EVENTS and prizes to enjoy with friends will help a group mark friendship month taking place throughout September.

The Oddfellows groups, based in Warndon, Worcester, and Stourport-on-Severn, will be attending special events and running a prize draw to win two luxury hampers to share with a friend.

New members are welcome to join the society’s annual month-long celebration, now in its fifth year, which highlights how having a supportive circle of friends not only makes you feel happier but healthier too.

As part of the campaign, people are invited to attend a variety of events aimed at making it easy for people who may feel lonely or disconnected from friends, family or their community to make new contacts.

John Bradley, social secretary, said: “We want to remind everyone how beneficial it is to have a good network of friends around you.

"We also want to make it really simple for people to get to know other locally through our open events, as we appreciate how it can be quite a daunting experience initially.

“We hope friendship month can act as an inspirational nudge for people who may have been putting off taking that first step.

"We say there’s no time like the present to make new friends and many of our members agree that they haven’t looked back since coming along.”

Based in Worcestershire, the society has 536 members and arranges regular get-togethers as well as provides help to each other in times of need.

The group’s Friendship Month events are open to everyone and include a Harvest Festival Tuesday, September 2 from 7.30pm at The Elizabeth Mill Centre, Sion Gardens, Stourport-on-Severn.

People can also join in with Play Your Cards Right at The Prince of Wales Pub, Warndon, Worcester, from 12pm on Monday, September 22.

Both events are free and there will be a raffle and refreshments provided.

For more information, call Sandra Loynes on 01905 422591, email Sandra.loynes@oddfellows.co.uk or visit the society’s page at www.friendshipmonth.com.