Essex divorcee shares her top tips for making friends

Chantelle Dyson, 28, started helping women with their loneliness when she ended her seven-year relationship in September 2019 and found herself single at 26.

After realising she was one of the only single women in her friendship group, she found it hard to adjust to being alone again.

But after finding herself and becoming comfortable in being alone, she became a certified life coach and started a community to bring other single women together.

Now she shares her top tips - encouraging people to go and do something by themselves - and organises meet ups to bring women together.

Chantelle, a supply teacher, from Chelmsford, Essex, said: “I really struggled when I came out of my marriage because you lose that person that you go to for everything.

No longer lonely - Charlotte Dyson

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“I had been with him my whole adult life, so it was an adjustment and hard because lots of my friends were then all in relationships and starting families.

“But I realised that friendship can be the answer to loneliness. I also got more comfortable in myself and doing things by myself.

“Of course, I still love doing things with my friends but if they’re busy with their partners then it shouldn’t stop you going to that concert or having that picnic in the park.”

Chantelle created her platform ‘The single girls club’ in April 2021 and was shocked at the response.

“I wanted to create a place for lots of women like me to have others in a similar position to talk to,” she said.

“It really grew, and we started doing online and then in person meet-ups.”

Happy - Charlotte Dyson, from Essex

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It’s been a personal development journey for Chantelle too who has found comfort and self-worth in being single.

“I’m not putting pressure on myself to find anyone now,” she said. “I’m enjoying my best single life.”

Chantelle has gone to festivals by herself, travelled around the country to go to gigs and had a solo picnic in the park.

“It forces you to have some conversations with people if you're at a festival on your own for example,” she said.

“It’s good to have you time - I’ll also go all out with fairy lights, and snacks for a movie night by myself.

“I try life live now by thinking: 'If I died tomorrow would I be happy with my life?'”