Fostering friendships through tabletop gaming

Sophie Gawryla, Trustee and Demogod at VoNCon, explores how board games create space for real connections and how coming together in social spaces can positively impact both physical and mental health.

Think back to the start of the week.

You spoke to people all day – meetings, emails, quick chats in the kitchen, a passing greeting with your neighbour on the walk home. And yet, somehow, it still felt a bit…quiet. 

It’s a strange feeling. Being surrounded by people, living in an increasingly connected world, and still finishing the week with a sense that something’s missing. It’s not always an intense sense of loneliness, just a gap where a feeling of truly connecting with someone should be, but isn’t. 

And it’s more common than we tend to admit. In fact, loneliness will cast a shadow over most of us at some point in our lives. 

Across the UK, more and more adults are reporting feeling lonely and isolated. Not because they don’t interact with people, but because the kind of interactions that fill our days don’t always leave room for anything deeper. 

Over time, that absence of connection can begin to take its toll, affecting our mood, our sleep, and our overall sense of wellbeing. 

It doesn’t affect everyone in the same way, either. For some, it’s tied to the stage of life we find ourselves in: older adults are more vulnerable to health changes if they are socially isolated, whereas lonely parents might find themselves at the GP more often or with an increased likelihood of experiencing depression. For others, it depends on where they live or whether they are suffering from a long-term health condition. 

But beyond the data, there’s something simpler: people need to feel a connection with other people and their community. And in the hustle and bustle of life, that’s often harder to find than it should be. 

Because meaningful connections rarely come from forcing small talk. It tends to happen when you least expect it – when there’s something else to focus on, or something shared. 

A game, for example. 

There’s a reason board games have always brought people together. They are a way in, a reason to sit down at the same table without the pressure of knowing exactly what to say. Conversation just flows more naturally when it doesn’t have to carry the weight of the whole interaction. 

What’s interesting is that research is beginning to support this. Studies suggest that board gaming can help reduce feelings of loneliness by creating low-pressure environments for interaction. A shared goal, a bit of light competition or cooperative play can make it easier for people to relax in each other’s company.  

Over time, that matters more than we might think. Regular, low-pressure social interactions have been shown to strengthen relationships and build a sense of belonging, particularly for adults who might otherwise struggle to find spaces where they feel comfortable showing up as their true self. 

Whether it’s improving interpersonal relationships and mental health in older adults, creating more accessible social environments for neurodivergent people, or simply giving someone a reason to leave the house and feel happier doing so – it all adds up. 

In other words, it’s not just about the game. It’s about what happens around it. 

And the best thing? You don’t have to be “good” at socialising. There’s no need to “perform socially” or always get it right. You just have to show up, and the gaming experience does the rest. 

That’s where VoNCon comes in. 

We’re a community organisation built around a simple idea: that real connections can start with something as small as a game. 

We host relaxed, welcoming board game sessions for adults – spaces where anyone can come along, join a table, and take part. There are no expectations, no pressure and no need to already know someone. 

Some people come because they are single parents. Some because their social circles have shifted over time. Others because they just recognise that quiet feeling and want something to change. 

What they all find is a space where conversation happens naturally and where familiar faces start to appear over time. And with that comes something more – greater confidence, more assertiveness, fewer mental health issues and better ways to cope with stress. 

It may not resolve all of those feelings of loneliness overnight. But it’s a start. 

Because real connections don’t have to be this big, intimidating thing just out of your reach. Sometimes, it begins with sitting down, picking up a card or meeple, and realising you’re not as alone as you thought. 

Sometimes, it just takes a seat at the table. 

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