What if very few people turn up to the meet up?
It happens, and it is not a reflection on you or your organising. Some people say they will come and then get cold feet at the last moment. For survivors especially, the thought of meeting strangers in a new setting can feel daunting, even when they genuinely want to come. It does not mean they will not come next time.
A few things help reduce no-shows: give plenty of notice, send a reminder a few days before, and make the venue easy to reach. If only one other person turns up, that is still a meet up worth having. Some of the most meaningful conversations in SCA UK history have been between just two people in a pub.
If you do not want to go ahead with just one or two people, it is fine to reschedule rather than cancel outright. And if you feel disheartened, post in our community — others who have organised events will understand and can offer encouragement.
Category: Meet Ups and EventsHow do I let people know about a regional meet up?
Post in our community at least a month before the date. This is the most effective way to reach local members. Let us know and we can also share it through our wider channels to help spread the word.
A few other things that help:
- Give people a clear date, time, and location from the start. Vague plans rarely attract commitment.
- If you are undecided on the date, offer two or three options and use a simple polling tool like Doodle to find what works for most people.
- Send a reminder a week before and again a few days before. People are busy and diaries move around.
- If your area has a local cardiac rehabilitation service, they may also be willing to mention the event to relevant patients.
What is the best type of venue for a meet up?
A pub with a quiet area or private room is often the best choice, and it is where SCA UK started. Pubs are usually easy to reach, accommodating, and do not require everyone to buy much to justify the space. A café with a quieter section, a community centre, or a hospital meeting room (if someone has a contact there) all work well too.
Key things to consider when choosing a venue:
- Public transport access. Many survivors cannot drive, either permanently or during a DVLA suspension period. A venue that is hard to reach without a car will exclude people.
- Noise level. Loud background music makes conversation difficult and can be stressful. Aim for somewhere you can actually hear each other.
- Seating arrangement. A round table or a space where people can see each other works far better than a long narrow table.
- Flexibility. Choose somewhere that will not rush you out if the conversation is still going after an hour.
Google Maps is useful for checking travel times and transport options from different postcodes before you decide. Tripadvisor can help you check that a venue is accessible and well-reviewed before committing.
Category: Meet Ups and EventsDo I need permission from SCA UK to organise a meet up?
No. Regional meet ups are community-led and anyone can organise one. You do not need to be an official SCA UK volunteer or have any formal role. If you want to bring a few local members together, you are welcome to go ahead.
That said, we are happy to support you. Let us know you are planning something by posting in our community, and we can help you promote it to members in your area. We can also share it via our wider communication channels if helpful.
Category: Meet Ups and EventsHow many people do I need to start a regional meet up?
Three or four people is plenty to start. You do not need a crowd. The very first SCA UK meet up, in a London pub in February 2015, had thirteen people and it changed the course of all of them. Many regional meet ups since have started with far fewer.
If you can find two or three others in your area who want to come, you have everything you need. Post in our community to gauge interest, check the member map to see who is near you, and go from there. Numbers often grow naturally once people see that it actually happened.
Category: Meet Ups and Events