Maybe a good place to start is what a mini-community even is. This is our term for smaller groups that meet up consistently with a shared hobby, sport, or activity. These groups typically have a solid membership base that shows up on a weekly or monthly basis, meaning you’ll end up seeing a lot of the same people every time you attend one. 

‍

We love these for meeting community because, unlike events, you can be fairly sure of seeing the same people every time you go out with a mini-community. Your first time out might involve meeting some of the crew, but over time you’ll get to meet everyone that attends and build even closer relationships with the folks you’re meeting. 

‍

The best part is, if you pick a mini-community with a shared interest, you already know off the bat that there are some shared interests. And, thankfully, there are a TON of different mini-communities to get involved with. Whether you like running & staying active or staying inside and enjoying a glass of wine, crafts, and deep chats with folks, there is 100% something for you in Victoria. Here’s a few that we’re big fans of:

‍

Gatherly: Just recently started, Gatherly hosts regular meet-ups for a variety of activities like casual hikes, crafting nights, and chill coffee chats. 

‍

Power to Be: A very friendly crew aimed at promoting the outdoors community and making it accessible for everyone. Regular events include hikes, paddlesports, and nature adventures.

‍

Vic Queer Run Club: Friendly, no-drop runs (usually around 5km) for the queer community and allies! Super casual and a very welcoming crew, so if you’re a runner this is a great community to get involved with.

‍

This is by no means the full list, there are just way too many mini-communities to list here. But no sweat! We’ve put together the full kit and kaboodle already, with all the different mini-communities we’ve come across in Victoria - you can check it out here.

As an events platform, are we maybe a bit biased here? Maybe (yes, 100% and definitely). But we’re big fans of events for good reason. They’re not only a great way to get out and meet people while getting up to something fun, but also a great way to build relationships with people you’ve already met. 

‍

Let’s say you’ve met someone at a run club and you guys got along great. You found out you both have a shared interest in punk rock… well, what better way to take the next step with that friendship than by heading to a punk rock show?! 

‍

And if you’re still in the ‘looking to meet people’ stage, heading to an event you’re keen on is a sure fire way to meet someone else with at least one shared interest. If you’re like me and you have a little trouble chatting with complete strangers at events, then our local social butterfly / golden retriever in human form, Simon, has put together a great list of ways to connect with strangers and get past the awkward chatting stage - check it out here!

Events are sort of our schtick at LampPost (shameless plug incoming), so if you’re having a tough time finding events then you’ve definitely come to the right place. Find every event going on in Victoria here, or find an upcoming concert / live music venue here. Looking for something bigger? Our popular events page has the really juicy stuff, with all the biggest and sell-out shows.

Taking classes is a great way to learn something new, improve a skill, and meet some people at the same time! Whether you like cooking up a new pasta recipe or a craft night learning to make candles, there are a ton of workshops to choose from. This can be a pricier way of building community, as classes typically include materials, tools, and space rental, but it’s definitely still possible to find class options on a budget. Plus, it’s hard to put a price on new friends! Here’s a few we really like around town. 

‍

Active Classes

1. Island Circus Space - Island Circus Space has some really unique classes to get your body moving, including aerial and acro classes for adults! 
2. Ashtanga Yoga - Take an active lifestyle at a slower, calmer pace with Ashtanga Yoga, with beginner and advanced classes all focused on, you guessed it, the Ashtanga style. 

‍

Crafting Classes

1. Stairway Studio - Learn the basics of silversmithing, how to craft your own rings & pendants from gold or silver, and set stones. Classes range from $100-$500. 
2. Starlite Soap Studio - Starlite offers soap & candle-making workshops, as well as classes for making bath/body/home products like bath bombs. There’s a ton of variety in the classes, and they’re very reasonably priced at roughly $80 per work
3. VI Plant Shop - On top of being one of the best shops for buying well-cared for plants in Victoria, VI Plant Shop has a ton of super neat workshops, from terrarium making to moss art! Very budget friendly, with most classes ringing you back $20-$40. 

‍

Cozy Classes

‍

1. Chef Heidi Fink - Chef Heidi teaches a huge variety of cooking classes, including Thai, Vegetarian, Mexican, and tons more. Classes range from $100-$200. 
2. Vessel Wine & Liquor - Wine, beer, and cocktail tasting & making classes at affordable prices!

The Green Thimble - Classes for everything sewing! Learn how to make quilts, clothing, bags, and more, with a huge variety of classes on a regular schedule. Most classes fall into a $40-$60 range, but you can also take on some bigger projects like quilted jackets for closer to $300.

This is actually a hugely underrated way to build community. First off, you’re making a difference! Give yourself a big clap on the back just for that. But second, and maybe even more important to your personal life, you’re connecting with people that are passionate about the same causes as you. And we’ve found that a shared passion for a cause is a much stronger bond between people, as opposed to a shared hobby or taste in a particular genre of music. 

‍

There are no shortage of places to volunteer at - the Island has a ton of non-profits, community associations, and businesses that need volunteers. Our advice? Pick something you really care about, don’t just go for a volunteering opportunity because it’s there (not that it’s bad to volunteer, of course, but if you want to find someone that has a shared passion for a cause, this is a crucial step). 

‍

If you’re passionate about the environment, consider volunteering with the Great Victoria Green Team so you can connect with other people that are environmentally-conscious and are giving up their personal time to better the earth. Passionate about the dance community? The Victoria Latin Dance Association and Victoria Contra Dance are both organizations committed to not just having fun, but enhancing & growing their respective dance communities.

If neither of these particularly tickle your fancy, no stress. There are enough volunteering opportunities around Victoria to fill a lifetime. A great place to start finding places to volunteer is with this extensive list of non-profits!