Newsletter platform changes & digital tool recommendations
I set up this Substack in Autumn 2022, and decided it wasn't worth the bother - Mailchimp was around £5 a month back then, for over 500 contacts. Now it’s around £20 a month and I’m trying to curb my spending.
All these magical tools which save me and the coworking space time and money, do financially add up: Xero for accounting, Coherent for our booking platform, GoCardless/Stripe for our payments, Zapier for automation between tools, Canva/Adobe for design, Grammarly for … grammar … and then we get to Minor Figures for oat milk, Grind/Quarterhorse for coffee, Who Gives A Crap for loo roll, Smol for dishwasher tablets, Eufy for CCTV… if you need a digital tool or a product postal subscription service recommendation/referral - I’m your skint but organised gal!
Anyway, TOPO newsletters might look a bit different. Substack is free and not as pretty as Mailchimp - but the content will be the same. There’s a nice feature where you can comment on the newsletters and we can chat - please do this!
I hope you’ve had a good bank holiday weekend.All the best, Kerry & team TOPO
Accountability sessions at TOPO
This Tuesday 28 May 1.30-5pm, join Rachel and Fiona for an accountability session.
It will look something like this:
1.30-1.45pm, coffee and chat - talk about what you’re going to be working on
1.45-2.35pm, focused working
2.35-2.50pm, break/cuppa, sharing how you got on, and what you’re working on next
2.50-3.40pm, focused working
3.40-3.55pm, break/cuppa
3.55-4.45pm, focused working
4.45pm, debrief
If you’d like to join for some company and comradery, book for the afternoon slot - All you need to do on your booking is make a note that you’re joining the accountability session and we’ll save you a space on the table.
If you’d like to work at The Old Post Office on Tuesday and don’t want to participate in this session on this occassion, that’s fine too.
What are TOPO coworkers up to?
Imani’s boundary-setting for Start-up Founders and Entrepreneurs is this Wednesday 29 May, “Research shows that caring for ourselves allows us to better care for and relate to others.” Tickets via eventbrite
@rachsambrookscomedy is on stage at new comedy night, Crash Test Comedy at The Cuban Embassy, 6.30pm Sunday 2 June. It is genuinely an all-Rachel line-up, and if your name is Rachel, you get a free drink. Tickets via eventbrite
TOPO co-op explorer & Wednesday keyholder, Alice (Ageable) is speaking at New Local conference on Tuesday 4 June, as part of a break-out session. The topic is "How can we wrap the strengths of a community around a person after they are discharged from the hospital?”. The conference is sold out for the in-person event, but there are still online streaming tickets available
Sharonjit is continuing her His Name Is Not Charlie interview series, a project gathering stories about names, which stemmed from conversations about her Nana’s experiences “by refusing to even try to pronounce "Rajinder" it stripped him of his identity”. If you’d like to participate in the project or read some of the stories already shared - visit the instagram page.
Local links
Our Scene CIC are raising funds for new pathways around the new Dawberry Corner Community Garden to make it wheelchair accessible. They have a target of £5000 - Link to crowdfunder
Tara Attfield-Tomes (Birmingham-based Eastside Village PR) has founded a new community for female* founders, called the 51% club. Membership is free - and there is networking, peer support, expert advice and events. *It’s open to any business owner who identifies as a woman - I’ve joined. Find out more at 51% club’s website.
Nook, by Gosia Weber, is a new artist shared studio space and shop in Kings Heath opening soon. There’s a communal workshop space available for one more studio holder - if you’re interested, get in touch with Gosia on @nook_kingsheath
All the lovers, A big Brummy night of live music and dancing celebrating some of Fatt Butcher’s favourite independent queer music artists from across the UK, including cabaret iconoclast, Midgitte Bardot. Wednesday 12 June from 7.30pm, £5 (free tickets for low income) Tickets online
Stirchley Community Market is in less than three weeks. Saturday 15 June from 10am-3pm at Grade II listed Stirchley Baths. Should be good (I coordinate it - I may be biased) Our instagram is where we mostly live online.
20+ stalls, including designer-makers, independent businesses, CICs and community organisations
Street food by The Street Baller (meatball/veggieball subs) and Notty Bites (vegan Indian food)
Market fundraiser cafe by Stirchley Community Market volunteers
Short film screenings and film-based craft activities by Stirchley Open Cinema
Badge making by Kings Heath Action for Refugees
Dr Bike service from Birmingham Bike Foundry
Heritage tours by Stirchley History Group
P.s. Did you know we have a coworkers Whatsapp community? Reply to this email if you'd like to join. (You sort of have to have been to the coworking space though!)P.p.s. If you'd like to come and cowork you can book your desk via this link