Harrogate women’s community hits 1,000 members and launches app to combat isolation
A women’s community in Harrogate that has grown to over 1,000 members since launching in September 2025 has officially launched its own dedicated app, designed not to increase screen time, but to encourage more face-to-face connection.
Harrogate Bee Social, which brings together women aged 18 to 80 across the district, unveiled the app on 14 March as the next stage in its rapid growth.
While many digital platforms focus on online interaction, the Harrogate Bee Social app has a different purpose.
It enables members to book events, join interest groups and receive updates more easily, with the clear intention of helping women step confidently into real-world social spaces.
Since its launch just six months ago, the community has expanded quickly, now hosting over 25 in-person events every month across Harrogate.
These include coffee mornings, creative workshops, wellness sessions, cinema trips and social evenings, all designed to be welcoming for women attending alone.
Jane Gregory, Founder of Harrogate Bee Social, said: “When we launched in September, we wanted to create something simple, a space where women could meet face-to-face and feel part of their local community.
“Reaching over 1,000 members in such a short space of time shows there is a real appetite for that.
"The app is just a tool to make things easier - the real impact happens in the room.”
Harrogate Bee Social works closely with a number of local hospitality venues to deliver its varied programme of events.
It recently collaborated with Harrogate BID during Self Care Week, reinforcing the link between community connection and wellbeing in the town.
Members say the community has had a significant impact.
One member said: “I joined knowing nobody and was nervous about going on my own.
"Within one evening I felt completely at ease – it’s changed my social life.”
Another member added: “It’s easy to feel connected online but still be lonely – this has given me proper friendships.”
Harrogate Bee Social offers a rare cross-generational space in the town, bringing together women who might otherwise never meet.
The launch of the app marks a new chapter for the organisation as it continues to grow while keeping its focus firmly on in-person interaction.
For more information about Harrogate Bee Social, visit www.harrogatebeesocial.co.uk