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Join in On These 8 Manchester Social Groups and Clubs
Stop us if you’ve never felt this before.
You’ve picked up on something, think, anything really! A hobby that you really like doing, an interest that you can’t stop thinking about, or maybe even an advocacy that you want to fight for. The problem is, it can be a let-down when you’ve got no one to talk about it with.
But as it turns out, Manchester’s home to lots of different people with all kinds of interests and hobbies! You just need to learn where to look, and who to talk to.
And luckily for you, we’ve rubbed elbows with different kinds of groups, and we noted them down for you! Want to know who these new potential friends could be? Well, don’t keep them waiting and read on to find out who they are!
Best Cultural Artsy Social Groups
House of Books & Friends
Media from: @houseofbooksandfriends
Socials: Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, Linktree
Address: 81 King St
Contact details: 0759 736 5380 (cel.), [email protected] (email)
Regular meetups: Monthly Meetups — Date and Time Varies
Operating hours:
- Monday-Saturday — 9 AM-6 PM
- Sunday — 11 AM-5 PM
Target demographic: bookworms
Do you love books? Do you love reading them? Maybe you love talking about them?
Then come on down to The House of Books & Friends, a café-library that’s made for book lovers by book lovers!
They have their own book club that, as their website puts it, “combats loneliness”. So no longer will you have to squeal and gush about your favourite stories all by yourself!
Together with other bookworms, you can discuss the latest releases, your thoughts on the last books you’ve read, and anything reading-related!
| Pro tip: Even if there aren’t any book club events ongoing, you can just chill in the café with a good book in your hands and some cake and coffee by your side. |
The Arts Society Bowdon
Media from: @theartssociety
Socials: Facebook, Instagram, Youtube
Address: The Bowdon Rooms, The Firs, Bowdon
Regular meetup: 2nd or 3rd Monday, monthly, September-June — 1:45 PM onwards
Contact details: 0207 038 7590 (cel.), [email protected] (email)
Target demographic: art students, art lovers, art analysts
If you’ve got an eye for different artworks from different points in history, then keep your eye on this group! The Arts Society Bowdon is a charity group that holds lots of different artwork-related projects and meetings.
Lots of people with an interest and curiosity for all things arts will enjoy spending time in this group. After all, they’re not only a tight-knit bunch, they’re an interesting one too!
You can learn more about different art styles and art periods through their illustrated talk, or bring new life back into old works through their restoration projects. Whatever the case, you’ll be in good company with lots of creative types!
| Pro tip: Their regular meetings also include a raffle to help out Young & Community Arts, so if you want to join in on the raffle, remember to bring some extra money with you! |
Best Support and Advocacy Social Groups
Biphoria UK
Media from: @biphoria
Regular Meetups:
- Monthly Talky Space via Zoom — 7:30 PM-9:30 PM
- Annual Bi Visibility Day Celebration — 23 September
Contact details: 07941 811 124 (cel.), [email protected]. (email)
Target age group: 18+ only
Target demographic: bisexual and/or bi-curious people searching for community
Finding yourself fancying more than one gender? Questioning your sexuality or attraction to other people? Biphoria UK will help you feel welcome and right at home with other people going through the same motions.
This non-profit organization has been around for a long long time, and they’re still going strong today! They hold regular support talks for both newcomers and long-time members, and they also join in on celebrating different pride-related events.
They’re also a welcoming and friendly bunch, offering support to bi-curious and bisexual folk, whether they’re comfortably out and proud, or still closeted or questioning. So no matter which part of your journey of self-discovery you’re currently in, you’re welcome to join!
| Pro tip: Aside from the usual support talks, they also published some helpful books about bisexuality that anyone can order online! So even if you don’t want to join them, you can still check their books out if you’re in the questioning process. |
Everyone Can
Media from: @everyonecanuk
Socials: Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, Youtube, Twitch
Address: Floor 1, 25 School Road, Sale
Regular meetup: Weekly Gaming Session — Thursday 10:30 AM-12 PM
Contact details: 0808 800 0009 (cel.), [email protected] (email)
Target age groups: 5-18 year olds, 18+ year olds
Target demographic: disabled people interested in technology and gaming
Starting as “Aidis Trust” but now going by “Everyone Can”, this charity organization brings together and uplifts people with disabilities. The goal of this group is to show that anyone and everyone can do anything that they put their mind to and in fun and innovative ways!
How? Through the power of technology and gaming! Members of the organization do this by holding technology-based workshops along with regular gaming sessions. They’ve also done assessments with assistive technology, making sure that they work perfectly.
They also seek to make gaming and technology more accessible for disabled people.
