The FRIEND project is an European initiative funded by the Erasmus+ programme. Our mission is to develop a blended learning programme that enhances the social skills and coping strategies of older adults, helping to prevent and reduce the risk of social isolation and loneliness.

Our training programme is designed to promote the social inclusion and participation of individuals over 65, thereby improving their overall well-being. To support this, we provide a comprehensive toolkit for local learning centres, which includes a train-the-trainer programme and a best practice guide for sustainable implementation.

FRIEND aims to make a significant impact on social inclusion by targeting core skills essential for connecting with others. Our programme is inspired by the Friendship Enrichment Programme (FEP), initially developed and tested in the Netherlands by Nan Stevens in 2001 for in-person delivery, and later adapted for online use by researcher Tamara Bouwman and colleagues (2016).

By combining the benefits and advantages of both in-person and online modalities, the FRIEND programme is tailored to meet the specific needs of older people, ensuring they can thrive socially and emotionally in a supportive community.