Bennett Court’s ‘speed meeting’ event sparks new friendships

Bennett Court recently launched an exciting new event called ‘speed meeting,’ providing residents with a fun and innovative way to meet new people, form friendships, and even explore romantic connections.

The goal was simple: to create a fun, inclusive, and safe space for socialising, and the first event did just that, proving to be a huge success.

After sharing invitations at the Service User Council meeting in January, the team at Bennett Court welcomed 11 residents from other Exemplar Health Care homes, alongside seven residents from their own home.

On the day of the event, the room was decorated with balloon arches and flowers, setting a welcoming atmosphere, and a local singer performed ‘Love is in the Air’ to kick off the day, setting the tone for the exciting event.

Residents sat across from each other at tables, each with an information card featuring their name, home, and the Activities Team’s contact details.

A five-minute timer started, allowing residents to chat, learn about one another, and decide whether they wanted to stay in touch. If they did, they exchanged contact cards before moving on to the next person.

To keep the entertainment flowing, a karaoke break took place between rounds, there was a karaoke break between rounds, where people sang, danced, and enjoyed the lively atmosphere.

The fun didn’t stop there - Activities Teams from each home supported the follow-up process, helping those who exchanged details to arrange future meetups and stay in touch.

Two residents, Leanne and Julie, from different homes spent the afternoon chatting away and are already planning to meet up again.

With meetings already scheduled after the event, it’s clear that ‘speed meeting’ was a success.

Bennett Court now plans to make it a regular event, collaborating with other homes and providing even more opportunities for people to connect, socialise, and build meaningful relationships.