Each year the RDCA runs a “Community Events” online survey to help set the agenda for what social events the committee should be focusing on for the year ahead.
The latest survey was opened in November 2025, attracted 20 respondents, and will be used as guidance for the 2026 social events programme.
The key question in the survey is where respondents could choose what type of events they would to see organised in 2026.
| Question: what kinds of events would you most like to see staged in 2026? (tick all that apply, and add comments to explain any preferences) | ||||
| Activity | Votes | % of total | ||
| Live music at the Royal Oak | 18 | 90% | ||
| Quiz night | 16 | 80% | ||
| Specialist speakers | 14 | 70% | ||
| Village summer BBQ | 13 | 65% | ||
| Local History Talks | 13 | 65% | ||
| Music at St.Barnabas church (soloists, small acoustic groups) | 12 | 60% | ||
| Nature walk | 11 | 55% | ||
| Charity auction/raffle night | 10 | 50% | ||
| St.Davids Day music/dance night | 10 | 50% | ||
| Guest Chef Night – A local cook or visiting chef prepares themed cuisine | 9 | 45% | ||
| Roaming dinner party | 8 | 40% | ||
| Seed Swap & Gardening Talk | 8 | 40% | ||
| Seed Swap & Gardening Talk | 6 | 30% | ||
| Xmas Carol concert | 6 | 30% | ||
| Board games evening | 6 | 30% | ||
| Cheese & Ale Pairing Evening – Perfect for winter warmth. | 6 | 30% | ||
| Wellbeing Workshops – Yoga, mindfulness, or fitness sessions | 5 | 25% | ||
| Story telling/poetry evening | 4 | 20% | ||
| Ceilidh or Folk Dance Evening | 3 | 15% | ||
| Pub Theatre | 3 | 15% | ||
| Cook-Off Challenges – “Best Curry in the Village” or “Chilli Night” judged by attendees. | 3 | 15% | ||
| Debating Club Night – Light-hearted debates on quirky topics (“Is the leek superior to the daffodil?”) | 3 | 15% | ||
| Fun run | 3 | 15% | ||
| Leisurely cycle rides | 3 | 15% | ||
| Winter Pub Games League – Darts, dominoes, cribbage, or pool tournaments spread across several weeks. | 2 | 10% | ||
| Improvisation Workshop – Fun, confidence-building, and often hilarious | 2 | 10% | ||
| Easter pancake race | 2 | 10% | ||
| Murder Mystery Night | 1 | 5% | ||
| Karaoke Night | 0 | 0% |
Other results from the survey covered:
- When asked to rank the enjoyment of 2025 social events, (from 1 = poor, to 5=excellent), the average score was 4.6 out 5
- Satisfaction with the event venue scored 4.7 out 5
- 95% of the respondents felt that the events were affordable enough to encourage participation
- When asked about event frequency, 45% of respondents thought monthly was the right interval, whilst 35% opted for quarterly.
- When asked about the best seasons to stage events, there was no preference for or against any season
- In terms of communication methods, email and Facebook remain the preferred mediums
The survey included a number of open comment questions, and a summary of the comments received is shown below:
Music & Performances:
- Strong interest in varied, eclectic music across the year.
- Clear preferences for folk, acoustic, classical, and music from musicals.
- Less enthusiasm for jazz and heavy metal/rock
- Past music events described as good fun, though a couple felt too similar.
- Some people missed events they would have liked to attend.
Event Frequency & Scheduling:
- Many feel events could be quarterly rather than monthly to ease hosting and improve attendance.
- Preference for avoiding Wednesdays and Thursdays.
- Events have been running for some time; a refreshed rhythm might help.
Quizzes:
- Strongly mixed views: some love them, others dislike them entirely.
- Note that the church already runs a quiz with the college.
BBQs, Socials & Summer Events:
- Strong enthusiasm for: Village BBQs in a central location with a relaxed afternoon atmosphere.
- Summer ale/beer festival with BBQ and garden games.
- Village summer party
Outdoor Activities
- Interest in a calendar of local walks through the seasons.
- Past walking events described as very good.
- New idea: 24‑hour charity walk around the 3‑mile loop
Food Nights / Pop‑Ups:
- Very strong enthusiasm for Indian nights — people want more.
- Praise for the Indian chef; suggestion for a cookery demonstration.
- Assumption that these refer to restaurant pop‑ups.
- The Oak’s event was excellent.
Dancing & Twmpath:
- Clear support for a Twmpath.
- Dancing is more enjoyable when everyone knows the moves.
- Inspired by a successful event in Llandovery.
Talks & Speakers:
- Interest depends on subject matter.
- Talks have been good in the past, but speaker quality matters.
- Strong enthusiasm for local history.
Games & Miscellaneous Activities:
- Requests to revive Scrabble evenings.
- Interest in darts.
- Beer‑and‑cheese events get enthusiastic approval.
- Some ideas seen as good but difficult to organise.
Church / RDCA Collaboration:
- Suggestion that some events (e.g., concerts) could be run by the church as fundraisers, with RDCA supporting publicity.