Hello,Weekly newsletter time! Albeit a few days late. But when you see how mega this week's newsletter is, you'll see why.Contents:
The Old Post Office has two new events to tell you about - all the details are below - thanks Gemma, Jessy and Ellie
Rachel (Baker) continues to be most-excellent at staying on top of TOPO's social media, and this week she's introducing coworker Jolly Jess
Lots of links to things I've seen, that I think you'd find of interest
and return of 'Music to work to' with a valentines playlist.
I don't think I shout enough from the rooftops about all the keyholders, thank you especially to Mark and Bryn (Mondays), Fiona (Tuesdays), Alice (Wednesdays), Abbe (Thursdays) and Pendra (Fridays). I was so ambitious thinking I would be able to work from TOPO with my new job at the council which I started back in October, but it's not quite worked out that way! The power of coworking community has definitely pulled through.I'm looking forward to attending the 'Is a co-op right for us?' workshop at Stirchley Baths in a few weeks to see if it would be viable for TOPO long term (I think the answer is yes - and we are all aware there's zero money in running a coworking space from a building that isn't our own with almost monthly repairs the lease doesn't cover!). Anyway! Enjoy the rest of the week - book your desk and join us to see what it's all about and get some focus time. — Kerry
New to TOPO: Fat Joy book club
Sunday 3 March, 11:00 – 13:00
Fat joy book club is a space to explore fat joy through books, podcasts, discussions and tasty snacks.
For our first meet up we’re inviting everyone to discuss ideas about what the group could be and decide some topics and books together. There’s nothing to prepare but you can bring some ideas, some great books you’ve read or just yourselves.
The group is open to everyone and anyone who identifies as fat or plus sized. We know that people have different feelings around using fat to describe themselves so if you don’t that’s totally ok. We hate clothes sizing, but for a more universal reference, if you are a UK size 18 or XXL and above then this space is for you!
We’re a queer and neurodivergent friendly group and we believe that every person deserves solidarity, support, care and joy. If you have any access needs, anything that would help you attend or make you more comfortable then please let us know. You can find out more about the venue’s access details, including chair sizes on The Old Post Office's access page on their website.
There will be (veggie/vegan) snacks so please let us know any dietary requirements or allergies so we can cater for everyone.
Looking forward to seeing you there!
The Old Post Office is hosting Ellen-Lou’s April Cut Flower Wax Carving Workshop:
“April's Cut Flower Wax Carving Workshop theme - the Anemone Coronaria.
This is a charity fundraiser event which will see all ticket funds donated to Gaza Insider:
Help bring relief to displaced children in Gaza.
All donations will support Gaza Insider's mission to provide immediate relief to displaced people living in tents in the central area of Gaza.
Behind this project is a team of four young individuals who, along with their late 26-year-old friend, decided to assist displaced families that lost everything within a couple of months.
Your donations will enable them to fund two crucial initiatives: "Keep Them Warm" and "Embrace the Little Ones." The first initiative aims to provide warmth to children in need by supplying essential winter items such as clothes, shoes, and blankets. The second initiative focuses on assisting babies in displacement camps with necessities like diapers, baby formula, and other essential items.
To learn more about their work or if you have any questions, I invite you to visit the @gazainsider page on Instagram.
Thank you to Kerry at The Old Post Office Stirchley for facilitating this event, allowing more funds to be donated. There are 12 tickets available, I hope to raise a target of £500+. The casting bill will be covered then the rest donated. As this is a larger group, I shall have some extra hands to help us all along.
I hope you can join us to carve a beautiful flower for a powerful cause.
Sunday 28th April
2pm-4.30pm
£65
Hosted by Ellie at The Old Post Office, Stirchley
Hot drinks & homemade cake
Ticket includes one brass casting
After carving your wax sculpture, it will be cast into your choice of brass or silver in the Jewellery Quarter.
The after process takes approximately 4 weeks. Collect your flower from the venue or have it posted to you.
Every workshop will see a different theme, allowing you to create your very own hand carved cut flower collection to scatter amongst your pots.
Meet a coworker
It's time to "Meet the Coworker" again - this week's is Jess Hill, aka "Jolly Jess"! We loved hearing about Jess' circus-based escapades...What do you do for work?I run Showtime Circus, which is an international circus school franchise with 13 venues now, still in our first year of franchising but we have been stabilised as a school for nearly 6 years now.We teach children of all ages how to spin plates, climb high on aerial silks and flip on trapeze, it is SO much fun!I love franchising it because I get to empower business owners to become the architect of their life by creating magical circus schools where children can be unapologetically themselves!What's your favourite thing about The Old Post Office?It’s such a great mix of time to concentrate and time to chat and network. I go there when I know I have risk assessments or drive organisation to do as I know I will concentrate, but equally I have met so many wonderful business owners chatting away to them too! The tea and coffee is always a bonus ;)What's your favourite spot in Stirchley and why?Has to be Alicia's Micro Bakehouse, what’s NOT to love about pizza and wine!!!!--If you'd be up for being featured in our Meet the Coworker series, reply to this email (or chat to Rachel) and we'll send you the details
Learn how to sew with expert and friendly tutor Charlotte, different short courses available for various ability levels - recently announced *kids/tween sessions* www.stirchleysewingschool.com
Links
My coworker (/colleague) Robbie is starting Saturday Morning Poetry sessions at University of Birmingham's The Exchange building. A friendly fun morning of poetry and verse - share your work or bring some poems from your favourite poets. The first meet is Saturday 24 February, 10am-11.30am. For more info contact Robbie: [email protected], there's also a facebook page
Back to Books and Black Girls Book Shelf are hosting a free book and arts festival with all proceeds to Medical Aid Palestine. Expect readings, workshops and general bookish joy, in support of and in solidarity with all people of Palestine. Held at The Moseley Hive, 12-6pm on Sat 24 February. Full info via instagram
This lent, Luke Prints is hosting The Green Chapel, a series of art workshops at St. Barnabas Church (Erdington) on the Christian Imagination, symbolic language in church architecture, art history and more. I first came across Luke's work when he did a series of Birmingham Modernist Church linocuts - though I can't find an image of them anywhere. For more info on The Green Chapel take a look at Luke's instagram
Bournville's Selly Manor have an exhibition in celebration of Black Tudors. Black Tudors: New Narratives has been created in collaboration with young, local artists of Black Heritage, to explore people of African origin who lived in England during the Tudor Era. The artists are Annie Pearson, Nompumelelo Ncube, Jade Eynon, and Nina-Simone Brown. You can catch the exhibition until Fri 22 March. More info on Selly Manor's website
Hyperlocal Stirchley coworking/studio news, South Birmingham Works is under new management, and has transformed into South Birmingham Studios for local artists. I found out via instagram, where I also came across Artworks Studios, another local artist studios. Lavely.
I Choose Birmingham, the city's biggest and best love letter to Birmingham's culture/hospitality/entertainment subscribed to my newsletter. HI TOM!
I've put together a little TOP(O) LOVE playlist to give your Thursday morning a little boost. If you'd like to take up the invite to pick 10 tracks for a Music to work to playlist - please do! Reply to this email and I'll send you the info.
P.s. If you'd like to come and cowork, you can book your desk via this link