Social Clubs & events

First Time for Everything

First Time for Everything has been designed by Royal Voluntary Service with the support of the players of the People’s Postcode Lottery, to introduce people to a whole new range of interests. It is currently available at selected locations in England, Scotland and Wales,

It provides people with opportunities to try something new for free in their local community, and is aimed particularly at those aged 55 and over or that have underlying health conditions. The activities on offer support physical and mental health and wellbeing and digital literacy because staying active and social have been proven to be important to keeping fit and well as we age.

Please contact the relevant First Time for Everything activity coordinator for more information. We currently offer this service in the following areas:

Hastings: 07918 377510

Leicester: 07814 934160

Lincolnshire: 07468 701994

Manchester: 07795 450563

Moray: 07814 857253

North Wales: 07825 503046

Stirling/Forth Valley: 07824 547865

Food for Life Get Togethers

Food for Life Get Togethers are regular community activities that connect people from all ages and backgrounds through growing, cooking and eating good food. 

Funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and delivered with the support of six national partners including Royal Voluntary Service, Food for Life Get Togethers are part of a bigger movement, led by the Soil Association, to make good food the easy choice for everyone.  

Get Together events

Activities take place all year but are centred on two annual celebration months to take part in.

Events will be taking place at Royal Voluntary Service social groups and other local community groups across the nations, to find out more visit the Food For Life Get Togethers website or email denise.young@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk

Working together with Food for Life Get Togethers, Royal Voluntary Service is able to provide funding for groups to run a good food event in their local area, contact denise.young@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk for more information.

Cook & Share Month

Cook & Share Month takes place from mid-October to mid-November. The 2022 campaign kicked off on World Food Day - 16 October - a day dedicated to making good food accessible for all. Community groups, dementia groups, church groups and sheltered housing all took part. They shared baked potatoes, soup and burritos, bringing people together for the first time, and others who hadn't been together for a long time.

Plant & Share Month

Plant and Share Month typically runs from the end of April and is a celebration of sowing, growing and sharing home grown food with friends and the larger community. This year the event take place from 22 April until 20 May 2023.

During 2022, over 500 organisations sowed the seeds for good food in their community. Over 20 Royal Voluntary Groups received seeds, soil and pots from Food for Life Get Togethers and planted everything from salad leaves, to chillis, to tomatoes and pumpkins. Seedlings were passed on to other community groups, care homes, schools and community allotments.