There’s more to life than West Street
If you are part of a social committee, you know how the semester ticks by with little or no time to find inspiration for social activities.
There tends to be an internal conversation between taking members out, which is fun and all, but also that people want opportunities to socialize and make friends with similar interests in a more intimate setting.
Fortunately, Sheffield has so much to offer. This doesn’t have to be about spending the entire society’s budget to make it stand out, some of these ideas might resemble elementary school playground activities, but it’s all good fun. So here is a list of what you should do in your society:
Inspire your art freak with ceramic painting
Would you like a more therapeutic and restrained group activity on a Wednesday night than a drunken one? Ceramic painting is the right way. Your members can choose from a variety of funky pots to paint and socialize in a peaceful environment.
Bistro Bisque on Ecclesall Road is one hidden gem. It’s also a licensed bar and grill with lots of offers like 10 per cent off every Wednesday on Unidays, two for £12 on cocktails or two for £10 on mocktails. A healthy outing that won’t break people’s bank.
Host “booze and ball games” in the Roxy Ball Room
If you’re thinking of something completely universal with lots of different options for members, Charter Square’s Roxy Ball Room is the perfect option.
This place is student delights galore – make your club night one to remember with a £20 bottle of prosecco to share amongst the group and game deals starting at £5. Your members can channel their inner Beyonce with karaoke, go bowling, or play technical darts.
Whether you’re a sports club or a bar crawl, this seems like a happy medium to keep everyone happy and buy a membership on the way out.
Have fun (or maybe an argument) with game night
What could be easier to organize, but also a great source of entertainment, than a club game night?
Depending on the number of members in your club, do this in the comfort of someone’s home and decorate accordingly with social-themed props – or even rent a space from a university. Both the University of Sheffield and Hallam have large spaces to hire which would be ideal for the occasion, but just be aware that the presence of alcohol may not be welcome.
Spice up a game like Twister by using truth or dare, so landing on a flush has a little twist (pun intended). Maybe just try not to pick anything too weird or your members might not come back. Or even choose something like bingo where the prizes are related to your society. Who doesn’t want a free gift?
Another idea could be a quiz where everyone has to guess the members’ baby pictures or everyone has to guess what the member’s facts refer to. This may cause some confusion, but also completely new perspectives on each other.
Crown the club clown with an award ceremony
The biggest sunbeam? The biggest clown? Collect well-earned Titles at your society’s official awards ceremony. Head to Division Street’s Party On to stock up on a few tacky (but necessary) crowns, set up a food spread for the group – because we all know that’s the sign of a good host, and spread the word for members to dress accordingly for the evening. It might also be fun to print certificates for the lucky winners to commemorate their glorious night and create a slide show with reference photos or videos of the core memories.
The bar has plenty of options with party spaces including Revolution and Manahatta, which should mean plenty of room to boogie, and everyone is welcome. A good suggestion would be to ask for incentives from the society as many bars in Sheffield are willing to sponsor.
Test the group’s teamwork skills in the escape room
There’s no better way to connect than an escape room. Go through complex puzzles and challenges while trying not to lose them.
Sheffield has several places for this, a popular one being The Great Escape Game, which can be found on Vicar Lane, right near the train station. So no one can have excuses that this is too far or inconvenient.
This experience is number one, multi-award winning, with lots of themes to choose from, from horror to magic. Perfect for the society is the brand new room “Quest for Atlantis” opened on October 21st, where eighteen members can go head to head in two different rooms and fight. It also has a lot of emphasis on being “fearless” for the faint of heart.
There are also loads of student deals – if you take everyone out on Wednesday, they’ll get a cheeky shot before the game and another after (if they escape before the clock runs out). You can also claim a free pizza for every two people.
Organize a good old-fashioned field trip
Clubs are a great way to gather people with similar hobbies and interests, so the perfect idea is to use these interests to your advantage and put them into practice. (Hallam Odyssey, you’re already doing a great job here!).
If your society is sports themed, take the group to a pro game where they can thrive on their shared love of booing and cheering. If your society is academically based, such as history, take your members to visit the Yorkshire National History Museum in Hillsborough, where they can share their favorite ancient relics and make lifelong friends in the process. And any performing arts or theater based clubs in both units absolutely love Sheffield Theatres, and you can bond with each other by shouting “it’s behind you!”.