History of Safe Soulmates

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.

Eight years later and with funding from many supporters, the organisations has grown to provide opportunities for members to create and deliver training, whilst still providing plenty of socials where new friendships are made.