that offers fine dining, formal balls, nights out, walks and weekend getaways to single people, mainly over 50s.
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From laid-back Sunday brunches to murder mystery soirees, RSVP hosts a variety of events for singles at least once a month. The experienced matchmaking team also runs a dating service where members connect based on their interests, without the need to search through many dating profiles.
“At our events, you’ll always find friendly hosts to introduce and care for nervous guests,” says RSVP’s Karen Harvie. “Some people date again after divorce or bereavement and I have seen their confidence blossom. There is always fun, laughter and talk.’
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Visit rsvp-int.es. Membership costs a one-time payment of £745 and then £32.99 per month.
YOU ARE NEVER TOO OLD FOR SPEED DATING
WHAT IS IT?
Date In A Dash hosts weekly speed dating events at hotels, clubs and restaurants across London and, starting in January, in Bristol, Brighton, Manchester and Birmingham.
Date In A Dash hosts weekly speed dating events at hotels, clubs and restaurants across London and, from January, in Bristol, Brighton, Manchester and Birmingham (file photo)
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The events are organized in age ranges, including 40 to 60 years old, where participants enjoy five-minute mini-dates with members of the opposite sex.
Sessions last two hours and the women sit at a designated table, with the men moving between them. Then the daters note who they are looking forward to seeing again. Results are emailed to participants and at least 80 per cent get a ‘match’.
Managing director Rob Ryall says, “People often mingle in the bar afterwards or stay for a drink.”
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Visit dateinadash.com. Events cost between £15 and £20.
SADDLE UP AND FIND LOVE ON A BIKE RIDE
WHAT IS IT?
Stitch is a 50+ online community that promotes friendship and romance through shared interests.
The non-profit platform encourages users to organize hobby-based activities with each other and advertises them on the site.
Stitch is a 50+ online community that promotes friendship and romance through shared interests. People can then search through their own hobbies to find a match, with interests ranging from long bike rides (file photo) to fancy dinners and ethics lectures.
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Members are invited to create an online profile where they can add interests and a photo and say if they are looking for romance.
People can then search through their own hobbies to find a match, with interests ranging from long bike rides to fancy dinners and ethics lectures. Members can message a person they like or sign up for one of hundreds of national events.
“The site allows you to view the profiles of other people who are attending an event, so you might want to go if you like the look of someone,” says founder Andrew Dowling.
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Visit stitch.net. Lifetime membership is free.
EVERYTHING IS KOSHER BY DATE ON ONE PLATE
WHAT IS IT?
Date On A Plate offers cooking lessons, followed by a three-course champagne dinner, for Jewish singles, mostly over the age of 50, in North West London.
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Chef Denise Phillips hosts kosher foodie events on Sunday nights at her home. The main items of the meal are prepared in advance and singletons perform basic tasks such as stirring sauces and chopping onions.
When the hour-long cooking class is over, diners head to an adjacent candle-lit dining room for food.
After each course, the men swap seats to sit next to a different woman and at the end of the night, Denise shares everyone’s email addresses.
One couple who owe their romantic bliss to Date On A Plate are Allan and Paula Messing. The couple, aged 67 and 65, have just returned from their honeymoon in Mauritius, a decade after meeting at one of the foodie events.
“You could judge the chemistry over dinner, and I knew I was into Allan,” says Paula. She was smart and not arrogant.
Allan describes his foray into online dating before meeting Paula as “disastrous”. He says: ‘My faith and my culture are very important to me and I wanted to find someone who shared those things. It is very difficult to find such a person online.
‘I thought she [Paula] he had such a lovely way about her, and i was right. It makes people feel comfortable.
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Visit cookingjudia.com. It costs £75 for the lesson, dinner, an arrival cocktail and unlimited wine.
SHARE A DANCE AT A QUEEN CONCERT
WHAT IS IT?
Spice Social organizes group events across the UK, attended by up to 100 singles, mainly over 50s, from ghost tours to weekend trips.
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Instead of creating a dating profile, users enter their zip code on the website and search for events nearby. They can also use the web chat to ask the organizers any questions they may have.
Smaller events, such as Christmas pub dinners or a Queen tribute concert, are priced from around £25 to £30 and up to 50 guests attend. The bigger ones, like an all-inclusive Dumfries walking and culture weekend, cost between £150 and £200.
“I’ve been to so many weddings where the couple met at our events,” says Jamie Morris, Spice Social Scotland coordinator. “Romance comes naturally when we bring people together to have fun.”
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Visit spicesuk.com. Members pay £99 a year to meet up, with no pressure to find romance.
MoS praised as readers join army of phone friends
Age UK has issued a heartfelt thank you to the generous readers of The Mail on Sunday who are tackling loneliness by volunteering for the charity’s Telephone Friendship Service.
Last month we launched a campaign to encourage 1,000 readers to sign up for the plan, which involves a weekly phone conversation with a lonely elderly person. Since then, subscriptions have increased 73 percent, with 249 readers joining within four days of launch.
“I’d like to thank readers for all their support,” said Alasdair Stewart, Age UK Director of National Services.
‘Thanks to The Mail on Sunday’s call for volunteers, we have received many new applications from readers willing to give their time to support older people.
But there is still work to be done. As the festive season approaches and costs continue to rise, times will become even more difficult for the older population.”
Recruits are interviewed and undergo quick online training before being matched with a senior. Calls are routed through a switchboard, no contact details are exchanged, and only first names are used.