Circle of Friends was founded by Wendy Pfeiffer and Diane Bromley after they were made redundant from Inspired Villages last May, where they had managed Inspired Friendships for five years. Determined not to abandon the more than 100 older people who relied on the service, they continued supporting members voluntarily and formally registered as a Community Interest Company in September.
Despite their dedication, six months without a salary left Wendy and Diane facing the prospect of scaling back services, even as demand grew. The High Street Heroes Award not only celebrated their impact but opened the door to conversations that led to this new partnership.
Stones in the Community, which uses the power of football and fitness to improve health, wellbeing, and inclusion, will provide financial support to help Circle of Friends continue its work. While this funding offers short-term stability, both organisations stress that further support is urgently needed to make the service sustainable.
“When I learned about the incredible work Circle of Friends is doing to combat loneliness among older people, I knew we had to help. This service is too valuable to be lost.”
“We were determined not to walk away from the people who rely on us, even when times were tough. This partnership gives us hope and allows us to keep making a difference in the community.“
Diane Bromley, Co-Founder of Circle of Friends CIC, said:
“The support from Stones in the Community means so much—not just to us, but to the older people who depend on these friendships. We’re thrilled to work together to keep loneliness at bay.“
This partnership reflects a shared belief in the importance of community-led support and a commitment to ensuring older people are not left isolated. At a time when connection matters more than ever, both organisations are determined to protect and strengthen services that bring people together.
