BLACKBIRD Leys group Friendleys is celebrating its first birthday.
The group, set up in March last year, helps isolated people from across the Oxford estate to mingle with others from the area.
Friendleys meets every week to bring people together for a coffee morning, games and a small raffle.
The group, with about 20 members, celebrated its birthday last week with a party.
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Founder Liz Helliwell said: “I didn’t think it would be this big when I started it, but I had hoped it would be.
“It started off with just five people and we’re growing still. We have people from the Longlands care home come every week.
“It’s somewhere for people to go who don’t have a lot of friends or family in their lives.
“Families grow up and move away from home so socialising is something that has been missing out of some people’s lives for a long time.”
The Kestrel Crescent resident added: “It’s just somewhere to come and have a chat and a bit of cake each week.”
Friendleys meets every Wednesday, from 10.30am to 1pm in the Jack Argent Room of the Blackbird Leys Community Centre in Blackbird Leys Road.
It charges visitors £2 to cover the costs of refreshments and the raffle prizes.
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