What hobby or evening class should I do to make friends?

[BarnacleNora]

I'm slowly coming out of probably one of my biggest mental health burn outs ever. Lots of changes being made including, very sadly and reluctantly, resigning my full time 'dream' job and going back to something I can do standing on my head for very part time hours. This isn't forever hopefully, I just need a couple of years with a simple job and one less stress while I pursue a diagnosis plus get my head back together (and put my children back together after a horrible couple of years for them unrelated to my mental health)

One of the things that has come up in discussion and therapy is that I don't really have many local friends. Most of my friends live in my phone in that they live hours away and we speak or message daily. But I need some local friends to go out and do things, have people who can come over for a cuppa spur of the moment etc etc.

Plus I need a hobby! So I'm trying to work out what to do. My hobby has always always been theatre which has taken a knocking through lockdown. At the moment though I don't have it in me to commit to the very time heavy demands of being in a show. So need something else!

I'm not sporty at all. I hate exercise in fact. I'm not arty (well I am in my head but have no drawing or painting talent at all. Maybe learning pottery or something could be the answer!) but have always wanted to learn photography and editing skills. However in order to do an evening class in that I'd need a proper camera which is a big outlay for my finances. It is something I've always wanted to do though.

I studied English at uni so did wonder about finding a book club but I'm never sure if book clubs really 'work' outside of established friendship groups?

I've been on Meet-up in my area and it's a bit lacklustre! So I'm looking for other ideas for things to Google or ask about on local Facebook pages.

Any ideas?!

If the goal is making friends, I would say you need to try quite a few groups and see who you gel with.

While I totally heard what you said about hating exercise, have you ever considered a martial art? Because the nature of the activity means who are sort of forced to get familiar with your classmates, so every group I've been a part of ends up as a group of friends.

Local history group, tidy towns, teaching a skill as a night course in a local school, walking group. Look up free events at museums & libraries and try out a few new things. Look up volunteering organisations dir opportunities in your area. Good luck!

dir = for

Put a post on Facebook etc and poss set up a group yourself...knit and natter, book club.....anything

Whereabouts are you OP?

Creative writing group? Walking group?

How old are you? You could try the WI. Its not everyone's cup of tea though. Knit and natter type groups are usually very friendly.

Join a choir? Still get to perform but a bit more once a week than theatre.

Language classes are good because in the process of learning the language you have some really great icebreaker topics of conversation. You'll get to see which of your classmates you have things in common with, and can meet up under the guise of practice.

Ah god look at that, made a post and completely forgot about it, the brain fog is real some good suggestions here thank you. Can't remember who asked but I'm in the south east, about 40 mins from London (but wouldn't want to be travelling to London just for a hobby, negates the idea of friends who can pop in really!)

Volunteering is a good idea, I'll have a look at that. I was useless at languages at school so might have to give that a swerve!

Assuming you are female
What about the WI? Most have lots of different activities and trips going on