A Harrogate community group which helps local women make new friends is celebrating its first anniversary.
Harrogate Bee Social launched in September 2025 to give women opportunities to meet face-to-face, try new activities and form friendships.
The group has since organised around 260 events across Harrogate and the surrounding area.
Its programme has included coffee mornings, dinners, walks, hikes, quizzes, craft sessions, book clubs, wellbeing activities and nights out.
Women ranging in age from their 20s to over 70 have joined the community, with many attending their first event alone.
The group said:
“I don’t think I could have imagined quite what would happen next.
“For me, the best part of the last year has been watching friendships form.
“There are women who met because they happened to sit next to one another at a Bee Social coffee morning or dinner who now see each other outside our events, go away together and have become part of one another’s lives.
“That’s exactly what I hoped Harrogate Bee Social might do.”
Harrogate Bee Social has also worked with local venues and independent businesses to arrange discounts, exclusive events and collaborations for members.
It is currently developing a partnership with The Yorkshire Soap Company, which has already resulted in several collaborative events.
The group’s first anniversary comes shortly after it was named a finalist in the Community Group category at the BBC Radio York Make a Difference Awards 2026.
The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on Friday 18th September.
Harrogate Bee Social is now planning more events and business collaborations during its second year.
The group added:
“We’re looking forward to hopefully many more women taking that slightly scary first step of walking into an event where they don’t know anyone.”
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