Group_Leisure___Travel_-_April_2020

Staying social...

Group organisers play an important role in

bringing communities together, especially people

who live on their own or those who would not

otherwise experience day trips and holidays.

We’ve put together some ideas for you to ensure

your group stays connected:

Create a WhatsApp group chat. This smart

phone app is free and can run through a phone

connection or WiFi. Perhaps the best thing

about using WhatsApp to stay connected

is the fact up to 256 people can join in on a

group conversation.

Play fun games together. There’s another smart

phone app called Houseparty which not only

allows users to send messages to friends, but

encourages them to play games, whether it’s

testing each other with Trivia or a round of Heads

Up! (a game similar to Charades or Who Am I).

Up to eight people can play a game at once.

Try a video call. Nothing beats face-to-face

conversation - so why not try setting up a Skype

video call or use one of a number of alternatives,

Group organisers have contacted us to say

how they’ve been keeping in touch with their

members during the Coronavirus pandemic. Joan

Hanks, who runs St Andrews Ladies Luncheon

Club, said they had divided up members between

the committee and each of them contact six

members each week, more often if needed. She

added: “The response has been wonderful and it is

good to know everyone is watching out for each

other. While some members have others living

with them, some are isolated so the response to

our calls is lovely.”

James Silvester of HADARA in Kent, said they’d set

up a WhatsApp group to stay in touch with each

other and that: “members are continually adding

comments and posts and even videos and photos

of previous club holidays and outings.”

For more tips and apps to use, head to

groupleisureandtravel.com and search

‘Stay connected’.

Anne Bartlett who runs the Friends of the

Wilson Art Gallery and Museum said they

keep in touch with members through their

website and email and there’s a ‘buddy’

for those who aren’t on email to ensure

everybody is well informed and connected.

• Below: Joan Hanks (third left) took her
  group to Belgium around the festive season.

such as FaceTime? Skype can be installed on smart

phones, tablets and computers, and up to 50 people

can join in on the chat - whether it’s to discuss group

updates or just catch up on how the day’s been.

Group organisers share

their experiences

6 April 2020 groupleisureandtravel.com

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