The Friendshift Circle (Meet, Learn, Belong)

"This is the best thing I've taken part in, in a long time."

"What stood out to me is how each of you listened deeply and added your own perspective. That’s the kind of learning community that helps everyone grow."

"Excellent class. I learnt absolutely loads!"

We're building brilliant friendships, together!

If you’re someone who self-describes as thoughtful, genuine, independent yet still deeply loyal to the people you care about, then welcome! Founded in 2024 by leading friendship and connection coach Hannah Carmichael OBE, ‘The Friendshift Circle’ is a safe, cosy corner of the internet where people who value depth and authenticity can support one another as they learn how to build enjoyable, trust-based connections which fit their lives ‘as they are now.’

What's it all about?

Through regular community gatherings (online), and conversations in our moderated community space, The Friendshift Circle brings together people who like / need their own space, and yet would secretly like to have closer, more emotionally connected relationships, and to feel more valued, supported and understood in their day to day lives. People who prefer lower key ways of socialising (think smaller groups, slower pace, deeper conversations) and who want to learn how to build authentic, heart-felt connections in a way which honours their natural energy levels. It's a bit like sitting round a campfire with people you don't know - there's something about the warmth and the glow that builds closeness and makes it easier to share what's on your mind.

Whether you’re are looking to make new friends, get advice on how to handle a specific issue in one of your friendships, feel more confident in social situations, become more vulnerable and authentic without getting hurt, or want to build more depth and connection into your existing friendships, we're here to support, guide and be there for you when you need us, as you go on your journey at your own pace.

Whatever your circumstances, when you join The Friendshift Circle you’ll join a community of others who are also busy working out what they need from their friendships NOW, and how to nurture new and existing connections into enjoyable, authentic, emotionally intelligent relationships. It's normal to talk about friendship here - and about our relationships with colleagues, neighbours, family members, and even random strangers, too. We talk about what's going well, what we're finding difficult, and work out what we need to do differently to create the conditions for more authentic, meaningful friendships to flourish.

Sometimes we don't talk - because we know that isn't everyone's cup of tea. You can listen in, explore, take in what others have said. Ultimately, this is your journey, and it's important you're able to do it in a way that feels comfortable for you. There’s no pressure to get involved, but if you’d like to, then we’re here.

There’s lots of learning you can do by yourself too. You'll get advice and support in our community, and via our regular community gatherings (and other events). But when you join The Friendshift Circle, you'll automatically get access to my Friendship Accelerator toolkit, packed full of videos, frameworks, worksheets, and exercises to help you fast track your way to deeper and better friendships. And there's a growing resource library too, where I'll pop recordings of useful sessions, and other bits and pieces too.

Who will I meet here?

People in our community come from all walks of life, and from all over the world. Most of our members are aged 30 and over. Some self-describe as introverts, HSPs or just know that they prefer socialising 1-1 or in smaller groups, and deeper conversations. They like doing shared activities with the people they care about, alongside having rich, meaningful, interesting conversations where people are inclusive and respectful towards one another.

Many of the people in our community are single, live alone, and / or have specific reasons for seeking out new friendships independently from their romantic partners. All of us value our independence, and need space and time to ‘reset’ after social occasions.

Some of our community are facing additional challenges when it comes to connection-building. They are managing the impacts of neurodivergent conditions, and / or are living with chronic health conditions.

The thing we all have in common is that our friendships have changed (or are changing) in some way. Some people have moved to a new area and need to build a new social circle from scratch. Some have come through a major life change such as divorce, separation, retirement, bereavement, or children leaving home, and are rethinking what they need from their friendships. Some people have been let down by old friends, and have realised they need something different. Perhaps it's not their lives that have changed, but those of the people around them – a lot of people join us when their friends start settling down and having children, for example.

Whatever their starting point, our members are thoughtful, curious, and have an appetite for learning. They want to navigate the changes in their friendship circles with confidence, and create deeper connection in their lives. Some are starting to explore a more spiritual side of themselves too. All of us like ideas that can be put into practice, and we all share a keenness to get to the heart of how healthy, trust-based connections get made.

PLEASE NOTE

This isn’t a dating site. There are plenty of those out there already. We moderate all conversations, and ask the members of our community to be mindful, respectful, and to stay focused on the reason we’re all here – to build incredible friendships.

Our values matter to us. These include kindness, inclusion, courage, and a focus on growth.

What’s included in my membership?

