Baby groups

[Njs2019]

Hello

I am looking to start up a parent baby/tots group on my local town on a day that no other groups run. Just wanted some info if anyone else has started up their own group and some advice on things I should take into account?
I am hoping to do a trial run up until around xmas to see if it works out - otherwise I will have to cancel as I will be paying for the hall from my own money and asking for a £2 cost per child (includes refreshments for parents) as I noted other groups do the same for funding.

Thanks for your help.

First of all, talk to the owners / managers or the hall. They might be willing to support you in a community venture - I know many Churches would and I'm sure some other Community Associations would. That would take away the worry about costs to begin with.

Then you need to think about toys / activities.

There will be grants available from all sorts of small charities if you can just find them.
Then you need to decide who you want to come to the group. Is it for new parents with tiny babies, or is it to go up until the dc go to school ? - the toys and activities will then need to be a much bigger 'thing'.

Who will sort the refreshments ? If it is you, who is looking after your little one ? Is the £2 per adult or per child ?

Have you checked out the hall in terms of safety and facilities ?
If you buy in toys (or are lucky enough to get them donated) where and how will you store them ?

Get in touch with your local Family Information Service (type FIS and where you are into your search engine) or go into your local CC and see what they can tell you. There will be some sort of service that are there to support Community Stay and Play groups (it is run by Early Years Alliance in my Authority)

Then where will you advertise? / How will people know you are there ?