Keeping up a group - Joining-In - Upstream

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:

• Acitivities
• Equipment and materials
• Money  
• Tea, coffee, milk, biscuits
• Transport  
• Venue

Health & Safety

This is important in any venue you use. Always check whether a public venue such as a community hall has a Healthy & Safety policy. Upstream provides some simple guidance you might want to follow.