Over the past few months, as part of the FRIEND project, focus groups have been held in the five partner countries (Italy, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands and Poland) with the aim of validating and improving the FRIEND Training Programme. The programme is designed to foster friendships and promote meaningful social connections among older people.
In Italy, Anziani e Non Solo conducted three focus groups involving older adults in a co-design process. The first session focused on an open discussion around the concept of friendship and what older people would like to see in a training programme on this theme. The following two sessions tested two actual programme modules: “Rediscovering friendship: the value of a timeless connection” and “A convoy of relationships: the people who accompany us on life’s journey”, developed based on the existing FRIEND Enrichment Programme and the results from the first round of focus groups in all partner countries.
The experience was warmly welcomed by participants. They appreciated the chance to reflect on the meaning of friendship in later life – a topic often overlooked – and to share their personal experiences in a welcoming and convivial atmosphere. Many expressed curiosity and a desire to get to know each other better, and felt that the experience helped create a strong sense of connection and mutual understanding.
These sessions provided valuable feedback to refine the training programme, improving the relevance and effectiveness of the proposed content and ensuring it can be applied in diverse contexts.
