Twinsclubs - How do I set one up? (Twins In General)

Member Name: herbie1977

Product:	Twins In General
Date:	17/08/05 (133 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Meet other familes with twins for support & advice

Disadvantages: Sometimes it can be difficult getting out of the house with 2 babies

The best piece of advice I was given after being told I was expecting twins was to join a twins club.

Before you have twins you don't really take much notice of families around you & fail to notice all the twins in the town but once you know you are going to be part of a special group of people who have twins or more they seem to be everywhere!

There are so many twins in our town & yet there wasn't a meeting group for them. So when my girls were 1yrs old a fellow mum of twins & myself decided to set up a twins club.

***PREPARATION***

First we needed to see if other parents of twins were interested, so we set about approaching twin parents in the street, doctors surgeries, hospital, supermarkets etc. We were on a mission & no twin mum (or dad, or even granny) escaped our notice. We even ran down the street after one particular lady with twins!!!

We had a group of twin mums with babies & toddlers but no premises, so we started off by meeting every thursday morning at my friends flat above a pub, not the best place but it was a start. After a few weeks we grew in numbers, picture this one living room, 3 sets of toddlers aged 1yrs old & 3 sets of babies, oh & the landladies greyhound! We realised that bigger more permanent premises were needed. At this point we got in touch with our health visitor who agreed to help us set this group up.

***FINDING PREMISES***

Finding a hall to accomodate anything up to 20 sets of twins isn't easy. Most places have a maximum amount of children that they allow in the hall at any one time. 20 mums means 40 kids, or even more if we had any triplet families. Also having enough parking places right outside is very important as the logistics of carrying 2 babies/toddlers isn't easy. Also we needed to make sure it had access for big wide double buggies.

After looking at many halls we found the perfect one, right in the middle of our town which was an important factor as not everyone drives & we wanted to make sure it was central so that everyone had a chance of getting there. The hall we use has its own public liability insurance but we were advised to get extra insurance ourselves. As we were a new club with no funds myself & my friend had to pay for this ourselves. We found public liabilty insurance through a company called TR Youngs, they specialise in insurance for twinsclubs.

***EQUIPMENT***

So now we had a very large hall with use of a kitchen & toilets & a nice big carpark right outside but we needed toys, tea making things etc. We had no financial help so everything had to be paid for by ourselves. Everyone was so helpful, every Friday we would meet at the hall, cars laden with ride on cars, pop up tents, tunnels, baby toys etc. For about 6 months we made do with our members lending us their own toys until we had enough money in our funds to buy a few bits & bobs, also people donated old toys.

***FUNDS***

The hall cost us £12 a week for 2hrs hire, so we asked our members to contribute each week by paying us £2 per family, this way the hall got paid for & we had enough money to buy refreshments. We were very lucky as each week we had at least 10 families so funds soon built up.

We also asked our members for a voluntary contribution of £5 a year to cover the cost of the liability insurance.

***ADVERTISING***

We made up posters telling people that we were a new multiples group , where & when we would be meeting & we handed these out to all the doctors surgeries in the town & surrounding areas. We also put them up in the maternity hospital, childrens ward, shops & supermarkets. As time has gone on we have put together a booklet which the lovely receptionist at the maternity hospital hands out to all expectant twin parents. Word of mouth is the best way though & now we give all our members business cards with our phone numbers on so when they get stopped in the streets by new multiple parents to be or new parents they can pass on our details.

We are a Tamba affilated club also so if anyone in the area gets in touch with Tamba they will pass on our details. We also ask the local press to pop in when we have open days or parties, the press love featuring twins so it is great advertising for us.

***WHAT WE OFFER***

As a club we provide support for parents to be of twins & often have mum to be evenings where our members come along without the kids to offer advice & support to new parents who are often still getting over the shock & beginning to wonder how they will cope. Our group welcomes twins, triplets & more on a weekly basis for all ages, our youngest set are 2wks old. The mums & even dads have a cuppa, biscuit & chat whilst the kids play with the toys & the babies bounce in bouncy chairs. We have a sales list which is invaluable for parents who are looking for 2 cots, 2 car seats etc & a great way for the sellers to sell on their items & feel they have helped other twin families. We also have regular visits from the health visitor who is there to weigh the babies & offer support & advice.

***THE FUTURE***

Our club has gone from strength to strength & 2yrs on we have a lovely group of regular members & lots of new faces. Each week we can expect anything between 7 sets & 22 sets. Its nice to have the occasional quiet week but we are at our best when full to the rafters. We have regular days out when we visit safari parks, adventure parks & farm parks, its great to get out & about with other large families. Its also great to see the faces of people passing by when they see set after set of twins!

So if you have twins or more, are expecting twins or more or know somebody who is, tell them to get in touch with Tamba & find out where their local twins & more group is held.

Summary: A toddler group for families with twins or more