Emily O'Connor is the face behind the Girls Collective, a not-for-profit social group helping women to make friends in Chester.

The University of Chester alumni founded the group this summer, as she navigated post-graduate life and her own feelings of loneliness.

Having remained in the city after finishing her degree, she struggled to adjust as friends moved away for work.

The 22-year-old told Nub News: "I started a new job and I was the youngest person there. Once I realised I wasn't going to make any new friends at work, I got lonely really quickly because it all happened at once."

One night, she posted a video on TikTok detailing her plans to create a platform where women could make friends in Chester. 

The Girls Collective is a not-for-profit social group helping women to make friends in Chester (Image supplied)

"I got home from my job and I was so upset because I had nothing to do," she said.

"I hadn't washed my hair, I was still in my work clothes, and had to wear my glasses because I had been crying. I put a video out and just said I am really lonely, I'm hoping there are other lonely people there too. Here's a space that we can maybe not be lonely together.

"That was terrifying to put it out there but I'm glad and proud I did."

What was initially a spur of the moment cry for help soon snowballed, with numbers of women sharing they were also experiencing the same thing. 

The Girls Collective was formed soon after, with its first social event taking place at Storyhouse.

The not-for-profit group is entirely led by volunteers (Image supplied)

Emily added: "It was crazy because at that point I realised there were so many girls who wanted the same thing. I just knew it was worth doing.

"What we offer is a guarantee that at some point you will meet someone. We constantly put on so many events on different days at different times and so many new girls come through."

With weekly meet-ups taking place at various venues across Chester, Emily hosts socials in a variety of settings - from pub quizzes and dance classes to craft nights at Storyhouse. The only requirement is that attendees are over 18.

Emphasising how many of the events are free, Emily said: "You shouldn't really have to pay to make friends. It should be free and it should be however much you want to pay but there should be a space where you can meet someone."

The not-for-profit group is entirely led by volunteers, with Emily and her small cohort of organisers planning and running each event in their spare time.

The Girls Collective hosts a number of free events in Chester each week (Image supplied)

Revealing she was "absolutely terrified" to post the original video, Emily reflected on the vulnerability it took to finally admit she was feeling lonely in her twenties.

She referred to other women having commended her confidence in doing so, as she said: "It would have never crossed my mind that this time last year I would have put myself out there so vulnerably.

"The difference in my confidence and my mindset has changed so much since meeting the girls. The confidence that has skyrocketed onto all of us is incredible to see. It has completely changed my life.

"I am proud but I know I also needed it as much as anybody else."

The Girls Collective hosts a number of free events in Chester each week. You can learn more about the group or find their next meet-up here.