Welcome To The Friendshift Circle!

Learn How To Belong

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

Welcome to The Friendshift Circle! A gentle online community learning experience for thoughtful adults aged 30+ looking for more authentic, meaningful, enjoyable friendships, and a deeper sense of connection in their lives in the round

If you’re someone who self-describes as thoughtful, genuine, independent and caring, then you're in absolutely the right place - welcome! Founded in 2024 by leading friendship and connection coach Hannah Carmichael OBE, ‘The Friendshift Circle’ is a unique online community learning experience, a safe corner of the internet where people who value depth and authenticity can learn how to build genuine, trust-based connections which fit their lives ‘as they are now.’

Friendshift 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. 

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 life in the round, the Friendshift Circle is here to put a supportive yet unintrusive framework in place for you to follow as you work towards your goals at your own pace.

  • "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."

    Regular group member

What is The Friendshift Circle?

If you’re reading this, it's because you need something different from your friendships. Perhaps you've moved to a new area and need to build a new social circle from scratch. Or you've come through a major life change such as divorce, separation, retirement, bereavement, or children leaving home, and are rethinking what you need from your friendships. Perhaps you’ve been let down by your friends one too many times, and have realised it's time to break old patterns. Perhaps it's not your life that’s changed, but those of the people around you – for example, when friends start having children. Whatever your circumstances, when you join The Friendshift Circle you’ll join a community of others who are also working out how to nurture new and existing connections into enjoyable, authentic, trust-based friendships.

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, where we're struggling, and work out what we need to do differently to create the conditions for more authentic, meaningful friendships to flourish too.

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 ways to learn here. You'll learn mainly through our regular community events led by Hannah or another expert. These might look like workshops, discussions, skills practice sessions, open Q&As or small group chats where we'll explore different aspects of what it means to build better friendships as adults. You'll also hafe the opportunity to learn from other 'Friendshifters' if you'd like to, through chats and discussions. You'll also get immediate access to the Friendship Accelerator toolkit, which has lots of useful bits and pieces which you can use to strengthen your friendships straight away, and a small yet growing learning library of slidepacks and recordings, which you can dip into at any time. (From the New Year, you'll also get automatic access to my new five part friendship-building programme - more on this to follow!)

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

The Outcomes You'll Get

  •  

    Learn More About Yourself

    Gain clear insight into exactly what's not working for you, and why. Work out what you want and need in your friendships. Learn where you're selling yourself short, where you're struggling to show up authentically, and why you keep falling into the same patterns. Learn your unique 'friendships strengths,' and how to show up in your relationships in a way which helps others see you as the thoughtful, kind, caring person that you are.

  •  

    Begin To Build Trust-Based Friendships

    You'll see changes quickly as you learn exactly how to build greater depth, meaning, honesty, enjoyment and trust into your real-world relationships. Through expert advice, clear 'how to' guidance, compassionate peer support, and lots of opportunity to put the new tools and techniques you've learnt into practice.

  •  

    Grow in Confidence, Connection and Community

    You'll start to feel empowered as you gain skills and knowledge, and as you start to experience real changes in your closest relationships. As your sense of 'connectedness' to the world at large improves, so too will your confidence in yourself as a valued, worthwhile person, and as someone who is able to navigate the ups and downs of real-life relationships with ease.

  • "Thank you so much for this amazing session. It's so comforting to know that many people struggle with the same things."

    Community member following one of our regular events

What's included in my membership?

  • Fortnightly online community learning sessions with Hannah, held on Wednesdays at midday UK time- either GMT or GMT+1 depending on the time of year) where we explore different aspects of what it means to build better friendships and to find real community. With opportunities to listen, learn, and join small group chats with other members of the community.
  • Additional ad hoc events (held at different times of the day / week) – including guest speakers, ‘lives’ responding to questions that have come up in the community, and pilots of new workshops and courses before they’re released. These are very popular!
  • Access to my 'Friendship Accelerator' toolkit, with worksheets, crib sheets, videos, and ideas for how you can improve your current friendships starting straight away.
  • A NEW private, safely moderated online community space where we can carry on the conversation in between live sessions.
  • Small (but growing) resource library with practical / 'how to' slidedecks and videos!
  • Generous members-only discounts on other courses and in-person events.
  • As our community grows, you’ll have the option to make your location available and see who lives near you too – opening up the possibility of making real-world connections as well!
  • FROM JANUARY 2026 - full access to my 5 part friendship-building course 'New Shoots, Deep Roots' - more on this to follow!

