- Women only
- Friendship, not dating
- Free to join
- Local guide
- October 21, 2026
Make Friends After 40 in Derby by Taking Up Something New
Derby’s 40-to-49 population is a touch above the regional average as a share, so the newcomer at a Saturday run or a first swim is rarely the only one.
17,700+
women in Derby were in their 40s at mid-2025, by ONS estimates
12.8%
of the city’s population is in its 40s, against 12.3% regionwide, ONS mid-2025 estimates
31%
is how many Derby households hold just one resident; regionally 29% (Census 2021, ONS)
Derby is a good city for a first 5k
Starting a new sport in your 40s is a reliable way to meet people in Derby, because everyone in a beginners’ group starts from the same place. Alvaston parkrun starts each Saturday at 9am, Moorways Sports Village has a 50m pool, and the Collaboration Choir takes singers without auditions on Monday nights. If you have wanted to make friends after 40 without forcing it, a shared beginner’s struggle helps. Gofrendly can also put you in touch with a Derby training partner close by.
Derby and starting fresh in your 40s: answers
Is 40-something too late to start running in Derby?
Not at all. Alvaston parkrun in Derby is open to walkers, joggers and runners, and it costs nothing once you have registered. Plenty of people take part in their 40s, and turning up most Saturdays is enough for faces to become familiar and for a post-run coffee to happen naturally.
What pools are there in Derby for adult swimmers?
Moorways Sports Village, which opened on Moor Lane in Derby in 2022, has a ten-lane 50m pool that can be split into three sections, plus a learner pool and a water park. It is a sensible base if you want regular lane swimming or adult lessons in Derby.
How do women in Derby meet a workout partner?
Gofrendly is a women-only friendship app, so you can look for women around you in Derby and message someone who wants the same beginner goal, whether that is a first 5k or regular lengths. Agreeing a fixed weekly time helps you both keep going.
When does Derby's no-audition choir rehearse?
The Collaboration Choir Derby meets on Mondays from 8pm to 9.30pm at St John’s Methodist Church, and it says no auditions or singing experience are needed. A free trial lets you see whether it suits you before committing to membership in Derby.
Derby's beginner-friendly habits
Engineering, the hospital and the university shape much of Derby’s working life. If a job brought you here in your 40s, you may have a settled routine and few local friends, and a new sport cuts neatly through all of that. Your first parkrun and your first length of front crawl will not be pretty, and that is fine; the people around you tend to be the same each week, which is exactly how acquaintances become friends.
If evenings have started to feel a little lonely, set yourself a beginner’s goal with a date on it, such as a first 5k, a mile of swimming or a concert with a choir. Goals hand you a ready topic and a reason to come back. Libraries such as Springwood and Sinfin also want volunteers for one session a week, a gentler option for weeks when training does not fit. A few starting points:
1
Alvaston parkrun in Alvaston Park, timed and free, starting at 9am on Saturdays.
2
Moorways Sports Village on Moor Lane, opened in 2022 with a 50m pool and a learner pool.
3
The Collaboration Choir Derby, which needs no audition or singing experience.
4
Pickford’s House, a Derby Museums house where volunteers welcome visitors between Tuesday and Saturday.
5
Derby Libraries at Springwood and Sinfin, which have asked for volunteers to help run activities.
LOCAL TIP
Set a beginner’s goal for spring and tell one new face about it.
How to
Derby friendships through a new sport: four steps
1
Walk, jog or run the Alvaston 5k one Saturday, then linger for the catch-up afterwards.
2
Sign up for a run of adult swimming sessions at Moorways and keep to one regular weekly slot.
3
Message Derby women on Gofrendly who want a running or swimming buddy for the same goal.
4
Try a free first rehearsal with the Collaboration Choir on a Monday at 8pm.
Read this while you lace up
Who wrote this Derby page for new starters
Gofrendly founders Claudia Gård and Ulrika Lilja, together with our editors, built this Derby page around new starters: women in their 40s taking up a sport or hobby and meeting people while they learn.
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.
Find women near you
See who’s nearby and say hi — it’s free to start.