BTCV Handbooks Online

Book:	Local Action
Chapter:	Running a group
Section:	Getting out of a slump
Metadata:	Details	Buy this book

It happens to most groups at some stage that numbers of people drop off, events don't go quite as planned and project days get cancelled. Face the fact that these things are happening and recognize that things will not magically solve themselves. Pull the group together and dig yourselves out of the hole.

First, look at why it's happened. Have key members left? Is the morale poor and members are no longer having fun? Are the projects uninteresting? Have the meetings become downright boring? Does the committee no longer want to serve as a committee? There are all sorts of reasons why a group can go into decline and there are solutions to most of them.

Another problem that can require sensitive handling may be that one section of your group, or perhaps a few key volunteers, have stopped coming. Deal with this. Get in touch with them and find out if they are feeling excluded. If so, find out why and take steps to put things right.

A common cause of group decline is uninspiring meetings. Read the following section on running meetings, and try to improve yours. More importantly, make sure that everyone who is heavily involved in the group still wants to be. People often stay on after they have lost enthusiasm out of a sense of duty. They are likely to spread their negative feelings to other members. Look for new blood by inviting some of the newer members to a committee meeting and see if any of them would like to become more involved.

Once you've looked at the internal workings, plan an event to bring the group together. This could be a social occasion or perhaps a big one day project with a barbecue at the end of it. Split the membership list between the committee and ring everyone in the group, inviting them to the event. Another possibility is a public meeting to re-launch the group. Try and involve as many people as possible in the organisation of these events.

The key to getting out of a slump is to take action before it's too late. If, on the other hand, there is no enthusiasm for keeping the group going, then accept it.

Keeping an old group going with three or four members rather than admitting defeat is pointless, and it may inhibit other people from launching a new group.

If it makes more sense to wind up the group, make the formal decision to do this, let people know and sort out the finances according to your constitution. Thank the remaining members for all their efforts and review your achievements. This can help to reinforce good memories of enjoyable times with the group.

However, it is worth recognizing that a small group, made up of just three or four members working, perhaps, on a single site, may suit the circumstances ideally and not mean that the group is on the brink of folding simply because of its small membership.