• Randomly select 6 to 10 people affected by or interested in the community issue to make up the focus group.
• Book venue and arrange catering if meeting goes across a meal time.
• Hire a facilitator.
• Prepare preliminary questions.
• Send reminders to participant with time, date, venue and questions.
• Brief participants and the facilitator on the aims and objectives of the session.
• Establish ground rules: keep focused; maintain momentum, get closure on questions (see Mc Namara reference).
• Encourage shy participants if they feel anxious about revealing their opinions/feelings.
• Engage a co-facilitator to record issues raised by individuals (may use audio, audio/visual, and/or written notes).
• De-brief the participants and the facilitator.
• Compile a report of proceedings for the organisers, and offer a copy to the participants.