Earlier this year, our Regional Marketing Manager, Helen Dearing, reached out to Old Friend Club after discovering the platform on Instagram. The idea was simple but powerful: OSJCT is home to residents with incredible personalities, wisdom, and stories worth sharing with the world.

Stirlings in Wantage and The Meadows in Didcot were the first homes to get involved, using whiteboards to answer a light-hearted question on dating advice. The response has been fantastic. The posts have sparked humorous reactions, lively comment threads, and engagement from people across the globe championing our residents. Betty’s advice to “not put all your eggs in one basket” has been a clear favourite, while Alan’s suggestion to “talk to the lady sat on the bench” has left many viewers wondering who that lady might be…

Old Friend Club is part of the Pubity Group, a digital media company with a huge global reach. The Old Friend Club channel alone has an audience of 1.6 million followers and is dedicated to giving older people a voice – often sharing wisdom, humour, and the occasional piece of advice you didn’t ask for but are very glad you received.

The team behind Old Friend Club, including Senior Content Producer Emika Berry and host Bailey Greetham Clark, recently visited Westgate House and The Meadows for in-person filming. At Westgate House, residents including 99-year-old Edna were interviewed as she prepares to take on 100 laps of the garden to celebrate her 100th birthday in June. At The Meadows, viewers finally learned the story behind Alan’s famous “bench” advice – meeting the woman who would become his wife in Bournemouth over 60 years ago.

Residents across both homes took part in filming and whiteboard activities, answering a range of questions and creating wholesome, joyful content that truly celebrates later life. It was such good fun for everyone involved, and we’re incredibly proud to be part of Old Friend Club’s growing collection of stories.

Looking ahead, the Old Friend Club team will be visiting other OSJCT homes in the coming weeks, continuing this fantastic opportunity to showcase the warmth, humour, and individuality of our residents.

“It has been a real privilege to see our residents share their stories, humour and life experiences so openly. Their voices carry so much wisdom and personality, and it’s incredibly important that these are heard and celebrated. The Old Friend Club team created a relaxed, respectful environment that allowed residents to truly shine.”
Daniela Midwinter, Home Manager, Westgate House

Thank you to all colleagues who have supported this project so far – and watch this space for more Old Friend Club moments coming soon. Find Old Friend Club content on Instagram - www.instagram.com/oldfriendclub.