Group ideas

lala1974

Hello folks,

I wonder if you can give me some ideas/inspiration?
I'm mostly a lurker but post occasionally too.
I've been asked to consider running some groups in my area. They need to appeal to all ages (20 - 120)! There are no other limits. Access to the groups will be free of charge with no obligations to attend regularly.

I am thinking about a recipe swapping group - in the style of OS I would ask the group to bring in there favourite recipes using value/own brand items and things that are easily accessible and fairly simple to make. Our more experienced cooks can share their expertise with some of the less experienced and they might even be able to feed back to each other if they've had a go at a meal in between meetings. I thought I may be able to produce a recipe file after a few months for everyone to have (the recipes can be named after the chef)! I'd love your thoughts on this.

I'm also thinking about a book club with books that can be loaned from local libraries. Arts and crafts are something else I'll be looking at - supplies for the activities will be free to the attendees too.

Any other suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

Thank you :A

Toxic_Lemon

I think you need something to bring people in for and just bringing a recipe in, when there are millions available on the Internet at home, wouldn't be enough, I don't think.

Perhaps a bread-making or pastry-making lesson or demo would be a start. Something visual that would make people want to attend and build on that.

beverley1471

Have you thought about a knitting/craft club? The americans call these stitch and !!!!! clubs apparently, as you knit, sew and gossip.

kittycat204

lovely ideas, thinking of what else you could bring to the group.
gift ideas to make to give to people. there are lots of thread around. make your own facemask/beauty products, eg a salt hand scrub, oat facemask. discuss small scale gardening, herbs, and recipes that use them. cleaning hints and tips, there are some lovely ideas on pinterest as well as on here. a verbal ready steady cook, let people learn of one another how ingredients can be used and stretched to save money.
you could ask the group and find areas that would interest them, or even take a session if they are feeling brave. even if it was 5-10 minutes to small groups and rotate.

terra_ferma

Maybe something like a challenge, e.g. cook a meal for 4 people for £10 (or similar depending on who your target audience is).
Would you have access to cooking facilities? I think talking about recipes without actually preparing meals may be a bit difficult.

What about things like growing your own vegetables indoors (window sill, sprouting).
Or having someone to give talks, like fire brigade on fire protection, community police on how to keep your home safe etc.

HTH hope this suggestions are not too silly for what you are trying to achieve

lala1974

Thank you for these ideas! They are all great and have appeal across the range. The idea is to reduce isolation of individuals who are at risk of it otherwise.

I might be in a position to ask tutors to come in and give demonstrations and short starter classes that the groups can develop as a result of them. Ideally they will become self facilitated with the support from me in the background if they feel there is something that would be useful for them to access that I can find for them.

Thank you again folks :A:A:A