Havard said: “To start with I was sceptical that people would actually come out. But they did.
“A lot of people were very nervous to start with. They didn’t know anyone, but they did it anyway.
“What has been absolutely remarkable is that every single event we have had, people have got together and it’s like they’ve been friends for years.”
Member Karen Bird said simple touches helped break the ice.
“No one wants to go out on their own. No one wants to walk into a bar and not know anybody. You feel a bit awkward,” she said.
“That’s why we have the t-shirts and the badges so people know somebody and they can just come up and say, ‘Hi, I’m Jane’, ‘I’m Karen’ or ‘I’m Lucy’.
“Everyone is welcome. It’s like a community.”
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