Social 

Target Audience: Women of all ages

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Description: Seuda for women during the summer months, meeting in different houses, inviting different speakers and enjoying great food and great company.​

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Aim: Provide a space for women to get together during Shabbat, socialise and learn from inspiring female educators.

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Why was it a success? Always got a good turnout, with women from all demographics coming.

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Advice for communities looking to replicate: Ask people to book so you know how many chairs to put out and how much food to provide.

Target audience: The community

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Description: The first drink was on the shul. People were greeted by the Rabbi. We had an exclusive section in the pub garden on a cool August Sunday evening.

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Aim: To have an easy and relaxed social gathering.

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Why was it a success? 150/200 members turned up to an outside activity and were able to mingle between groups, engage and particularly good for new members to connect.

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Advise for communities looking to replicate: Very easy and effective way to have a relaxed drink with no formalities.

Target audience: Adults

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Description: Online company Zest Mixology displaying how to make your own cocktails, via Zoom. Participants were sent a list of ingredients they had to buy before the event.

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Aim: Some fun to bring people together (on zoom) doing something a bit different

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Why was it a success? Fun, enjoyable and easy to follow

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Advise for communities looking to replicate: Make sure they ingredients are relatively simple to acquire (as they were for this event)

Target audience: Young families

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Description: Havdalah followed by activity for our young families. When it’s in person, we hired in quasar, Virtual Reality, mini golf, petting zoo, drum cafe. On Zoom we did painting demo, making menorahs from clay, zumba.

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Aim: To continue the momentum of when we did this in person, but online.

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Why was it a success? Attendees had a great time in a relaxed atmosphere

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Advise for communities looking to replicate: Make sure everyone is aware of of the activity that week so they have teh required items

Target audience: Members, especially those still anxious about indoor events

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Description: Local, short, easy pre-planned walks (we decide together on our Walkers WhatsApp group) lasting about an hour. Locations are chosen seasonally i.e. to see snowdrops, daffodils, bluebells & wood anemones etc.

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Aim: To get people together again socially in a safe environment whilst getting healthy fresh air & exercise

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Why was it a success: The walks are safe, sociable, healthy, reduce anxiety & have been instrumental in getting members used to being together again in person

 

Advice for communities looking to replicate: It's so easy and can be done all year round. Advertise a walk with an attractive poster in your weekly newsletter, set up a Whatsapp group and hey presto!

Target audience: Anyone  - families or single members, open event for all​

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Description: I ran a photography and video workshop for the shul community to meet, learn and get some tips for taking photos.

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Aim: Fun, learning, informal hands on education.

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Why was it a success? It was something different. It was a nice relaxed way to bring people together and to share something I know with them.

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Advise for communities looking to replicate: Give plenty of notice to the members and get an expert who is a pro photographer to run the workshop. It can be combined with a photo-walk too.

Target audience: Women over 18yrs

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Description: On Chol HaMoed Pesach (hence KLP pub), £3 entrance then free drinks (cocktails, wine and soft drinks) and nibbles (crisps, cake and fruit) for the whole night, pool table, table football, air hockey, silent disco with three channels playing different styles of music.

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Aim: Provide a space for women to socialise and build relationships.

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Why was it a success? People enjoyed somewhere they could go and spend time with friends, following the stress of preparing for Pesach.

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Advise for communities looking to replicate: It's expensive to hire the pub games (pool, air hockey, table football) - we were lucky that the shul had bought these for the youth in the past, so we could use them. If your shul hasn't got them, it's worthwhile investing in them. The silent disco was very easy to run ourselves - hand out the headphones to people as some people enjoyed just listening and not necessarily dancing.

Target audience: Parents of young children

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Description: A series of Zoom 'Date Nights' with a fun activity and some Jewish content can be included to make it meaningful! Packs can be distributed to those who book in advance.

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Aim: To build our connection with parents and give them some 'me' time.

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Why was it a success? The event can be replicated throughout the year.

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Advise for communities looking to replicate: Strong recruitment is required.

Target audience: Over 80s

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Description: Delivered attendees a traditional tea, inc flowers, and had a very good entertainer on zoom

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Aim: Give the over 80s a nice afternoon tea whilst having a great time 

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Why was it a success? All participants had a great time singing along!

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Advise for communities looking to replicate: So long as regulations allow, if some of the elderly struggle with the zoom, get a member of the community to go round and help, making sure they do not miss out

Target audience: Adults

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Description: Hired someone from a professional company to talk about 6 gins and their history. The 6 gins were delivered to all participants by volunteers, inc l'chaim cups and tonic.

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Aim: Light-hearted fun during COVID times

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Why was it a success? All participants had a great time and enjoyed the delivery aspect

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Advise for communities looking to replicate: Buy the gin in large bottles and decant, then number the bottles appropriately

Target audience: Anyone at all skill levels with an interest in drawing

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Description: Free of charge, I provide pictures to copy and drawing ideas, having an art background. Participants bring in their own sketchbooks and drawing materials.

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Aim: To form a weekly drawing and social group.

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Why was it a success? Participants enjoy developing drawing skills, the drawings produced, find the experience fun and relaxing while having a good chat with friends.

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Advise for communities looking to replicate: Have a wide range of art ideas and resources, give variety so that people can choose what appeals, what they feel they can tackle and have a WhatsApp group to share drawings and info.

Target audience: Parents and children up-to and including Year 6

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Description: A massive breakfast is served to children of the community once a month. Parents of children with a birthday that month are invited to sponsor. Tea/coffee/drinks are served to parents.

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Aim: Parents come to have a chat and drink on the shul site (feet through the door). Gradually parents come back into shul and include themselves into community life post-pandemic.

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Why was it a success? Parents who have not been to shul once in two years began to attend the breakfast. They are now weekly congregants (again).

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Advise for communities looking to replicate: Think of the parents, not the children. To get the kids through the door, you get the parents (adults) first to start building momentum, energy and a voluntary base again for the next generation.

Target audience: Adults

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Description: An online escape room that could be done exclusively online.

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Aim: Bring community together for a fun, social event.

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Why was it a success? Lots signed-up. Had a strong Bushey theme, so everyone really enjoyed, and it was something different.

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Advise for communities looking to replicate: It is very time intensive to create one yourself, so it might be worthwhile to look for companies who can provide this. We don't regret the time investment, and the unique Bushey angle was very popular. It was, however... VERY difficult, so it is important to pitch the difficulty level right!

Target audience: Whiskey drinkers​

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Description: Six mini whiskey samples were delivered to those that signed up to the event and then the tasting began on zoom. 

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Aim: To make sure a community favourite event didn't get forgotten due to the times we are in and to raise some money for the Chesed appeal

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Why was it a success? Attendees had a great time in a relaxed atmosphere

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Advise for communities looking to replicate: Make sure the whisky isn't delivered too early - we want attendees to save them samples for the event!