Is starting a club hard? A real guide for after-school groups

Starting a club isn’t about having the perfect idea or the loudest voice. It’s about finding a few people who care about the same thing you do-and then showing up, week after week. If you’re thinking about starting an after-school club but feel overwhelmed, you’re not alone. Most kids who begin one didn’t know where to start either. They just took one small step. And that’s all it takes.

What most people get wrong about starting a club

A lot of students think they need approval from the whole school, a big budget, or a teacher who’s willing to run it for them. That’s not true. You don’t need permission to gather a group. You just need a space, a time, and a reason.

At my old high school in Brisbane, a group of four students started a board game club. No teacher signed up as sponsor. No funding. They just met in the library after school, brought their own games, and put a sign on the door: ‘Come play if you’re bored.’ Within two weeks, they had 15 regulars. By the end of the term, the school gave them a cupboard for storage. Not because they asked-they just kept showing up.

The real barrier isn’t rules. It’s fear. Fear of being ignored. Fear of failing. Fear that no one else will care. But here’s the secret: you don’t need a crowd to start. You just need one other person.

Step one: Find your people

Don’t start by writing a proposal. Start by talking.

Ask your friends: ‘What do you wish you could do after school?’ Maybe they want to learn guitar. Maybe they love anime. Maybe they just want a place to talk without being judged. Listen more than you talk. Write down the ideas that come up.

Then, pick one thing that excites you-and that at least two or three others seem interested in. It doesn’t have to be grand. A club about fixing broken headphones. A club for sharing home-cooked snacks from different cultures. A club that just walks around the park and talks about movies. Simple works better than flashy.

Once you’ve got your topic, ask three people to join you next week. No flyers. No announcements. Just say: ‘Hey, I’m meeting at the bleachers after school on Tuesday. Want to come?’ If two say yes, you’ve got a club.

Step two: Get the basics sorted

Now you’ve got a group. Next, you need three things: a time, a place, and a rule.

Time: Pick a day and time that works for most of you. After school, before sports practice, during lunch if the school allows it. Don’t overcomplicate it. 4:00-5:00 PM on Tuesdays? Perfect.

Place: Ask your school if you can use a classroom, the library, the art room, or even a corner of the courtyard. Most schools are happy to let students use space if it’s quiet and safe. Just be polite. Say: ‘We’re starting a small group after school. Could we use [room] on Tuesdays?’ Most principals say yes.

Rule: One simple rule: Be kind. No one needs a 10-page handbook. Just make it clear: if someone shows up, they’re welcome. If someone’s rude, you can ask them to leave. That’s it.

That’s all you need to start. No forms. No fees. No paperwork.

Step three: Keep it going

The hardest part isn’t starting. It’s sticking with it.

Some weeks, no one shows up. That’s normal. Don’t panic. Show up anyway. Bring your stuff. Sit there. Smile. Sometimes, someone will walk by and say, ‘What are you guys doing?’ That’s how you grow.

Rotate responsibilities. One week, you bring snacks. Next week, someone else brings the music. Another week, someone leads the activity. It keeps things fresh-and stops one person from burning out.

And don’t worry about making it official. You don’t need to register with the school to be real. But if you want to get a budget or a storage locker, that’s when you ask for help. Go to the student council. Talk to a teacher you trust. Say: ‘We’ve been meeting for six weeks. We’d love to keep going. Can you help us get supplies?’ Most teachers will say yes if you’ve already proven you’re serious.

What kind of clubs actually work?

Not every club needs to be about grades or competition. The ones that last are the ones that feel like home.

Here are a few real examples from schools in Queensland:

• ‘Silent Reading Club’ - Students bring books and read together in silence. No talking. Just calm. One girl said it was the only time she felt relaxed all week.
• ‘Trash to Art’ - Kids collect plastic bottles, cans, and cardboard from the playground and turn them into sculptures. They displayed their work at the local library. No funding. Just creativity.
• ‘Tech Help for Elders’ - A group of teens started meeting once a week at the community center to help older people use smartphones. They didn’t get school credit. They did it because they liked seeing the smiles.

These clubs didn’t win awards. But they changed lives. Yours might too.

What doesn’t work

Don’t try to be everything. Don’t start a ‘Global Youth Leadership Initiative’ if you just want to play chess. That’s not leadership. That’s a buzzword.

Don’t wait for the perfect moment. There won’t be one. You won’t feel ready. That’s okay. Start anyway.

Don’t think you need a teacher to lead it. Teachers are helpers, not bosses. You’re the one who cares enough to show up. That’s what matters.

And don’t compare your club to others. Someone else’s club might have 50 members. Yours might have six. That’s fine. Six people who feel seen is better than 50 who just show up for free pizza.

How to know if you’re doing it right

You’ll know you’re on the right track when:

• Someone shows up because they want to, not because they were told to.
• You forget to check the clock because you’re having a real conversation.
• You catch yourself thinking, ‘I hope this keeps going next term.’
• Someone you didn’t expect joins-and stays.

That’s success. Not trophies. Not certificates. Just connection.

What if no one shows up?

It happens. Sometimes, you’ll sit alone for two weeks. That doesn’t mean you failed. It means you’re still early.

Try this: Ask one person to help you spread the word. Not on social media. Just talk to them. Say: ‘I’m doing this thing after school. I think you’d like it. Can you tell one friend?’

People trust their friends more than posters. One person telling one friend is more powerful than a hundred flyers.

If after a month, it’s still just you? That’s okay. You still started something. You still showed up. That’s more than most people ever do.

Final thought: You don’t need to be perfect

Starting a club isn’t about being the best. It’s about being there.

It’s about choosing to make space for something that matters to you-even if no one else understands it yet.

Some of the most meaningful things in life begin quietly. A club. A friendship. A quiet moment of belonging.

You don’t need permission. You don’t need a budget. You just need to say, ‘I’m here.’ And then show up again tomorrow.