A Small Change for a Growing Community
When I took over the running of Harborne Book Club in 2022, I had a simple goal: create a welcoming space where people could meet, read great books and enjoy talking to others.
What I didn't expect was just how quickly that community would grow.
Over the past few years, HBC has evolved from a small local gathering into a thriving community of readers. We've welcomed hundreds of members, hosted author events, organised socials, collaborated with other book clubs, supported charitable initiatives, launched writing events, and, most importantly, created countless opportunities for people to connect through books.
It has been one of the most rewarding things I've ever been involved in.
One thing that has remained constant throughout that growth is that our events have always been free. Accessibility has always been important to me. I never wanted cost to be a barrier to someone joining us, particularly when so many people come not only for the books but for the friendships, community, and sense of belonging that have developed around them.
However, as the club has grown, so too has the work involved behind the scenes.
Every meeting requires planning and organisation. There are books to select, venues to coordinate with, Eventbrite bookings to manage, newsletters to write, social media content to create, websites to update, attendees to support, and events to promote. There are conversations with authors, partnerships with local businesses, and all the little details that ensure people arrive at an event that feels welcoming, organised, and enjoyable.
Most of that work is invisible, but it takes a significant amount of time each month.
Alongside this growth, we've also encountered a challenge familiar to many community groups; monitoring numbers at meetings. As attendance numbers increase, a free ticket can sometimes become an easy thing to book and then forget about. Unfortunately, this can mean that people who wanted to attend miss out on spaces, while venues and organisers prepare for numbers that don't materialise.
For those reasons, I've made the decision to introduce a small £2 charge for monthly meetings from September onwards.
I want to emphasise that this isn't about turning Harborne Book Club into a commercial venture. The fee is intended to help ensure that bookings translate into attendance, support the continued running of the club and acknowledge some of the time and effort that goes into making these events happen.
Importantly, I wanted to keep the cost as low as possible. At £2, I hope it remains affordable while helping us continue to grow sustainably.
What makes Harborne Book Club special has never been the venue, the website, or even the books themselves. It's the people. Every month I see new friendships forming and conversations continuing long after the official discussion has ended. I see readers discovering genres they never thought they'd enjoy and newcomers finding the confidence to walk into a room full of strangers and leave feeling part of a community.
I'm incredibly grateful for the support members have shown over the years, and I'm excited about what comes next. This small change will help ensure that Harborne Book Club remains a welcoming, vibrant, and sustainable community for years to come.
Thank you for being part of the story.
