Jumpstart Program

Help spread the word about your local community group

Using online tools can be one of the quickest ways to spread the word to people who might be interested in joining your local community group.

If you're a new group, or just haven't ventured online yet, we can partner with you to help you get started. We'll fund a 6 month subscription for eligible groups to MeetUp.com*, the world's largest network of local groups, to help groups really get ahead in those first few months online.

*If you have an alternative services you would prefer to use, with a comparable subscriptions price and features, please let us know; we're happy to accommodate.

What's MeetUp.com?

MeetUp is the world's largest network of local groups. MeetUp makes it easy for anyone to organise a local group or find one of the thousands already meeting up face-to-face. More than 9,000 groups get together in local communities each day, each one with the goal of improving themselves or their communities.

MeetUp's mission is to revitalise local community and help people around the world self-organise. MeetUp believes that people can change their personal world, or the whole world, by organising themselves into groups that are powerful enough to make a difference.

MeetUp is free for anyone to join, find and attend groups; however group organisers are required to pay a monthly subscription to use the service. As part of the Jumpstart Program, the first 6 months of these fees will be paid for you by Woollahra Council.

Organising members receive:

• Their own unique URL and editable web presence, including features such as the ability to create events and manage RSVP's, add photos, and hold discussions
• Users of the sites are able to search and find your group under a range of terms
• An email on creation of the group, where Meetup invites 100+ people near the groups location who may be interested in joining (judged by the interests listed in their profile and similar groups they attend)

Who can apply?

This program is to help new and established community groups develop a successful online presence.

Groups who meet the following criteria are eligible to apply:

• Not-for-profit based community groups
• Based locally, with the majority of activities taking place within the Woollahra Council Municipality
• A core purpose of creating a stronger sense of local community or culture

This means if your group already has a large existing online audience, or an existing MeetUp subscription this program isn't for you (we can still assist you – why not attend one of our free technology training sessions to build on your skills).

You'll need to have a plan for your group, including its aims and the activities it will undertake, and how you plan to raise funds for ongoing subscription fees (or have a robust alternative plan) once our 6 month program has come to an end. In the application form we'll ask you to detail these plans and we can help you to complete it too if you're having trouble.

It's important that you make a commitment to the full 6 months of your MeetUp subscription; not only will your efforts pay off with a great and active group, but Woollahra Council will only offer you one MeetUp subscription.