Making new friends in Dundee

[Chewysmum]

Hi, I moved to Dundee a few years ago but I really don't have any friends here, despite knowing lots of people, I've found it hard to find people who are interested in socialising. My DS is 16mo so I'm going to a lot of playgroups etc and have met some nice people but no one who is interested in socialising out with the playgroup. I'm a single mum and have no family support so it gets lonely sometimes, it'd be nice to meet people, maybe folk in similar situations, other single parents etc? Any ideas?

I'm not in Dundee and don't have young DC but didn't want to see you unanswered.

That sou ds tough and I think you are doing the right things and you are most likely to meet people at baby groups, you've just not found that yet.

Are you engaged with any single parent groups? This might be a good place to start:

www.opfs.org.uk/service/dundee-family-support-services/

Or maybe is it surestart or something similar that come out to visit you.

I think finding someone that might like to come back for a longer play after a group or maybe go with you to take the wee ones swimming or to the park would be good, I suppose its just sussing people out.

It will get easier the older your ds gets and you meet people at nursery and school drop offs and you can see if you can get involved in any committees also.

Good luck!

Thanks for the reply, I'm sure it will get easier over time, it just seems like everyone I meet already has lots of friends and family and never seem to want to make more. I was very depressed for a long time so I didn't want to make friends and now I hope I haven't left it too long.
I'll look into single parents groups, I didn't know they existed, thank you.

Have you tried citysocializer? A work colleague used it when she was new here. I'm not sure how child friendly the activities are but might be worth a shot.

Il be honest, they're unfriendly bastards for sure. My sister is a major social butterfly and she struggled for a few years. Ditto my mum who is only just getting her feet off the ground. My sister works full time now and her kids are at school so I don't think she'd be much help. Where in Dundee are you?

Apologies to any friendly dundonians if course, it's just been shocking how hard my family have found it integrating especially in comparison to Glasgow where we come from.

OP, I am around Dundee once in a blue moon but stay quite nearby! Feel free to PM me 🙂

I'm from Glasgow and live not far from dundee - have done for about 12 years.
I don't find it unfriendly.

What about the international women's Centre? It has a creche.
Sewing classes etc to join in with.

I made most of my friends through volunteering and political things.

Contentious as I don't know your opinion on the issue but there's a Scottish women for independence conference next weekend. It could have a creche too depending on whether anyone asks to use one.

I think it is tricky to make friends in Dundee, lots of folk grow up here and never move away, 2 university's and a college in a small city, so folk have their school and uni pals close by and don't have the need to be making new friends. I found it easy to get people talking at baby groups but no one was up for catching up over a glass of wine or dinner out.

@NoisingUpNissan I’m really sorry that’s been your family’s experience. I’m one of those who has been here from birth, including study and work, so haven’t had to start from scratch in a new place.
Glasgow is a friendly place, and although I’m Dundonian, I know that sometimes we can be our own worst enemies- a lot of Dundonians are dour buggers, and the default thinking is “glass half empty”.
I always try to counter this, I smile a lot when I’m out and about even if I’m not feeling it, and speak to people in shops etc

Hi, I'm in Linlathen, just moved there from up by sainsbury, not my smartest move lol. To be fair, I've lived in A LOT of places and Dundee isn't unfriendly but as @notthisnotthat says, most people grew up here and have their social circles already and aren't really looking for more friends. You may be right about glaswegians, it's one of the few places I haven't had the pleasure of staying at some point, I have noticed they tend to be very open.

I am pro independence but I'm not very political in general, I don't think I'd fit in around things like that. And I'd love to volunteer but no childcare rules it out, at least til DS goes to nursery, he's only 16 months just now

Diwc have a creche on site and dundee women's aid, wrasac and Amina mwrc refund childcare costs if it's a registered provider who charges hourly so that might be more of an option than you think if you do want to volunteer.
Or dundee voluntary action will know of more possibilities - the idea is that you're not out of pocket for volunteering