Tips on how to start your own club and stay connected to your community, from people who've done it.
Sharon created the Shorehaven Yarners to rebuild her social life in a new community. The group was a great success, and now regularly meets to share skills, build connections, and support each other.
Now Sharon wants to share how she made it happen, so you can make it happen too. She's developed a tipsheet for anyone wishing to start up a new community group.
10 steps to begin, grow, and keep a community group
By the Shorehaven Yarners
- Start with a small post on your neighbourhood’s Facebook community page. In the post, ask if anyone would be interested in meeting once a week to do an activity. For example, to knit, crochet, have a coffee, read books, swap recipes, or do whatever interests you. There will definitely be a few responses (or a lot).
- Now you can make the arrangements. Pick a venue. Choose a day and time. Book a table. If it’s a cafe, it’s a good idea to ask permission to bring craft items.
- Let everyone who responded to your post know where to come and when.
- Turn up. Be prepared to wait, as everyone will be a bit nervous and no one will want to be the first one to arrive.
- Take a prop to place on your table. For example, a basket of yarn, stack of books, or whatever represents your new group. This is so everyone knows which table to go to.
