- Women only
- Friendship, not dating
- Free to join
- Local guide
- October 19, 2026
Make Friends in Skelmersdale, the North West's first new town
Nearly 11% of Skelmersdale homes are lone parents with dependent children, clearly above the North West, which means many local mums and dads may also want company.
35,400+
residents of the seven Skelmersdale wards, Ashurst to Tanhouse (Census 2021, ONS)
28%
of Skelmersdale households live in social housing, compared with 18% in the North West (ONS, 2021)
11%
of Skelmersdale households are lone parents with dependent children, against 8% for the region (Census 2021)
Skelmersdale runs through its own valley
Tawd Valley parkrun winds through Tawd Valley Park on Saturday mornings, a down-to-earth way to make friends in Skelmersdale along the river that runs through the middle of town. The Friends of Tawd Valley clear balsam from the riverbank, and the library on Southway doubles as a Lancashire warm space in winter. Gofrendly also puts Skelmersdale women in touch locally.
Skelmersdale questions from parents and newcomers
Where is Tawd Valley parkrun?
Tawd Valley parkrun is held in Tawd Valley Park in the middle of Skelmersdale every Saturday at 9am, on tarmac, gravel and grass that can get muddy after rain. Walkers and buggies are welcome, so it suits parents who want a Saturday routine.
What is happening to the Nye Bevan pool in Skelmersdale?
Nye Bevan on South Way is open, with a 25-metre main pool, a smaller learner pool and a health suite. West Lancashire Council has found that replacement leisure facilities are affordable, and a report on the future of the Skelmersdale centre goes to councillors in December 2026.
What is there to do at Beacon Country Park?
Beacon Country Park covers more than 300 acres on the slopes of Ashurst Beacon, on the Skelmersdale and Up Holland border. It has a visitor centre, nature trails, a community orchard and volunteering with the rangers, and a 2026 masterplan plans a new welcome hub.
Where do single mums in Skelmersdale find friends?
Single mums in Skelmersdale can use Gofrendly, a women-only friendship app, to spot other women living nearby and get talking before they meet. A pushchair loop of Tawd Valley Park or a weekend morning at Beacon Country Park is a simple first plan.
Skelmersdale, a 1960s new town in West Lancashire
Skelmersdale was designated a new town on 9 October 1961, the first in the North West, built around a small mining town to rehouse families from Merseyside. Its seven wards still show that history: about 28% of homes are social lets, and nearly 11% are lone parents bringing up dependent children, both well above the regional rates. When you manage childcare on your own, a familiar face at the school gate or the pool counts for a lot.
Raising children single-handed can be lonely, most of all once the children are asleep. Nye Bevan on South Way offers a main pool, a learner pool and a sauna, and a report on replacing it goes to the council in December 2026. Beacon Country Park, on the Up Holland side of town, won a 2026 Green Flag, with a visitor centre, a community orchard and trails over the hill. The library on Southway holds local history sessions most weekdays as well. Places to try:
1
Tawd Valley Park, with meadows, woodland and a heritage trail.
2
Skelmersdale Library on Southway, with local history sessions.
3
Nye Bevan pool and leisure centre on South Way.
4
Beacon Country Park, with rangers, trails and an orchard.
5
The heritage trail past the old mill ruin in Tawd Valley.
LOCAL TIP
Pull on boots for a summer balsam-bashing session with the Friends of Tawd Valley.
How to
Skelmersdale: four starting points for friendship
1
Walk the Tawd Valley parkrun course with your buggy on a Saturday.
2
Help the Friends of Tawd Valley clear balsam from the riverbank in summer.
3
Plan a Beacon Country Park walk with women from Gofrendly.
4
Swim at Nye Bevan while the children have a lesson.
A friendship formed in midlife, and a month for friends
Skelmersdale: credits for this page
Gofrendly founders Claudia Gård and Ulrika Lilja, with our editors, put together this Skelmersdale guide for women in West Lancashire who are raising children alone, renting from the council or making a fresh start.
Friendship looks different at every stage
More guides for women in this area – each with its own local advice.
Friendship looks different at every stage
More guides for women in this area – each with its own local advice.
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