What started with one man arriving in Manchester knowing virtually no one has grown into one of Greater Manchester’s longest-running social communities. Now, Social Circle is celebrating 20 years of friendships, relationships and shared experiences.
When Steve Sutherland relocated from Perth, Scotland, to Manchester in 2006, aged 36, he faced a problem familiar to many adults moving to a new city: how do you actually make new friends?
Away from work, the options seemed surprisingly limited. Social media was still in its infancy, apps had yet to become part of everyday life and, unless you were prepared to walk into the local pub and hope for the best, finding a new circle of friends wasn’t particularly straightforward.
Steve soon realised he wasn’t alone.
“When I first moved to Manchester, I realised there were lots of people in a similar position – recently divorced, relocated, working long hours, wanting to get more out of life, or simply finding that friendships become harder to form later in life,” he explains.
“Adult loneliness was a real issue. So I decided to form Social Circle. Having been to a Glossy Magazine (then Didsbury Magazine reader event.”
From a small gathering to a Manchester community
Social Circle was officially formed on 25 September 2006, starting as a simple way to bring together people who wanted to meet others, try something different, and enjoy everything Manchester had to offer.
Twenty years later, that simple idea has developed into an established Greater Manchester social community, bringing together thousands of people through events, activities, weekends away and shared experiences.
For some, joining has simply meant having someone to enjoy dinner, drinks or an event with. For others, the connections have proved considerably more significant.
“Twenty years later, we’ve seen lifelong friendships formed, relationships blossom, confidence rebuilt and countless memories created,” says Steve. “That’s something I’m incredibly proud of.”
The importance of real-world connection
Perhaps what makes Social Circle’s anniversary particularly relevant is how dramatically communicatio has changed since its launch.
The group was established in September 2006, just as Facebook was beginning its expansion beyond universities and into the wider public. In the two decades since, social media, dating apps and smartphones have transformed how we interact.
Yet being more digitally connected doesn’t necessarily mean feeling more socially connected.
Social Circle says it has seen continued demand for genuine, face-to-face interaction, with adults looking for alternatives to relationships conducted predominantly through screens, social media and dating apps.
Manchester itself has changed enormously during the same period. Its restaurant, cultural, sporting, entertainment and nightlife scenes have expanded dramatically, providing an almost endless choice of things to do – although, for someone without an established network of friends, finding people to enjoy them with can still be difficult.
That is the gap Social Circle has spent two decades trying to bridge.
Twenty years – and counting
As Social Circle enters its third decade, its original purpose remains remarkably similar to the one Steve identified when he first arrived in Manchester.
“The world has changed massively since 2006, but people still want the same basic things – friendship, belonging and shared experiences,” he says.
“That’s what Social Circle has always been about.”
From one newcomer looking to rebuild his social life to a community that has connected thousands of people across Greater Manchester, it is a fitting way to celebrate 20 years – and a reminder that sometimes the most valuable social network is still the one that exists in the real world.
Find out more
For further information about Social Circle, contact Steve Sutherland:
WhatsApp: 07845 529 538
Email: info@social-circle.co.uk
Telephone: 07845 529 538
