September has a way of making us think about new beginnings. Children start new schools, students move away from home, courses and community activities return after the summer, and people begin new jobs or take up unfamiliar interests.
For some, these changes are exciting. For others, the thought of walking into a room full of strangers, starting a new activity or doing something they have never tried before can be quite daunting.
I wonder how many opportunities we miss because we convince ourselves that something isn't for us. We might think we're too old to learn something new, not talented enough to join a group, or that everyone else will already know what they're doing. As adults, we can become remarkably good at talking ourselves out of things we might actually enjoy.
Yet some of the most rewarding experiences in life begin with doing something unfamiliar. We discover interests we didn't know we had, meet people whose paths might never otherwise cross ours, or find that we're capable of something we had previously dismissed.
And sometimes, we simply have a good time. That matters too.
Everyone Has a First Day
Most of us can remember arriving somewhere new and wondering whether we would fit in. Perhaps it was our first day at work, joining a new school, attending a community group or trying an activity where everybody else seemed more experienced.
We often remember the people who made those experiences easier. Someone who took the time to introduce themselves, explained what was happening, or made sure we weren't left standing awkwardly on our own.
These might seem like small things, but they can determine whether someone feels comfortable enough to return.
Through our work at Communities 1st, we see people taking these steps in many different ways. Someone volunteering for the first time, an adult returning to learning after many years, a person attending a community activity, or somebody rebuilding confidence after a difficult period.
Their circumstances are different, but they share something important: they are putting themselves into a situation where they don't necessarily know what to expect.
Of course, it isn't always confidence that holds people back. Cost, transport, caring responsibilities, disability, language and previous experiences can all create barriers. Making people feel welcome requires us to think about these practical realities as well.
Having worked across health, local government and the voluntary sector, I've seen how much thought organisations put into designing activities and services. I think we sometimes pay less attention to what happens when somebody arrives for the first time.
Do they know where to go? Is someone expecting them? Do they understand what will happen? Can they take part in a way that feels comfortable for them?
And perhaps most importantly, have we created an environment where they feel able to come back?
A New Beginning for Herts Inclusive Theatre
This September has brought a new beginning for Communities 1st too, as we welcome Herts Inclusive Theatre (HIT) into our family of charities.
For 25 years, HIT has been creating opportunities for people to experience theatre, develop confidence, express themselves and build friendships. Its particular expertise is in inclusive theatre for disabled and neurodivergent people, and it has developed a strong identity and valued relationships with participants and families over many years.
What I particularly like about creative activities is the opportunity they give people to experiment. You can try something, make a mistake, laugh about it and try again. There isn't always a right answer, and you don't have to arrive knowing exactly what you're doing.
Theatre, music, dance and other creative activities also give people different ways to express themselves. Some discover a love of performing. Others enjoy working as part of a group, making something together or exploring an interest they never knew they had.
There is enormous value in that experience, whatever someone's age, background or ability. We should also remember that creativity and enjoyment are worthwhile in their own right. People don't need to demonstrate a particular outcome to justify doing something they love.
HIT joins a family that already includes Trestle Theatre and Para Dance UK, alongside our wider work in volunteering, community learning, employment, health and wellbeing. I think there are some interesting opportunities for us to learn from one another and make creative participation more accessible across the communities we serve.
But welcoming an organisation into a wider family brings responsibilities too.
HIT has its own history, identity, expertise and relationships. Following an uncertain period, our immediate priority is to support its participants, families and people involved in the charity, and work towards getting activities running again.
We need to respect what makes HIT special and be willing to learn from the experience it brings.
In many ways, this is another example of starting something new. For HIT's people, there are new colleagues, relationships and ways of working to become familiar with. For those of us already within Communities 1st, there are new perspectives, skills and experiences to understand.
A good welcome works both ways. It requires those joining to feel included and those already there to be open to learning and doing things differently.
Making Room for Something New
One of the things I've learnt over the years is that people can surprise themselves when given the opportunity.
Someone who arrives at a community group unsure whether they'll enjoy it can discover a new interest. A person who has never volunteered may find they have skills that are genuinely useful to others. Somebody returning to learning may realise that the abilities they thought they'd lost are still there.
These experiences don't always lead to dramatic changes. Sometimes the outcome is a new friendship, a little more confidence, or simply having something to look forward to each week.
I think we should value those experiences more.
For organisations like ours, that means continuing to create opportunities for people to try things, while recognising that everybody arrives with different experiences and expectations. Some will be confident from the beginning. Others may need encouragement, time or practical support. We shouldn't expect everyone to follow the same path.
It also means being prepared to try new things ourselves. As organisations, we can become comfortable with familiar routines and assumptions. Working with new people and organisations gives us opportunities to question those habits, discover different approaches and learn from experiences beyond our own.
As we welcome HIT into Communities 1st, I hope that spirit of curiosity and openness will shape how we work together. There is much we can learn from one another, and much we can achieve by giving people more opportunities to participate, create and contribute.
So, as September brings another season of new activities and opportunities, perhaps it's worth thinking about something you've always wanted to try.
It might be joining a local group, taking up a creative activity, volunteering, learning a new skill or simply going somewhere you've never been before.
And if you're already involved in something, spare a thought for the person walking through the door for the first time. A friendly introduction, a little encouragement and the opportunity to take things at their own pace can make a lasting difference.
After all, we all have first days throughout our lives. And sometimes, taking that first step opens up possibilities we hadn't even considered.