Today is International Friendship Day and we wanted to talk about our sponsor, The Oddfellows, for our podcast, Reading Between The Lines.
Reading Between The Lines launched in 2020 and The Oddfellows have been our sponsors since day one. They’re a non-profit mutual that has been forging friendships in its community for 200 years. With 113 branches and 395,700 UK members, their national network bring people together through friendship, care and charitable support.
‘Making friends, helping people’ — all of this is what made The Oddfellows a great fit for “The People’s Friend”. With the same long-stretching heritage, values of true friendship and improving people’s lives, we found a friend in The Oddfellows.
In our podcast episodes, you can hear from The Oddfellows members about their membership and the many events held across the country. Going into Season 3, The Oddfellows are joining us once more, and you’ll hear about their upcoming campaigns.
Like Friendship Month, for example, which spans the month of September. It’s been running since 2010 and last year hosted 172 face-to-face events and 100 online meet-ups. It aims to show the benefits of a local friendship group and the events are specifically designed to make newcomers feel at ease. There’s no better time to take a look, and order your free information pack!
In celebration of International Friendship Day, we have some quotes from The Oddfellows members and “The People’s Friend” team about what being a friend means.
Jacky, “Friend” Digital Content Editor
To me, being a friend means knowing that no matter how much time has passed, you pick up right where you left off like it was no time at all. And that you’re only ever a message or a phone call away.
Jane, Oddfellows member
For me, a friend is someone who makes me smile and makes me feel better about myself.
Yvonne, “Friend” Features team
Friendship is sharing the good times, as well as the bad. Supporting each other and finding laughter along the way. Family, we are born into, friendships we choose. Choose wisely, and that friendship will last a lifetime.
Denise, Oddfellows member
A friend is someone who has a lovely soft shoulder to cry on and shares your sorrow or happiness.
Abbie, “Friend” Fiction team
You can’t help the smile on your face when you see them (whatever your mood had been before). You can be yourselves around each other. You know that, in good times and bad, you’ll be there for each other.
Keith, Oddfellows member
A friend is one who will give you a hug during difficult times.
What does being a friend mean to you?
Jacqueline Munro I am the Digital Content Editor at "The People's Friend", looking after our website, social media channels and podcast.
