Safe Soulmates is a Community Interest Company established in 2018 by Vicky and Christine and is now run in collaboration with its steering group and strategic board. The aim of Safe Soulmates is to provide a safe space for people to socialise, as well as to support friendships and relationships to develop in a safe way.
Every Soulmate has been met on Zoom or in real life and, due to our application process, we know that everyone is who they say they are. Without exception, everyone is a genuinely lovely person, who just wants to find new friends or that special someone.
If you live in Cambridgeshire and you have an additional need, such as autism, a learning disability or even if you are just incredibly nervous of dating and meeting new people, please get in touch, we are here to help you.
Safe Soulmates is a Community Interest Company established in 2018 by Christine and Vicky and is now run in collaboration with its steering group and strategic board. The aim of Safe Soulmates is to provide a safe space for people to socialise, as well as to support friendships and relationships to develop in a safe way.
Every Soulmate has been met on Zoom or in real life and, due to our application process, we know that everyone is who they say they are. Without exception, everyone is a genuinely lovely person, who just wants to find new friends or that special someone.
If you live in Cambridgeshire and you have an additional need, such as autism, a learning disability or even if you are just incredibly nervous of dating and meeting new people, please get in touch, we are here to help you. friendships.
In 2017, the founders of Safe Soulmates, Christine and Vicky, determined that they should start Safe Soulmates. It took another year of planning and research and fundraising to finally begin.
Vicky, until April 2021, was also the Befriending and Family support Co-ordinator at Eddie’s, a Cambridgeshire wide disability charity. The befriending scheme involved matching volunteers with adults with additional needs, in order for them to grow a supportive befriender/befriendee friendship and enjoy fun activities in the community.
Christine was a befriender to Lizzie on this scheme. After doing great things together – theatre trips, make-up afternoons, walks with the dog, to name but a few – Lizzie told Christine that she would like to start dating and mentioned that she had tried to do this online with no success. Christine joyfully told her that she would help her with her dream, but after hours and days of trying, came across nothing in Cambridgeshire suitable to help.
In 2017, the founders of Safe Soulmates, Christine and Vicky, determined that they should start Safe Soulmates. It took another year of planning and research and fundraising to finally begin.
Vicky, until April 2021, was also the Befriending and Family support Co-ordinator at Eddie’s, a Cambridgeshire wide disability charity. The befriending scheme involved matching volunteers with adults with additional needs, in order for them to grow a supportive befriender/befriendee friendship and enjoy fun activities in the community.
Christine was a befriender to Lizzie on this scheme. After doing great things together – theatre trips, make-up afternoons, walks with the dog, to name but a few – Lizzie told Christine that she would like to start dating and mentioned that she had tried to do this online with no success. Christine joyfully told her that she would help her with her dream, but after hours and days of trying, came across nothing in Cambridgeshire suitable to help.
In fact, many dating sites, claiming to be for adults with additional needs, were actually porn sites. Further research since our early beginnings has established that cat phishing (where someone pretends to be someone else, usually for financial gain) is commonplace.
Over more than a few cups of tea (and maybe a glass of prosecco) the friends who had by then known each other for 9 years, decided that, with their joint experience in the learning disability sector (in schools, the voluntary sector and as a personal assistant to an adult with additional need) and with their mutual passion to help people feel less lonely in a safe way, they would begin their journey towards making Safe Soulmates a reality.
Five years later and with funding from the National Lottery, Cambridgeshire Community Foundation, the Evelyn Trust, The Fore, Cambridgeshire County Council, East Cambs District Council and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Police Crime Commissioner, the pair, helped by volunteers, staff, a steering group and a strategic board, are running online and in person social events and chaperoning friendship and date matches regularly.
In fact, many dating sites, claiming to be for adults with additional needs, were actually porn sites. Further research since our early beginnings has established that cat phishing (where someone pretends to be someone else, usually for financial gain) is commonplace.
Over more than a few cups of tea (and maybe a glass of prosecco) the friends who had by then known each other for 9 years, decided that, with their joint experience in the learning disability sector (in schools, the voluntary sector and as a personal assistant to an adult with additional need) and with their mutual passion to help people feel less lonely in a safe way, they would begin their journey towards making Safe Soulmates a reality.
Five years later and with funding from the National Lottery, Cambridgeshire Community Foundation, the Evelyn Trust, The Fore, Cambridgeshire County Council, East Cambs District Council and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Police Crime Commissioner, the pair, helped by volunteers, staff, a steering group and a strategic board, are running online and in person social events and chaperoning friendship and date matches regularly.
To find out more about Safe Soulmates you can book an appointment with Vicky and Christine here.