How it works
Five steps, from joining to your first conversation — and no computer or technical know-how needed. We ring you to arrange and confirm every call, and you answer with a single press of a button.
Step 1
Join for free
Create an account with an email address and password.
- Joining and being matched is free — membership from £6.99 a month covers the calls themselves, and the first 500 members join free.
- A family member, carer or organisation can join on someone's behalf.
Step 2
Create your profile
Tell us a little about yourself — it takes about five minutes.
- First name only, an approximate age, and the first part of your postcode.
- Your interests, favourite topics, anything going on in your life, and any topics to avoid.
- How often and how long you like to chat, and an optional photograph.
- Before matching can begin we confirm your telephone number — we ring you, you answer and press 1 — and check your identity. Every member completes both checks.
- If family set the profile up, we also confirm with you directly before matching.
Step 3
We find people who may be a good fit
You don't search or browse other members — Elder Connect does the looking.
- We compare interests, favourite topics, life circumstances and when you like to chat — where you live doesn't come into it.
- You see suggestions one at a time, so it never feels overwhelming.
Step 4
Review your introductions
You see a short introduction: first name, age, general area, interests and why we think you'd get on.
- Say yes or no. Nobody is told if you'd rather not.
- When you pick a time to call, we ring the other person to confirm — they just press 1 for yes.
Step 5
Start talking
Once you've both agreed on a time, Elder Connect connects you on a private line for a regular weekly call.
- A friendly reminder call comes a few hours before, and again fifteen minutes before your slot.
- Neither of you ever sees the other's real number, surname or address.
- Calls may be recorded to help keep everyone safe — both people hear a short notice at the start of every call, and recordings are deleted after 90 days.
- An hour after your call, we ring to ask how it went — and if you both enjoyed it, the same slot opens for next week.
How members actually talk to each other
This is the part people most want to understand, so here it is plainly.
Elder Connect is a telephone friendship service. All conversation between members happens by voice call, placed through Elder Connect on a private line at a regular weekly time that suits you both.
- There is no chat or messaging inside Elder Connect. You cannot type messages to another member, and nobody can send you one.
- No one can contact you out of the blue. Introductions are made by us, and only after you have both agreed.
- Your details stay private. Your telephone number, email address, surname and full postcode are never shown to another member.
- You can stop at any moment. End the friendship, block the person, or report a concern — from your own pages, without giving a reason. The private number is switched off straight away.
Emails from us — a match suggestion, a safety notice — come from Elder Connect, never from another member, and you choose what you receive in Settings.
What goes into a match
We compare two people on the things that make a conversation enjoyable — interests, favourite topics, life circumstances and when you like to chat — and suggest someone only when there is plenty in common.
What you both enjoy
Gardening, football, crosswords, cooking — shared interests give you plenty to talk about.
What you like to talk about
Family, history, music, the news — the subjects that make a conversation easy and enjoyable.
What's going on in your life
Bereaved, living alone, new to an area — shared circumstances can make that first chat much easier.
When you like to chat
A weekly catch-up or a long Sunday natter — we pair people who suit each other's rhythm.
What it costs
Joining and being matched is free. Membership is £6.99 a month and covers your calls — the first 500 members join free. You only need membership once you've met someone and want to arrange a call.
Join free today