These guides are written for real UK volunteers — plain English, one problem at a time. If you want to know who is behind GatherUK, read Steve's story; if you need a hand with your group, get in touch.
Your first week checklist
Your first three months are free — tick these off in your opening week and you will feel ahead before your first proper gathering.
- Create your group Add your name, area, and a welcoming photo so people know they are in the right place.
- Set your privacy Choose public or request-to-join, and add a short join question if you want to approve members first.
- Publish your first event Even a casual coffee morning counts — it gives members something to RSVP to straight away.
- Share your join link Send it to a few trusted people first to test signing up and RSVPing before you announce widely.
- Explore your dashboard Skim members, group settings, and RSVPs so you know where things live when you need them.
Pick the guide you need
Each link below solves one clear problem. Start with the checklist above, then open the guide that matches what you are trying to do right now.
Guides & resources
- See what's included in your plan One £5/month subscription — every feature, no tiers or add-ons.
- How to start a new group What running a group involves, plus three months free to try it.
- How to manage your group day to day Members, settings, approvals, and your admin dashboard.
- How to create and run events Guest lists, check-in, no-shows, waitlists, and last-minute changes.
- How to move your group from Meetup Invite members with a join link, import upcoming events, and switch without losing momentum.
- How GatherUK compares to Meetup Honest costs and what changes when you switch.
- Why we built a UK non-profit platform Built for volunteers and local groups — not shareholders.
- Find answers to common questions Costs, privacy, and getting going — in plain English.
Pro tips: what success looks like
Trickier setup tasks — read the short version here, then follow the full guide if you need step-by-step detail.
How to connect Stripe for paid events
Only needed if you charge for tickets or deposits. Your Group Admin connects Stripe once in Group Settings — GatherUK never holds event money.
What success looks like: Stripe shows as connected in Group Settings, and members see a checkout step when they RSVP to a paid event. Payments land in your group's Stripe account.
How to manage your event waitlist
Set a capacity on your event. When it is full, new RSVPs join the waitlist automatically — first come, first served when a place opens.
What success looks like: Manage RSVPs shows the queue in order. When someone cancels, the next person is promoted (and emailed on free events). See Help for event hosts → How waitlists work.
How to check in attendees and mark no-shows
Check-in and no-show are optional and manual only — leaving someone unchecked does not count as a no-show. Use No show when you want to record that someone RSVP'd but did not come.
What success looks like: After three no-shows in your group, an orange badge appears on your Members list so you can follow up before the next event. See Help for event hosts → Check-in & no-shows.
How to approve new members on a private group
Turn on request-to-join and add a short question. You approve or decline from your dashboard — members only see private details after you say yes.
What success looks like: Pending requests appear at the top of your group activity log (dashboard and group page) with a link to People; approved members can see events and RSVP.
Video walkthroughs
Real dashboard tours — create your group, plan events, and use waiting lists. Watch in any order when you need a visual walkthrough.
Create your group
Set up your group page in minutes — location, privacy, and your first three months free.
- Name, area, and who can find you
- Public or private
- Ready for members to join
Make it yours
Colours, photos, join questions, and payments — all from Group Settings.
- Brand your group page
- Approve new members on private groups
- Connect Stripe if you take payments
Your admin dashboard
The everyday tools: members, invites, co-admins, and event hosts.
- See who is in your group
- Share your join link
- Invite helpers without losing control
Plan events
Create meetups, set capacity, take RSVPs, and tell everyone what is happening.
- One-off or repeating events
- Hide the exact address until members RSVP
- Announce or cancel in one click
Waiting lists
Heads up: Some screens in this video look a little different today, but waiting lists still work the same way.
When someone cancels, the next person on the list is invited automatically.
- No more late-night spreadsheet shuffling
- Members get a clear email when a spot opens
Handy time-savers
Little tricks that save hours when you run events every week.
- Recurring series without the faff
- Duplicate an event that worked well
- Check-in list on the day
Quick answers
How much does it cost?
Free for members — always. Group organisers get three months free, then a small £5/month contribution per group to keep things running. No credit card needed to start.
Is it hard to move from Meetup?
Most groups are set up in minutes: create your group, share a join link so members sign up themselves, and import upcoming events as drafts if you need them. We have a step-by-step guide, and you can speak to a real person in the UK if you get stuck.
Will I lose my members?
You stay in charge of the move. Share your new link in your old group, email your list, and invite people in batches. Many organisers find members are glad to leave rising fees behind.
How do people find my group?
Search by UK postcode and county, browse the directory, and share your group page. Members see your events because they joined your group — not because a computer decided who gets noticed.
Is my members' information safe?
Yes. We're registered in the UK with strict data privacy laws, and we never sell member details. Your community's trust matters more than ad revenue.
Who is your community hub built for?
When you're choosing where your group lives online, it helps to know who you're really partnering with — and who stands to gain.
| Topic | GatherUK (community hub) | Big commercial hubs |
|---|---|---|
| Support | A real person in the UK who understands volunteers | Automated replies and overseas call centres |
| Ownership | UK non-profit — your community comes first | Built to be sold or restructured for investors |
| What it costs | Free for members; £5/month per group after 3 months free | Rising fees, trials that flip, and paywalls |
| Your members' privacy | Registered in the UK with strict privacy laws — we never sell your data | Data shared widely; profiles mined for profit |
| Finding local groups | Search by UK postcode and county — groups near you | Global noise and inactive listings |