friendsfirst Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE

17th March 2006

Single Christians get a much-needed helping hand

It’s common knowledge that the number of single people looking for an outside agency to help them get hitched is on the rise.

Introduction and dating agencies abound and most promise relationship bliss.

friendsfirst – a leading Christian friendship agency -  has been in contact with over 10,000 people who are seeking support to find new friends. As a result of so much contact with these people, friendsfirst have launched a new initiative to ensure that members really get the most out of their membership and are not left to flounder into disillusionment and disappointment.

At the very beginning of every membership, members receive a free 32-page book full of tips and common sense advice about how to meet and make new friends. ‘Top tips for making new friends and enjoying successful relationships’ covers a wealth of topics that are always faced by single people trying to meet someone new.

It provides a foundation upon which single people can make the most of their membership and actually have a much greater chance of success in finding what they seek.

Membership Manager Wayne Exton said: “People come to us with the huge expectation that when they join, their lives will be transformed immediately. For some it is like that, but for most, finding a soul mate involves time and effort and realistic expectations. Our book gives them the essential help they need to ensure they make the most of their quest to find new friends.”

Director Katharine Gray says: “We tell people that when you start dating it’s like falling out of a boat when white water rafting. It’s absolutely imperative to participate in your own rescue! Our book is all about helping people to do that. It’s all part of the very personalised service we offer that is what sets us apart from other organisations.”

Kevin, a friendsfirst member, commented:’ The friendsfirst Top Tips book has a wealth of information in it that is very useful. It has really helped me to ‘take the bull by the horns’ and get on with it. It’s been very valuable and I’ve been greatly encouraged by it.’

For further information contact friendsfirst on 0121 427 1286

Ends

Notes for Editors

Katharine Gray established friendsfirst in October 1999 to meet the needs of many single Christians across the country who may feel isolated from other single Christians. There is a growing number of single Christians in the UK, who are remaining single for longer because of work commitments and social lives which are not conducive to meeting sufficient Christians of the opposite sex apart from their immediate contemporaries in their own churches.

Name: friendsfirst. The service is called friendsfirst because the philosophy behind it is that friendships are vitally important and are at the heart of any good and meaningful relationship. Friendship should ideally be the foundation for anything else that may develop after a period of time.

Successes

To date there have been 31 marriages and a further number of engagements between friendsfirst members.  These couples span every age group including couples in their 60s and 7’s. The couples involved come from the following areas: Dudley, Tamworth, Essex, Liverpool, Manchester, Rugby, Wigan, Bolton, Birmingham, Bath, Cambridge, Darlington, Sheffield, Basingstoke, Bedfordshire, Cheltenham, Malvern, Derbyshire, Walsall, Solihull, Cornwall, Stamford, Preston, Halesowen, Wolverhampton, Cambridge, Loughton, Somerset, Wiltshire, Cheshire, Lancashire,  Chesterfield, Halifax, Basildon, Windsor, Worcester, Nottingham, Tring, Lincoln, Maidstone, Loughborough, Stirling and Bristol.

The Top tips book was written by Katharine Gray and published by friendsfirst Publishing at the beginning of 2006. It is also available for purchase by non members for £15.00.

For further information:

Katharine can be contacted on 0121 427 1286 and would be delighted to talk further about the organisation.