Resource for Groups
Keeping Up A Group
There’s quite a lot to be done to keep your group going after a while but none of it is too much if you share the work between you. You need to decide:
The aim of the group
- Do you want to focus on the same activity every time you meet?
- Or do you want to try out different activities at different meetings?
- Do you want to keep some meetings aside for a social lunch or an outing?
- Will you have an outside professional provider or a speaker? How often? What can you afford?
You can always agree changes after a while. The next job is to think about:
Practical matters
- How often do you want to meet?
- Where will you meet?
- Who will make the arrangements and book ahead?
- Who will collect the subscriptions and look after the money or bank it?
- Who will pay for the venue and how? By cash or cheque?
- Who will prepare the room, chairs, and tables, if necessary?
- How will you decide each week’s activities?
- Who will book outside providers, visiting speakers, outings?
- Are you going to apply for a grant to help pay for extra things?
- Have you made a list of each others’ skills and experience?
- How will you keep in touch to check if people are coming each time?
- Will you keep an ‘Information Book’ to record meetings and contacts?
- How much subscription will you pay each week?
- Will you limit the group to just a few people or will you encourage new people to join you?
Sharing the jobs
You might want to share the jobs out by:
- Money
- Transport
- Venue
- Equipment and materials
- Activities
- Tea, coffee, milk and biscuits