In fact, they’ve even helped disabled people feel empowered and independent through their community and work.
| Pro tip: Since they provide assessments to assistive technology, whether or not you’re part of the organization, you can call them up and have them run an assessment test. And there’s no need to worry about going to them yourself, they can do a home visit too! |
Aim 4 Hope
Media from: @aim4hopecommunity
Social: Instagram
Address: Mainwood Rd, Timperley, Altrincham
Contact details: 07935 113 832 (cel.), [email protected] (email)
Target demographic: youths seeking an inclusive community
If you want to feel a sense of community while being safe, empowered, and healthy then this could be the group for you!
Aim 4 Hope wants to create an inclusive community that brings young people together while teaching them wellness and keeping them active. Their main values, aside from encouraging people to be active, are social justice, progression, and equality.
Lots of youths from different backgrounds and walks of life are a part of this group, so you’ll be interacting with a diverse group of people. Join as a volunteer and you’ll be teaching kids of all different backgrounds different wellness activities and a sport or two.
But you won’t just be inspiring and uplifting people, you might even become a good role model for them!
| Pro tip: They also offer programmes for younger children, so if you want to, you can also sign up for these programmes or activities as a sort of family bonding event. It’ll help the kids in your family build some pretty good habits, they might even pick up a hobby! |
Best Active Sporty Social Groups
MAD Walkers
Media from: @madwalkers
Socials: Ramblers, Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, Meetup, Tiktok
Regular meetups:
- Weekends — Exact Time Varies
- Annual General Meeting — Date and Time Varies
Contact details: [email protected]. (email)
Target age group: 20s-30s
Target demographic: hikers of any fitness level
If your boots are made for walking, then this group was made for joining!
This hiking group is MAD for walks and they meet up every weekend to do a trail through some of Greater Manchester’s beautiful scenery. And you don’t need to worry about impressing them, their trails are designed for any fitness level!
No longer will you have to huff and puff your way through Manchester’s nature pathways all alone, now you’ll have other people huffing and puffing with you! It’ll make every step you take on a nature trail even more special and fun.
After all, there’s nothing like taking in the beauty of Mother Nature with people who have that same appreciation! Plus, hiking together in a group can motivate you to push on; you’ll have your support!
| Pro tip: Feeling extra confident in your hiking skills? Then you can try to lead a hike yourself! They have a guide for walk leaders on their website, so check that out if you want to try leading a walk, or you can contact their email and ask them about it. |
Y Club
Media from: @yclubmanchester
Socials: Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, Tiktok
Address: Y Club, Liverpool Rd
Contact details: 0161 837 3535 (cel.), [email protected] (email)
Operating hours:
- Weekdays — 6 AM-10 PM
- Saturday — 8 AM-7 PM
- Sunday — 8 AM-6 PM
Target age group: 18+
Target demographic: people who work out or are on a fitness journey
Fitness, friends, and fun are what you’ll get if you join the Y Club! This community gym offers all sorts of exercise and workouts, and plenty of instructor-led classes.
A lot of the activities here encourage people to interact with and support each other. So, it’s a great way to make some new friends and maybe have some new gym mates.
You can lift some weights and spot someone in their main gym area, shoot hoops with basketball lovers in their sports hall, or join in on some yoga classes in their studio. No matter what you’re interested in doing, you won’t be alone!
Plus, the regulars in this gym are friendly and supportive, helping each other through their fitness journeys. Overall, this community might just be the push you need to kickstart your fitness journey!
| Pro tip: It’s not just sweat and straining all around in this gym, there’s a sauna and steam room here too! So you can relax and chat with some fellow gym goers after the most intense workout sessions or classes. |
Try Tag Rugby
Media from: @trytagrugby
Socials: Facebook, Instagram, Youtube
Contact details: 0113 859 0589 (cel.), [email protected] (email)
Target demographic: rugby players
What makes tag rugby great? For one, you don’t need to be a professional player to try it out since it’s pretty inclusive! So you won’t have to be worried about not making the team if you sign up for it while being a newbie player.
On another point, there’s a pretty sizeable community around it, and it’s growing to this day! So you can find a whole host of tag rugby teams and groups to join, which is why “Try Tag Rugby” is a great website to check out!
Now, you may be thinking to yourself, “Wait, this isn’t a group, so why is this here?”
Well, dear reader, we’ve got a good explanation for that!
“Try Tag Rugby” has lots of tag rugby games and teams listed, and it’s very convenient to navigate and search through, so you can find yourself a group to join! Think of it as a directory for tag rugby groups.
| Pro tip: The team building and making friends part doesn’t end when the game does! The website also lists the best social venues for some post-match drinks and chats. So you know the best places to share a toast with your team after a victory! |