• Live lunchtime sessions at least twice a month (Wednesday midday UK time) with Hannah where we look at different aspects of building more authentic friendships. Join like-minded people as we tackle the benefits and challenges of making friends as adult, specifically when you’re trying to balance your need for ‘reset’ time with your desire for connection.
• A NEW private, moderated online community space exclusively for paying members where we can carry on the conversation in between sessions. It’s also where you’ll share your thoughts, ask for advice and support, help others, and make new connections (hosted on Mighty Networks)
• Full access to my comprehensive ‘Friendship Accelerator’ toolkit, giving you the frameworks, insights, and practical strategies you need to fast track you to more meaningful friendships, without getting burnt out or being someone you're not.
• Ad hoc events – including guest speakers, meditation circles, ‘lives’ responding to questions that have come up in the community, and ‘pilots’ of new workshops and courses before they’re released
• Generous members-only discounts on in-person events
• Access to session recordings for those who can’t attend live, plus additional resources, including mini-courses, videos, articles, assessment tools.
• As our community grows, you’ll also be able to see who lives near you – opening up the possibility of making real-world connections as well

How do I join?

Just click 'join this group' to begin your two week free trial! On joining, you’ll get immediate access to all Friendshift Circle events, and can join any that you like. Within 48 hours, you’ll get a separate link to my coaching platform (hosted by via Mighty Networks), which is where I host The Friendshift Circle community space, with details on how to log in. That’s where you’ll find our private community space, resource library, the Friendship Accelerator Toolkit – and lots more! At the end of the two weeks, you'll be reminded to set up your monthly sub (currently $12 a month, adjusted regularly to be equivalent to approx. £10 a month). Pay monthly, stay as long as you like, cancel any time. Please note that you will lose access to events, all course materials and our community space within a few days once you cancel your membership.

(*you can also join directly via Mighty Networks WITHOUT using MeetUp for a fixed price of £10 a month).

Why do you charge for membership?

We charge for membership to The Friendshift Circle becomes it takes time and care to organise community gatherings and events, and to spark and moderate conversations. Members subs allow us to compensate our team for their work, to organise new high quality events, and to keep the space safe and inclusive for everyone. We also know from experience that paying members are more likely to be committed, more likely to be engaged, and more likely to stick around - allowing us to create that awesome community feel we're looking for.

Why ‘Friendshift?’

‘Friendshift’ is a play on the word ‘friendship’ and represents what we’re all trying to achieve – a shift towards better, more aligned, more authentic relationships with the people who make up a significant part of our everyday lives.

Why should I join the Friendshift Circle community?

• A unique kind of space. There are very few online communities dedicated to helping people building better friendships, and this is the best.
• World-class leadership. Hannah is a thoughtful, empathic, deeply knowledgeable facilitator who is highly sought after. Both plans represent incredible value for the level of insight and leadership Hannah brings to the Friendshift Circle community and for the access you’ll get to her online programmes as well.
• Community-led learning – you’ll learn through sharing your own stories and by helping others navigate their own friendship dilemmas within a supportive, moderated community. You’ll also help shape the agenda for future sessions, content, workshops, lives etc by letting Hannah know what’s most on your mind.
• Masses of content. Because content has been added to the community and programme since we started, the monthly membership fee now represents unbelievable value.
• An opportunity to get a sense of how Hannah works without a more substantial financial commitment.

Who is Hannah Carmichael OBE?
Hannah Carmichael OBE is a down-to-earth, yoga-loving mum-of-one with ADHD and a serious coffee addiction. She's also a sought-after coaches for introverts, deep thinkers, independent souls, and neurodivergent types - plus plenty of others who are just curious about how to build more authentic, supportive relationships! Hannah is known for helping her clients grow their confidence and make transformational changes in the quality of their closest connections. As a regular podcast guest, speaker, and radio show contributor, Hannah delights in sharing what she knows about how to build brilliant friendships, as well as her own transformational story. She loves nothing more than to see thoughtful, reflective types like herself find the strength to show up fully as themselves, and to draw supportive, giving, mutually enjoyable relationships into their lives. She believes in keeping her work accessible, affordable and focused on solutions.

"I started The Friendshift Circle because I understand the incredible importance of having genuine connections for our health and happiness, and I know how much harder it can be to find those connections as we get older. The community has been a dream for a while - a private space for people like us to learn how to cultivate lasting, fulfilling friendships, without fear of judgement. I'm SO excited that The Friendshift Circle is finally becoming a reality, and I can't wait to join you there!"