Living in a residential park community offers a wonderful opportunity to connect with like-minded neighbours and build meaningful relationships. Starting a club or group is one of the most rewarding ways to enhance your park home lifestyle, create lasting friendships, and share interests with others in your community.
Key Takeaways
- Community clubs significantly reduce isolation and improve wellbeing for park home residents
- Book clubs, walking groups, and craft circles rank among the most successful community groups
- Simple techniques like notice board announcements can effectively gauge interest in your club idea
- Our residential parks offer excellent facilities that you can use for your community group meetings
- We provide practical support to help your club thrive, from promotion to venue access
Why starting a club enhances your residential park experience
Moving to a residential park home often marks an exciting new chapter in life. While our parks offer beautiful surroundings and comfortable homes, the true heart of park living is community. Starting a club or regular group activity creates valuable social connections that make your residential park experience truly special.
For many of our residents at Leedons Residential Park, joining or starting a community group has been transformative. Take Barbara, who moved to our park after losing her husband. Her weekly craft circle became much more than a hobby—it provided friendship, support, and a sense of belonging during a difficult transition.
Social clubs combat isolation, which research shows can affect older adults after major life changes like retirement or moving home. Regular meetups give you something to look forward to while creating natural opportunities for friendship to develop around shared interests.
Beyond social benefits, clubs stimulate mental wellbeing through continued learning and creativity. Our residents who participate in clubs consistently report higher satisfaction with their park lifestyle compared to those who don’t engage in community activities.
5 popular club ideas that thrive in residential park communities
Wondering what type of club might work best in your park community? These five options have proven particularly successful across our residential parks:
1. Book Clubs
Monthly book discussions offer intellectual stimulation and lively conversation. The format is simple: choose a book, set a date, and gather to share thoughts. Many of our residents appreciate how book clubs keep their minds active while providing regular social contact.
2. Walking Groups
Walking groups combine gentle exercise with socialising—perfect for our parks with beautiful surrounding countryside. The Broadway Park walking club meets twice weekly for rambles of varying lengths, catering to different fitness levels.
3. Craft Circles
From knitting to card-making, craft groups bring together creative people to share skills and inspiration. These groups often become supportive friendship circles where conversation flows naturally while hands stay busy.
4. Gardening Clubs
Given that many residents take pride in their park home gardens, gardening clubs allow members to exchange plants, share tips, and sometimes organise visits to notable gardens in the area.
5. Games Groups
Whether it’s card games, board games, or activities like bowls using our outdoor bowling green, games provide fun, light-hearted competition and plenty of laughter. Our games room at Leedons Park hosts regular sessions for various game enthusiasts.
How to gauge interest and recruit members for your new group
Before launching your club, it’s helpful to determine if others share your enthusiasm. Here’s how to gauge interest effectively:
Use the community notice board
Our residential parks have notice boards where you can post a simple announcement about your proposed club, including a short description and your contact details. This traditional method works particularly well in our communities.
Word of mouth
Mention your idea to neighbours during dog walks or at the swimming pool. Personal conversations often generate the most genuine interest and allow you to refine your concept based on feedback.
Survey potential interest
For a more structured approach, create a simple sign-up sheet asking for names and contact information from those interested. Leave this in common areas like our community hall with permission.
Use existing gatherings
Make announcements at other community events where appropriate. Our coffee mornings provide excellent opportunities to spread the word about new club initiatives.
Remember that you don’t need huge numbers for a successful group—sometimes the most enjoyable clubs start with just 4-6 committed members and grow naturally over time.
Planning your first meeting: venues, schedules and activities
Once you’ve gathered interested members, thoughtful planning helps ensure your first meeting sets the right tone:
Choosing your venue
We offer several excellent spaces for community groups:
- The community hall—ideal for larger groups or activities needing tables and chairs
- The games room—perfect for card games and board games
- The covered patio area—lovely for summer gatherings
- The indoor swimming pool area—suitable for post-swim coffee gatherings
Setting a schedule
Consider these factors when establishing your meeting pattern:
- Frequency—weekly works well for activity-based clubs, while monthly might suit book clubs
- Timing—mid-morning and early afternoon slots are typically most popular
- Duration—90 minutes to 2 hours usually provides enough time without becoming tiring
Planning activities
For your first meeting, plan an agenda that includes:
- A warm welcome and brief introductions
- Explanation of the club’s purpose
- A simple activity that demonstrates what future meetings might involve
- Time for socialising and refreshments
- Discussion about future meeting preferences
Keep the first gathering relaxed and welcoming rather than overly structured. The primary goal is to create an atmosphere where people feel comfortable and eager to return.
What support can Arden Parks provide for your community group?
We’re committed to helping resident-led clubs thrive within our communities. Here’s how we can support your group:
Venue access
We provide access to our community facilities for resident groups at no cost, subject to availability. This includes our community hall, games room, and outdoor spaces that can be reserved for regular meetings.
Promotion assistance
We can help promote your group through:
- Listings in our monthly resident newsletter
- Space on community notice boards
- Mentions during community announcements
- Information provided to new residents about active groups
Practical resources
Depending on your club’s needs, we may be able to provide:
- Basic equipment like tables and chairs
- Storage space for club materials (subject to availability)
- Access to refreshment-making facilities
We’re always happy to discuss specific needs for your group—just speak with your park manager about how we can help make your community initiative successful.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need special qualifications to start a club in my residential park?
No special qualifications are needed to start a social or interest-based club. The most important qualities are enthusiasm and a willingness to coordinate gatherings. For certain activities like fitness classes, appropriate qualifications would be necessary, but most resident-led groups focus on social and hobby activities that require no formal credentials.
What if only a few people show interest in my club idea?
Small groups often provide the best environment for meaningful connections. Many successful clubs at our parks began with just 4-5 members and grew gradually. Quality of interaction typically matters more than quantity, especially in the early stages of a new group.
Can non-residents join clubs at Arden Parks communities?
While our community groups primarily serve residents, many clubs welcome guests of residents. This policy allows visiting friends and family to participate occasionally. For regular attendance, we generally suggest participants should be park residents, as this helps maintain the community atmosphere of our parks.
How do I handle refreshments for club meetings?
Many successful groups adopt a rotation system where members take turns bringing simple refreshments. Others implement a small contribution (50p-£1) per meeting toward a refreshment fund. Our community spaces provide access to tea and coffee-making facilities that your group is welcome to use.
What if I want to start a club but don’t want to lead it long-term?
Consider starting with a co-leader or establishing a rotation of responsibilities from the beginning. Many thriving groups at our parks operate with shared leadership, where different members take responsibility for various aspects or take turns coordinating meetings, reducing the burden on any one person.
