Help shape Sapphic Sphere

Why can it still be so difficult to make real friends as an adult?

Sapphic Sphere is being created as a more intentional way for women to find their people, connect through shared interests and experiences, and build friendships that have the space to grow.

Before its shape is finalised, the women it is being created for should have a say.

Your answers will help shape The Centre, Sapphic Sphere’s Interest Circles, the experiences offered and the way the community launches.

There are no right answers. Disagreement, uncertainty and enthusiasm are equally valuable. The aim is to understand what women genuinely think.

Estimated completion time: 5–7 minutes

Begin questionnaire

01 / 08

Where are you now?

Let’s start with your experience of friendship today.

1. Which best describes your friendships and social connections at the moment?

Single choice — required

Strong friendships and a good sense of connection Some valued connections, with room for deeper friendships Good friends, with an interest in meeting more women who share my interests Changed circumstances, with friendships now being rebuilt A sense of not yet having found my people

2. Which, if any, of these life changes have affected your friendships or desire for connection?

Select all that apply — optional

Moving home or a change in local surroundings The end of, or a change in, a relationship or important friendship Changes in family or parenting circumstances Bereavement or another significant life change Evolving interests, priorities or outlook Existing friendships no longer feeling like the right fit No significant change — simply wanting more meaningful friendships Something else

Tell us more.

Required only when “Something else” is selected.

3. What feels hardest about making meaningful friendships as an adult?

Long answer — required

Say as much or as little as you like.

02 / 08

What are you looking for?

Imagine your friendships feeling more fulfilling a year from now.

4. What would have changed?

Long answer — required

5. Which of these would make the biggest difference to you?

Single choice — required

A few genuinely close friends you can rely on People to spend time with regularly Women who share your interests and outlook Being part of a community where you feel known and recognised Something else

Tell us more.

Required only when “Other” is selected.

6. What most often gets in the way of making new friendships?

Single choice — required

Not knowing where to meet compatible people Groups feeling intimidating or difficult to join One-off meetings rarely developing into ongoing friendships Too few opportunities to see the same people regularly Something else

Tell us more.

Required only when “Other” is selected.

03 / 08

Testing the idea

First, here is what Sapphic Sphere is intended to be.

Sapphic Sphere is being created as a private membership community for lesbian and bisexual women who want to build genuine friendships and a stronger sense of belonging.

It is not a dating platform or another open social-media feed. The community would bring together:

The Centre — a regular gathering with introductions, conversation prompts and opportunities to meet other members.

Interest Circles — smaller groups formed around the interests members genuinely want to explore together.

Online and in-person experiences — including social gatherings, discussions, activities, learning experiences and days out, shaped by what members would make time for.

The aim is to create repeated opportunities for women to meet, recognise familiar faces and allow friendships to develop naturally over time.

7. How well does this approach match what you would want from a community?

Scale 1–5 — required

1 — Not at all5 — Very well

1 2 3 4 5

8. Which parts of this idea appeal to you most, if any?

Long answer — optional

9. What, if anything, does not appeal to you, concerns you or would make you hesitate?

Long answer — optional

Please be candid. Reservations and concerns are especially useful while Sapphic Sphere is still being shaped.

04 / 08

The Centre

The Centre is intended to be the main gathering point for the whole Sapphic Sphere community.

Rather than leaving members to navigate a large network or approach strangers alone, it would create recurring opportunities to meet through welcoming introductions, guided conversations and shared prompts.

Members could return, encounter familiar faces, discover people and activities across the community, and allow connections to develop over time.

The exact format and frequency have not been decided and will be shaped by responses to this questionnaire.

10. Based on this description, how likely would you be to take part in The Centre?

Scale 1–5 — required

1 — Very unlikely5 — Very likely

1 2 3 4 5

11. What would The Centre need to offer for you to want to return regularly?

Long answer — optional

You might consider its format, frequency, group size, structure or atmosphere.

05 / 08

Interest Circles

Interest Circles would be smaller, member-initiated spaces within Sapphic Sphere, each centred on something women want to explore together.

Members could propose a new Circle, find others who share the interest and help create, shape or lead what happens within it. Circles would develop in response to genuine member interest rather than being created in advance as a fixed collection of empty groups.

12. Which interests would you most like to explore with other women?

Select all that apply — required

What other interest would you add?

Required only when “Something else” is selected.

13. What is the one Interest Circle you would be most excited to see created?

Short answer — required

This could be one of the interests above or something more specific.

14. Which of these experiences would you be most likely to take part in?

Select all that apply — required

Small in-person gatherings Online social gatherings Walks or outdoor activities Book, film or culture discussions Creative or making activities Shared meals or food experiences Talks, workshops or learning experiences Trips, days out or local experiences Something else

What other kind of experience would interest you?

Required only when “Something else” is selected.

06 / 08

How would you take part?

Participation can take different forms, from attending activities and getting to know people to suggesting ideas or leading an Interest Circle.

Members would not be expected to organise something. The aim is for everyone to contribute in a way that feels comfortable and appropriate for them.

15. Which option best reflects how you would prefer to take part?

Single choice — required

Attending activities and getting to know other members Participating regularly and suggesting ideas Helping to organise activities after becoming comfortable in the community Creating or leading an Interest Circle or experience Another form of participation

What form of participation would suit you better?

Required only when “Another form of participation” is selected.

07 / 08

Value & membership

Sapphic Sphere is intended to be a paid membership community.

Membership would include the same core access to The Centre, Interest Circles, community experiences and opportunities to connect with other members, regardless of payment frequency.

The proposed Founding Membership prices are US$20.32 paid monthly, US$54.20 every three months or US$188.39 paid annually. These prices are still being tested and have not been finalised.

Prices are shown in USD based on your approximate location.

16. At US$20.32 per month, how does the proposed membership price feel for the community described?

Single choice — required

Lower than expected About what was expected Higher than expected, but potentially worthwhile More than would feel comfortable to spend Something else

What would you add about the proposed price?

Required only when “Something else” is selected.

17. What would Sapphic Sphere need to provide for US$20.32 per month to feel worth the cost?

Long answer — required

Consider the member experience, activities, frequency of opportunities and quality of connections.

18. If you decided to join, which payment option would you be most likely to choose?

Single choice — required

US$20.32 paid monthly — US$243.79 over 12 months US$54.20 paid every three months — US$216.79 over 12 months US$188.39 paid annually — saving US$55.40 compared with paying monthly Experience the community before choosing a payment option Paid membership would probably not be suitable

19. What, if anything, might prevent you from choosing paid membership?

Long answer — optional

This might include the price, uncertainty about the experience, available time or anything else that would affect the decision.

08 / 08

Final thoughts

20. What is the single most important thing Sapphic Sphere would need to get right?

Long answer — required

This might relate to the atmosphere, trust, opportunities to connect, activities, moderation, value or something else.

21. Is there anything this questionnaire has not asked that would be useful for Sapphic Sphere to know?

Long answer — optional

A little about you

These questions are optional. They will help show whether women of different ages and locations are looking for different things from Sapphic Sphere.

22. What age range are you in?

Single choice — optional

23. Which country and general area are you based in?

Short answer — optional

A country and nearest town, city or region are enough. Please do not provide a full address or postcode.

Your privacy

Your responses will be used to help research and shape Sapphic Sphere.

Completing this questionnaire does not automatically add you to the Sapphic Sphere Founding Waitlist or subscribe you to marketing communications.

Please read the Privacy Notice for information about how questionnaire responses are handled.