Team bonding event help needed

[Gobbins]

A friend has started a new job and wants to impress. One of their first tasks is to arrange a team event for all 20ish employees. She has been told that coaches can be booked etc but not given an exact budget. The team varies in age and ability from 20s and very fit to 60s with health concerns. It can be a short lunch event or an evening or weekend event. We've came up with a list of usual ideas such as escape rooms, bowling, crazy golf, theme park etc but would love to hear your best experiences. We're based in the Midlands if that makes a difference.

That all sounds like a group of existing workplace friends choosing to socialise together, rather than colleagues being brought together for forced bonding?

I would be inclined to organise some sort of quiz with questions that a range of ages would be able to answer - put them in mixed teams and organise some food and drink.

We’ve done pasta making recently and I’ve suggested an art class (I’m in London but there’s a guy who rocks up with a load of canvases, paints, wine and cheese and talks you through recreating a classic painting - it’s really good fun)

Escape room, board games (there are now escape rooms in a box which are pretty good), painting china, river cruise; I personally loathe these things as my workload is extreme (other places I've worked have had 3 to 4 people in my role, I'm praying I get another job soon).

So when I can't get out of them all I can think about is the work piling up and how the public would react to NHS money being spent on this rubbish rather than actually recruiting staff.. I also had to do a fair number of these management show off events (mostly attending, once organising) in my 20s to early 40s and you do get jaded. Especially if the people organising them don't have much life experience or understanding that something an active 30 something can do is likely to cause stress for a chronically ill 50 something...! It all reminds me of PE at school which is probably why I hate it so much. Our current team leader seriously suggested an outward bound team bonding event. In the Pennines. In this miserable cold wet spring. And wondered why we weren't bouncing with enthusiasm. And they're definitely old enough to know better but they're one of those bouncy jolly hockey sticks types.

As others have said, your friend needs to consult with the people in her organisation.

I love the management blog mentioned earlier, though, it's always refreshing to encounter honest managers and there aren't enough of them.

The best work event I've attended was going to a cookery school in a local hotel where you get a lesson from a chef, then get to cook and eat the meal yourself. It wasn't cheap though!

No, definitely not forced bonding.

It can be a short lunch event or an evening or weekend event
if it isnt paid it would be a big fat no from me.

I would say escape room in a box. Nice food ordered in from somewhere.

The only one I have ever enjoyed was a river trip along the river Avon in Bristol. With alcohol for those who wanted it.

So as swanling says, work friends deciding to do stuff together in their own time?

I can't think of anything worse than having to go to a team building event in my own time. I hated them in work time but if I was expected to go in non work time which this event seems to be I would be very unhappy and I can't be the only person who thinks that way
So if I was her I would think about something very short that can take place at lunch time.

Take the money that would be spent in the 'event'. Divide it between the team & give it to them in cash. This would bond the team because they would all be talking about how great it is to get a cash bonus & what they are going to spend it on. At the same time they will feel really positive about the company. Win win

I would hate all of these things with work colleagues

The work things at my new job have been:
Lunch bbq during work hours which was lunch and a bit of the afternoon then the rest of the day off.

A short walk through the park (for those who wanted) followed by lunch in a nice restaurant- during work hours then rest of day off.

Both all paid for.

This for the win

Thanks so much for all your replies. It's been really helpful for my friend to gain your perspective and to feel more confident in considering the best options for all.

Sorry, I'm late to this thread but I agree with @Megapint. The money companies spend on this would be better spent going into the pockets of their employees (unless they are already on high salaries. In which case I'd keep it fairly simple and do food and / or some low energy activity like archery or something more inclusive like a quiz)