In the 1990s, an innovative educational programme called the Friendship Enhancement Programme (FEP) was developed in the Netherlands, specifically aimed at reducing loneliness among older women. Created by Nan Stevens, the programme sought to empower participants by helping them clarify their needs, desires, and expectations regarding friendships (Stevens, 2001). 

The programme encouraged women to analyse their existing relationship networks to identify both current and potential friendships, set goals for enhancing existing relationships or forming new ones, and develop strategies to achieve these goals. Over the course of 12 in-person sessions, the programme explored various aspects of friendships, such as the diversity and value of different types of friendships, early experiences, and expectations that shape how friendships are formed (Stevens, 2001).

Additionally, participants were guided to recognize and understand their social networks and to enhance their skills in building and maintaining individual friendships, as well as fostering a broader network of meaningful connections. This holistic approach aimed to equip older women with the tools to enrich their social lives and combat feelings of isolation effectively (Stevens, 2001).

Later, the FEP was adapted into an online format – in a 6-week course – designed for men and women aged 50 and older, while maintaining its core goal of reducing loneliness through practical strategies. In this updated version, Nan Stevens and Tamara Bouwman focused on three key loneliness-coping strategies, which participants practice during the programme: network development, adapting personal standards, and reducing the importance of the gap between actual and desired relationships (Bouwman et al., 2017).

Network development encourages participants to actively maintain existing friendships while also making new connections. It emphasizes the importance of social interaction as a proactive way to combat loneliness. Adapting personal standards is particularly helpful when the source of loneliness cannot be changed. Participants are guided to adjust their own expectations, goals, or norms regarding relationships. Reducing the importance of the discrepancy is particularly important in cases where loneliness persists because it helps participants shift their focus away from the gap between their current and desired social situations. While the feelings of loneliness may not be eliminated, their significance is reduced, allowing individuals to concentrate on other aspects of their lives (Bouwman et al., 2017).

The FRIEND Programme aims to combine both approaches to create a more comprehensive strategy tailored to the realities of the different partner countries. The following subsections will present the profile of its beneficiaries, as well as the structure of the FRIEND Programme.