Learning Framework

All learning events build understanding around one of the following questions:

  • What do you want and need in your friendships? Where are you trying to get to?
  • How can you create the best possible conditions for healthy friendships to flourish?
  • How do you actually meet (and make meaningful connections with) like-minded people?
  • How do you turn new connections into lasting friendships?
  • What do you do when friendships go wrong?
  • How can you look after yourself while you're on your friendship-building journey?
  • How can you create a deeper sense of 'connectedness' in your life, outside of just friendship?

Previous events have include: navigating changing friendships in mid-life; how to handle gossip; shifting limiting beliefs for confidence and connection; using Myers-Briggs to build better friendships; what is ghosting and why do we do it; how to cultivate healthy, confident friendships.

How do I join?

You'll join The Friendshift Circle through a monthly subscription plan (£10 a month). Pay monthly, stay as long as you like, cancel any time. If you already have a Mighty Networks account, click here to sign in. If not, click here to create your account. Once you're in, you'll find our private community space, event details, recordings of previous sessions – and lots more! You can download the Mighty Networks app for access on-the-go. Please note that prices may change in the future. As this is a pay monthly plan, you will lose access to all course materials and our community space at the end of your billing cycle if you cancel your membership.

Who is it for?

The Friendshift Circle attracts thoughtful, independent types who are ready to develop enjoyable, supportive, trust-based relationships, and to handle some of the most common friendship challenges we all experience.

You might self-describe as an introvert, or just someone who prefers smaller groups, and deeper conversations. You're more comfortable socialising with just one other person, or in smaller groups. You like doing shared activities with the people you care about, alongside having rich, meaningful, interesting conversations where people are inclusive and respectful towards one another. 

Most of our members are aged 30 and over, but you don’t have to be. There’s no age limit on who can join The Friendshift Circle.  

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.

In the Friendshift Circle, individuality is celebrated. Many of our members have marched to their own drum, whether that means living solo, questioning social norms, or thinking outside the box. Here, independence is a strength, and authentic self-expression is always encouraged. Some come for new friends, others to enrich solo journeys - every story is welcome. Participate your way: lead a conversation, quietly observe, or start a one-on-one chat - as long as it's respectful, it’s all valued here.

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. They come from all walks of life, and from all over the world.

The thing we all have in common is that our friendships have changed (or are changing) in some way. Perhaps as a result of significant events in our own lives (such as separation or divorce, retirement or bereavement), or because other people's lives are changing around us (e.g.: friends settling down and having children). We want to navigate the changes in our friendship circles with confidence, and create deep connection in our lives. 

Whatever their starting point, our members are thoughtful, curious, and have an appetite for learning. 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. If any of this sounds like you, then you're in the right place. 

  • "I absolutely love it here so far! I've just moved to [a new area] and don't know anyone and I'm nervous about making connections. I've had a set back already and am just really trying to gain confidence or reassurance around all of this, thank you for helping me to build up my network more quickly!"

    Community member

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 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 me know what’s most on your mind.
  • Learn more about why it can be hard to build deeper connections as a thoughtful, reflective, independent types - and how to harness your personal superpowers to build enjoyable, authentic, supportive, trust-based connections
  • Begin to feel more deeply connected – to yourself, to other people, and to the world around you
  • Masses of content. With more added all the time.
  • 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 community 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 Friendshift is finally becoming a reality, and I can't wait to join you there!"

Not sure? Try it free...

Can't quite decide? With either plan, you'll get a 14 cooling off period in which you can decide whether or not The Friendshift Circle is for you. Just cancel within the 14 days, and you won't be charged. So you can come and see what we're about without paying a penny!