Promote Your Group
Promote your group by connecting to People, Referrals and Displays, and Media advertising
Ways to Promote your Grow group
Remember, there are many people suffering that are yet to find Grow. Please, don’t neglect to regularly advertise and promote your group. Always strive to bring in new members
Connect to people
Meet with friends and acquaintances and start a Grow group
1. Obtaining a Quorum of Three
Once you have a base group of people who are reliably attending each week, it becomes easier to add numbers to your group’s membership.
Many forming groups have good intentions but fail to gain a stable quorum of three, which is the minimum number required to hold a meeting. To gain and retain members, it will help if you have a natural ability to promote your group, have a genuine concern for others and show a willingness to lead.
2. Preferably Start with Five
Even after obtaining a dedicated group of two or three, you may want to gain the interest of a couple more people before starting your meetings to ensure your group has consistent attendance. A group of five is considered a good average attendance and provides certainty of holding a meeting even if one or two cannot attend.
While building interest and gaining more members to attend your first Grow meeting, suggest to the others that you meet in a friendly and relaxed social setting for the first few weeks. Try to establish support, form friendships, and develop a common understanding.
When you are ready, go ahead and hold your first formal group meeting. It is important that your group members continue to meet socially to compliment the weekly Grow meetings. Both the social and working side of Grow is a reflection of the Grow community and it values.
Platforms for Promoting
Promote your group using Brochures and other media
3. Notice boards in supermarkets or community centres
An effective means to gain interest in your group is to put an advert on a community or supermarket notice board. (See no.6 for the advert wording)
4. Ask For Referrals
Another avenue is to ask for referrals from local health professionals or from a nurse at the local mental health hospital. Give a brochure and lend a Grow Journey book. Follow up a week later when you collect the book.
5. Brochures on Display Boards
Brochures are freely available and can be ordered from the Grow website’s brochure page. Ask to place brochures on tables and shelving of mental health hospitals, community centres, churches, CAB’s, doctors, counsellors and therapist waiting rooms.
Be mindful, however, that an overabundance of very unwell people can be detrimental and disruptive to a healthy and conscientious working group.
6. Local Paper – Free Advertising in the Community Events section
Take advantage of free ‘Community Event’ advertising available in your local paper. Ask the Grow National office to help you word your advert according to Grow’s standard recommendations.
Example:
Is your mental health suffering?
Contact your local Grow group for help now.
Call Rebecca at ph:027 123 456 or
email rebecca8546@gmail.com.
Visit https://grow.org.nz for more info.
7. Promote via Meetup.com
Use your initiative to drive membership. One way of finding willing subscribers to your group is to join or start a social mental health friendship group, such as can be found on the website Meetup.com. You can organise Meetup.com social events for mental health interests with the intention of introducing them to the Grow program and inviting them to attend your Grow group.
Meetup subscription is around $90 for 6 months and has been proven effective for introducing members to the Auckland groups. Talk to someone in Grow about meeting the subscription cost until COGs funding can be sought.
Examples of a Grow using the “Meetup” website for a town or city can be viewed below:
Auckland
Hamilton
meetup.com/grow-mental-and-emotional-wellness-waikato-weekly-group
Dunedin
8. Social Media
For those that are social media inclined, you are welcome to explore promotion platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn etc.
Please message Chas Bennett for authority to start a social media page on behalf of Grow.
See Facebook examples Grow in Australia and Ireland:
Promote the Grow community
Maintaining friendships and enthusiasm
9. Socials and Entertainment Events
Socials are an important part of the Grow program and for cementing friendships. You can create your own community events such as sharing a meal together, going on a weekend retreat, ten-pin bowling, having a card-playing night or any other fun and enjoyable activity. Incorporate group socials with the Meetup website with the aim of introducing more members to your group.
Should you want more guidance, remember help is always available from within the Grow community.
10. Training Manual Tips
After your group is up and running. Contact the National Office and ask for a copy of a Grow Training Manual for more tips and hints on running a group.