About SaRC

Living life as a single person can be really busy and rather tricky. There is so much to do and to cope with by yourself - no wonder it is seen as a scary time. But is it really such a bad thing? After all, you also get freedom, independence and time to be yourself with less need to compromise. So why is being single seen as so uncool?

    Single has an image problem!

Single people are often stereotyped as a sad, lonely minority of the population, each of us desperate to find the ‘perfect partner’ and live out our days in blissful coupledom. So, what if you’re not living in blissful coupledom? What if your life just happens to go off in a different direction? Surely that just makes it a different life, not a sad life.

SaRC’s aim is to provide a one-stop shop to support you while you are single. It aims to provide you with information, resources and benefits, plus development and network opportunities, together with chances to meet new friends, have fun and learn more about yourself and the world around you.

What our members have to say about SaRC...

SARC's well worth joining.
I've meet lots of great new people.
Been new places and done new things.
And the best thing is all the people are single like me- and we're just there to have fun.
Give it a try-what have you got to lose? Deirdre

As a regular attendee of events I recommend SARC as a social group. I have had excellent value for money for my Gold membership. I committed to membership to ensure I did not opt out of enjoying new experiences and meeting new people. This group provides a welcoming social environment for a wide range of ages providing a wide range of events catering to their needs including Friday drinks nights and family friendly events. I have attended movies, theatre, Te Papa events, dinners, brunches – all events I probably would have found hard to attend on my own. I feel I have made new friends and I feel very welcome. Brenda

Really had fun last night and enjoyed the company of everyone there…great idea, great organising. Don

You’ve got really nice people in your group... Dee

Thank you so much again for organising last night. I really enjoy going out to new places, meeting new people and catching up with those I have already met.  Debby

 It's not about dating

The term 'singles club' has become a name for clubs where the aim of the members is NOT to be single. Are there any other clubs where its name is the complete opposite of its aims? I can't think of any.

SaRC is genuinely a 'club for singles'. It allows you to meet and make friends with other single people without the inference of wanting to date them. Sometimes you just want friends to hang out with, to get together with, to find companionship with. Perhaps you are just looking for a buddy, a pal, a chum or a mate to socialise with.

You may be a solo parent wanting to meet and network with other solo parents. Or maybe you have just returned from your OE or other overseas trip and are looking to re-establish friendships in the Wellington area. Perhaps you are a newbie to New Zealand; what better way is there to feel at home than by meeting local singles who can help you to settle in?

Or maybe it's just that you are the only unmarried person in a group of friends and they are now so involved in their own lives, that being available to spend time with you becomes more and more rare.

With SaRC you can develop networks and build friendships, have good conversations and chats, enjoy great food, fun events and adventures.

If that sounds like you, register today to begin your whole new social life!

Q: Isn’t SaRC just another Singles’ Club?

A: Whilst there will be some similarities, SaRC’s underlying purpose is completely different to most singles’ clubs.

SaRC is about supporting you while you are single.

Traditional “singles’ clubs” expect you to be searching for dates or a partner and they are aimed at people who don’t want to be single, rather than genuinely providing a club for people who are single.

Single life can be busy and difficult but it can also be fabulous, exciting and enriching. SaRC can help you achieve a great single life.

Q: How else is SaRC different to other singles’ clubs?

A: Other singles’ clubs appear to view success as being when their members find partners as a result of joining their club. SaRC believes that success depends on a variety of criteria, and that those criteria depend on the goals of person concerned.

• If you join SaRC to make new friends and you do, then that’s success.
• If you join SaRC to learn how to make the most of your single life and you do, then that’s success.
• If you join SaRC because you want to be part of a network that helps and supports you and you feel that it does, then that’s success.

As our members achieve their personal successes, we would love to spread the good news among the other members to inspire them to achieve their own successes.

Q: So is SaRC anti-dating?

A: No, not at all but if your main goal for joining a singles’ club is to date, then there are many other clubs in New Zealand with that exact focus that you would be better off joining.

Q: How do you know what single life is like?

A: The concept of SaRC was developed by Hilary, herself a single person.

She knows what it is like to live a single life and she knows that there are a lot of us experiencing the same singles issue. She shares the frustrations of higher costs (pricing policies being beneficial for couples and families), fewer benefits (do singles get any tax credits or special discount cards?) and she has experienced many, if not all, of the typical situations that singles have to cope with (including buying a second hand car on her own).

In addition, she regularly feels that she is pressured into coupledom by those around her and that she is constantly trying to fend off those pressures.

She is, in many ways, an EXPERT in being single!

Q: Sounds like a great idea, but how do I know you are genuine?

A: As a professional (with lots of initials after her name!!), Hilary takes honesty and integrity very seriously.

SaRC has been developed with the genuine intention of building a community network to support single people and to bring single people together to share in having a great life.

All the photos on this website are genuine photos taken by Hilary, we haven't bought stock photos from the Internet that might give you a false impression of our organisation.

Q: What else does the network do?

A: About a third of the NZ population is non-partnered but there are no government departments or commissions set up for us, we have no voice.

SaRC challenges a lot of stereotypes about single life and often Hilary will go on a crusade to encourage other organisations and groups to regard single people on the same level as they do for couples.

These have varying degrees of success, and details are shared on the monthly newsletters.

Q: I’m not married but I do have a partner, can I join?

A: SaRC is designed to support single people so it would not be appropriate for you to try to join the social club whilst you have a partner. However, as you are not married, a number of the news items may be relevant to you and you are welcome to join as a Bronze member and receive the regular newsletter.

Please bear in mind though that competitions, surveys and feedback requests are designed for those who are non-partnered. It will be down to your own conscience if you opt to enter when you know you shouldn’t.

Q: What’s in it for me?

A: SaRC has a range of membership levels so you get to choose which level suits you best and how much benefit you get from it. As membership numbers grow, we hope to be able to obtain even more benefits for our members.

See our Membership page for details and to sign up for the FREE newsletter.

Q: Can I submit ideas for events, news items and benefits?

A: Absolutely! SaRC is a community network and we are continually looking for input and feedback. Please contact us with your ideas. If you are passionate about a particular interest, ask about Diamond Membership of SaRC to share your interest with other members.

Q: Do I have to join the Social Club to come to events?

A: Yes, you do. Events are only open to Social Club members (Silver, Gold and Diamond members)

For the safety of our members, we do not advertise our events to the general public, as we can't be sure who will turn up or what their intentions are.

Q: Can I bring friends to events?

A: The majority of events are only open to Social Club members.

If you want to bring a friend because you are nervous of attending by yourself, please rest assured that we will try to make you feel as comfortable as possible.

All events are hosted, so you know that someone will be there to greet you and help you to settle into the group.

And remember, many of the other members will be in the same situation as you, so you won’t be the only one.

Q: What are the age-ranges of the members?

A: SaRC isn’t an age restricted group. Our members are all ages – from mid-20s to retirement age (I hope they don’t mind me saying that).

Q: What are you current members like?

A: Our members come from a wide range of backgrounds. For photos of some of our members, see the Events page.

Q: Sounds great! Remind me, how do I join?

A: We now have online Social Club applications, so you can join straightaway or you can request a meeting before joining. Head to our Membership page to find out more.

It really couldn’t be easier to change your social life!    

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