A woman has created an online group to help women make friends in the county.
Ella Sampson, 22, originally from Burgess Hill, has creates Sussex Ladies, a Facebook group exclusively for women.
She said she was inspired to create it after doing the same in Devon, where she moved in 2019 to study a journalism degree.
“I was in Plymouth when Covid hit and suddenly it was so much harder to make friends,” Ella told The Argus.
She created the group for women in Devon in January and it already has 2,500 members.
Ella said: “I come back home to Burgess Hill around once a month and talking to my mum I realised how it would be great to do the same here in Sussex.
“I have had great feedback from the Devon group, people have told me they have made lifelong friends, so I thought I’d give it a go in Sussex too.”
In Devon, Ella has organised events for the group including cocktail making workshops and classes on how to care for houseplants.
The Sussex group was set up just over a week ago and already has more than 250 members.
“It’s lovely to use social media to make a positive impact as it can be such a negative place,” Ella said.
“Women can suffer from trauma after difficult situations and this offers a safe space where women can bond.
“Ultimately I want this group to empower women. To help them feel like they are in a safe space because especially since the pandemic a lot of people are socially isolated.
“Women especially can shut themselves away and don’t have the confidence in themselves to get out there as much as men.”
Ella plans to host workshops here similar to those held in Devon.
She has held events remotely so is confident she will be capable of doing the same in Sussex while she lives in Plymouth.
Ella is now asking event organisers who would be interested in hosting events with her to get in touch.
The only requirement is that the groups are for women only.
- The group is accessible on Facebook here: https://facebook.com/groups/174074292191068/
- Organisers interested in hosting events can contact the group by email here: sussexladiescommunity@gmail.com
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