Ever fancied taking part in urban street photography, trying your hand at upcycling or maybe even a Djibouti hula hoop workout?

Didn’t know they existed? Well. thanks to a growing online community, there is a world of creative experiences out there just waiting to be discovered.

Funzing, which is newly-launched in Manchester, aims to be the ‘go-to’ destination for locals looking for original and quality ways to spend their free time.

The website and Android app, with iOS coming soon, acts as a platform for creative hosts with passions, hobbies and knowledge, to share their expertise through unique events.

And following success in London, Tel Aviv and Singapore, the online marketplace is about to shake things up in Manchester, the first UK destination outside of London.

Co-founder Yaron Saghiv said: “Funzing was born out of our frustration at being bored and going to the same places again - the same old coffee shop or pub.

“We said, let’s go a level up from websites offering what’s on ideas and create a new world of unique content triggering the long tail of individuals and small business owners to create experiences on what they love to do.”

The classic example, I am told, is ‘James, a corporate lawyer by day but amazing at making pickles in his free time.

“Although he is fantastic and skilled, he doesn’t know that he can make an extra income out of it, says Saghiv.

“This free platform allows him to write about himself and offer to host people in his kitchen totally risk free.

“We will help with content writing and pictures and only when he starts selling tickets does the business model change.”

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Once hosts start selling tickets to an event, Funzing will take a 15 per cent commission.

Founded in Israel at the end of 2014, the sharing economy site was the brainchild of Avigur Zmora after a ‘typical weekend with the kids.

The former CEO of Playtech created the online marketplace with three co-founders, Eran Alon, Noa Moscati and Yaron, after a seed investment of $1.5m.

Saghiv joined Funzing after founding and managing several start-up ventures. including The Student Hive.

The chief marketing officer is a serial entrepreneur and specialises in growth hacking with a hands-on approach towards marketing methods.

He said: “Funzing is a risk free website, just like all these sharing economy models.

“You put your house on Airbnb or you want to be an Uber driver – the whole idea is that it lets you expose yourself and get out there – so we really invite people to give it a go.

Funzing took off in London nine months ago with the help of Mancunian Julia Fagelman.

The 28-year-old community and content manager joined a year ago after moving to Tel Aviv.

She had previously worked as a corporate lawyer in the capital and decided to get involved with the burgeoning start-up community in Israel.

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“We say bring your talent, bring your passion and we will do the rest.”

There are now 500 hosts in London offering everything from graffiti workshops, secret Chinese dim sum experiences, to pottery in the garden and zombie runs.

The CMO said: “This whole story of London has been going on and suddenly people in Manchester started signing up and trying to offer their talents.

“So we consulted Julia and decided to launch here too. We have been going around the Northern Quarter, Chorlton and Didsbury looking for small business owners and talented individuals.”

There are around 20 live events in Manchester already, with the concept set to pick up momentum this month.

And Funzing has grown to a staff of 13 worldwide.

Asked what makes the concept special Saghiz says: “Everything is very social and every host has a face - it would never be the name of a pub, it would be James the pub owner and he would write about himself.

“He is reviewed, rated and it is shared on social media networks so we create a community site.”

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Each host can set the capacity and price of the event, which is on average about £30-£35.

However, Fagelman warns: “We stay away from courses. It is more one-off experiences because we want to give our users a real variety and not have them pay hundreds of pounds.”

This idea of learning a new skill from someone’s passion is really taking off, with 2,000 hosts in the Funzing system, and more than 35,000 people attending events since it launched.

Saghiv, aged 30, can also see a regional office on the horizon.

“There is a good chance we will open an office here in Manchester, he says.

“It is a win win situation because every host is a kind of ambassador for us.”

Julia added: “Manchester is changing very quickly and the arty, quirky scene is really building up.

“There is a real potential for creatives here that I think don’t necessarily have a platform to showcase their talent.”

3 Top Manchester Experiences

Urban Manchester Street Photography with a Pro

Cost - £20

Length - 1.5 hour

Description - Ahmed has been looking through his lens for more than 10 years, with photography starting as a hobby and evolving so that it’s now part of how he makes his living.

His aim is to show you the way he sees things in a different perspective... and he can’t wait to show you his secret hints and tips to snapping a unique photograph.

Djibouti Hula Hoop Workout

Cost - £10

Length - 1 hour

Description - Earn new hoop tricks, exercise in a fun way and get abs harder than diamonds with The Majorettes, a world record hoola hoop troupe led by Marawa The Amazing!

Discover the Rich Flavours of Indian Street Food

Cost - £65

Description - Though the energy and pandemonium of the roadsides in India can’t be recreated in your living room at home, Monica will be teaching you how to get as close as you can in producing and celebrating the vivaciousness of Indian Street Food from your own kitchen.