Questions about Alongside, answered

Alongside is a companionship service for older people, starting in Guernsey. It introduces your mum, dad, or you to a friendly, ID-checked local nearby for a walk, a coffee, or a proper conversation. It is not a dating app and not a care service. It is free while we launch.

It exists for a simple reason: no one should feel alone in their own town. Most members are set up by a son or daughter who lives busy or far away; the older person just enjoys the company.

Safety comes first, always. Every member is a verified real person, confirmed with photo ID and a matching selfie, so there are no anonymous profiles. You approve every introduction before it begins, conversations stay inside the app, and anyone can be reported or blocked in a single tap.

Families can stay gently in the loop too: if you set Alongside up for a parent, you can see and approve who they are introduced to, and trusted-contact alerts keep you informed without taking over.

Before anyone can be introduced, every member confirms who they are with a photo ID and a matching selfie. That means no anonymous profiles, ever. It is an identity check that proves each member is a real, named person; it is not a criminal-record or background check.

No. Alongside is not a care service and does not provide personal care, medical help, or housekeeping. It is community companionship: a friendly, ID-checked local nearby for a walk, a coffee, and a good conversation. It can sit warmly alongside any care your parent already receives.

No. Alongside is not a dating app. It is friendly, local companionship for older people: a walk, a coffee, a proper chat. Many members are set up by their family, and you approve every introduction before it begins, so everyone knows exactly what it is. Good company, close to home.

Alongside is free while we launch. Joining is free, and so is being told the day we reach your town. We’ll always show simple, fair pricing clearly before anyone pays a penny, and you’ll never be charged without choosing to.

Yes, and many families do exactly that. You can join on your parent’s behalf, help them get started, and stay gently in the loop. Your parent always says yes themselves before anything begins, and you approve every introduction, so you both feel comfortable from day one.

That’s fine, and it’s very common. A son, daughter, or another trusted person can set everything up on their behalf and help along the way. Your parent only needs to say yes themselves and then enjoy the company. Every screen is kept large, clear, and simple for older eyes.

A friendly local who lives nearby and enjoys the same things: a walk, a chat, a proper cup of tea. Every member is a verified real person, confirmed with photo ID and a matching selfie, and you approve the match before anything begins.

Simple, everyday things: a thirty-minute walk, a proper coffee, a real conversation. Alongside is about gentle, regular company close to home, not big outings or organised activities. It often starts with one short walk and, before long, becomes a friendship.

We’re launching in Guernsey, in the Channel Islands, first, then arriving across the UK town by town. Tell us your town and we’ll save you a place right at the front of the queue for the day we reach you.

Befriending services do wonderful work, usually through scheduled volunteer visits. Alongside is a little different: it introduces your parent to an ID-checked local for everyday company that fits around both of their lives, with family able to set it up, approve every introduction, and stay in the loop.

Start small and steady: a regular phone call at the same time each week, one standing arrangement that gives the diary a fixed point, and company built around things they already love. Regular beats grand. We’ve written a full practical guide for families, and in Guernsey, Alongside itself can be one of the answers.

The full guide: how to help an elderly parent who is lonely.

Alongside is free while we launch, and you can set it up for a parent in a few minutes. Check your town to save a place at the front of the queue, or read our practical guide for families of a lonely parent.