Why The Week Club works

The Week Club is built around a simple idea: friendships form through repeated, low-pressure time with the same people. Below is the research that supports the design.

The core principle

Most adult social options optimise for novelty: new faces, new rooms, new conversations. That can be fun — but it’s the opposite of what friendships need. The Week Club optimises for familiarity (same people, weekly, for six weeks).

Repetition Proximity Time investment Low pressure
1) Time together predicts closeness

Research on friendship formation suggests that closeness tends to require meaningful time and repeated interaction. The Week Club intentionally creates that “time budget” through weekly structure.

“It takes about 50 hours to move from acquaintance to casual friend…”
Source: University of Kansas summary of Hall’s research (2018): KU Today

This is why “one-off socials” often feel pleasant but don’t stick. They don’t create enough repeated time with the same people.

“About 200 hours is needed for best friends.”
Same source link above.
2) Familiarity increases liking

The “mere exposure effect” is the basic idea that repeated exposure tends to increase positive feelings. The Week Club’s “same group, weekly” design leans into this.

“Attitudinal effects of mere exposure.”
Source: Zajonc (1968) overview/record: Semantic Scholar  | Related review PDF: Stang (1975)
3) Proximity matters more than people admit

When it’s easy to see each other again, relationships grow. When it’s hard, they fade — even if you like each other. That’s why The Week Club matches by location and chooses simple local activities.

“A study of human factors in housing.”
Source: Festinger, Schachter & Back (propinquity / housing): Summary / record
4) The context: loneliness is real

People often assume “I’m the only one struggling.” They’re not. UK national statistics track loneliness and related wellbeing indicators over time.

UK Office for National Statistics (loneliness topic hub): ONS Loneliness datasets
Want to be part of the first groups?

If you’re ready to commit weekly for six weeks, Founding Members is the simplest way to start. If you’re not ready yet, register your interest and we’ll keep you updated.