Posts Tagged ‘hub’

Pop Up News

Friday, March 5th, 2010

The Parlour: nostalgic fun and civilised merriment (without the modern accoutrements) in a wistful pop up space
Using the site of an historic Clerkenwell shop, a pop up space will be transformed into an eclectic parlour where friends and family can gather to engage, think, express, play games, and – most importantly – relax and enjoy a unique old-world experience.

The Parlour will take place from March 5th to 10th and will be hosted by Mistress of Manners, Dana Gornitzki, Editor of MIEN magazine (and Hub members!) – a newly launched website dedicated to etiquette, culture and style. Dana Gornitzki says: “The idea behind the Parlour is to switch off your mobile phone and return to the roots of what a parlour was used for: a lovely living space where one could receive visitors in the most polite way possible. The Parlour pop up will be a place to write letters, engage in good conversation, play games like cards, drink punch and enjoy music. It’s about simple pleasures.”

The wistful pop up hopes to take guests away from the fast-paced,intense, digital world we live in, inviting them to interact and engage with each other in a charming setting. During the day, the Parlour will be the perfect place to come read a book, write letters (or in your journal!), peruse art and other anecdotes left by visitors, or have a relaxed chat away from the busy streets of the city. On select afternoons and evenings, the Parlour will feature unique nostalgic workshops and play time: an assortment of delightful happenings including parlour games, poetry recitals, writing workshops, vintage screenings, listening to old records, and a few other handsome surprises. Most importantly, the Parlour will be free of mobile telephones, computers and modern-day gadgets, making time for quality, face-to-face conversations.

The Parlour will partially be furnished by Restore – a north London community project that aids people in need. So, for those who want to take a piece of the Parlour home with them, some of the furniture will be for sale with all proceeds going to Restore.
The Parlour will be welcoming visitors on March 5th through to the 10th @ 97-99 Clerkenwell Road, London EC1R 5BX. The Parlour is curated and hosted by MIEN Magazine with the support of Camden Council.
For more information: Dana Gornitzki at  info@mienmagazine.com or  + 44(0) 7595 290 718

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Hub Members | No Comments »

Competition time with Think Act Vote: Inspiring people to engage in politics through fashion

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

Think Act Vote is a new campaign to inspire people to think about what they believe in and how they use their vote in the forthcoming election.

Think Act Vote founder, Amisha Ghadiali (ex-Hub Kings Cross Host and current member) said: “If politics were a fashion label, you wouldn’t wear it. We want to use creativity to create a community around the choices we make for our future.”

In partnership with ethical fashion label Komodo, Think Act Vote launches with a search for their carbon neutral Think Act Vote t-shirt from up and coming designers, artists and illustrators. The only proviso is that the design must include the words “Think Act Vote”. Submissions can be uploaded to the Think Act Vote website before the deadline of 12 noon on Sunday 7th March.

An online public vote will determine a shortlist of 10 designs. The winner will be decided by the Think Act Vote judging panel, made up of some of the best-known faces in ethical fashion and design, including ethical hero Katherine Hamnett, celebrated illustrator Daisy de Villeneuve and the original ‘anti-preneur’, Cyndi Rhoades.

Katherine Hamnett said, “Thousands of people have died and are dying all over the world for the right to vote. It is one of our most precious possessions. Use it before we loose it.”

The winning design will be announced at a launch party in April. The t-shirt will be produced by Komodo and will be available to purchase online and in selected shops across the UK. Runners-up will feature in a beautifully produced lifestyle book alongside a creative anthology of people’s responses to one simple question, designed to get people thinking about the positive choices we can make for our future: “what’s the future you would choose”.

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

The Hub | February Events

Monday, February 1st, 2010

Hurrah – February is upon us. I can even hear spring. Great events and happenings this month – check them out and pass on to your friends!

All the best,

The Hosting Team…
x

 lunch-in-a-box-heart-sandwich 

Hub Lunch | Of Love, Thursday 11th February
Hub Islington, 1-2pm

Valentine’s Day! Kitsch, flowers, candle-light, romance, love. LOVE! Uhoh.

A light-hearted twist on our weekly Sexy Salad Club – bring in food to share and we’ll spice things up a little, set the mood, dim the lights, put on that special album… 

 

This event is free! Bring food to share and you’re welcome to bring a friend. Any questions or marriage requests to alex.rinsler@the-hub.net

Hub Launch | Hand Views – Exhibition & Book, Tuesday 16th February
Hub Kings Cross, 6.30pm

Handviews is released annually: a portrait of people’s opinions through their hands about their current lives and wishes. Hub member Ana Garcia photographed in January in the Hub for the Handviews book and exhibition. Hub members who took part can now see their hands on the walls of Hub Kings Cross and in the Handviews book. 

This event is free! Get in touch if you plan to attend: eleanor.whitley@the-hub.net

  

The Hub

  

  

  

  

Hub Members Council | Monthly Meetup, Wednesday 17th February
Hub Islington, 5-6pm
The Hub Islington Members Council is a monthly meeting open to all members. We talk about things we would like to see going on in the Hub and discuss with Hosts how best to get make them happen. We have a monthly budget of £100 and 16 hours of time, so we can use of this to prioritise new exciting projects.

 

All Hub Islington members are welcome, if you plan to attend please email alex.rinsler@the-hub.net

Professor David Nutt

Hub Pioneers | Professor David Nutt, Wednesday 17th February
Hub Islington, 6.30-8pm

Professor David Nutt was until November 2009 Chair of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. Since being asked to stand down by the Home Secretary he has now set up the Independent Scientific Committee on Drugs, with four of the five members of the ACMD who resigned with him last year. Its mission is to make public the evidence on the relative risks and harms of drugs without regard to political sensitivities.

The circumstances around his dismissal fired national debate not just about the impact of drugs, but also the boundaries between science and politics and the role of Government in our society. He will join us to speak more about his work and take questions.

The Hub Pioneers series is an opportunity to meet people at the forefront of social change who may not necessarily be seen as social entrepreneurs.

Attendance is £4 for Hub members and £5 for non-members – space is strictly limited so please email alex.rinsler@the-hub or call 020 7841 8900 to confirm your place.

BIS logo

Hub Office Hours | with the Public Sector Innovation Unit from the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills,
Tuesday 23rd February

, Hub Kings Cross, 2-4.30pm

 

A representative of the Public Sector Innovation Unit (PSI) from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) will be working out of Hub Kings Cross from 2-4.30pm the 23rd Feb. The interests of the PSI Unit lie in exploring the opportunities to connect innovative entrepreneurs with government, in order to support fresh thinking within the public sector in both policy making and service delivery. 

Hub Kings Cross, The PSI from the Dept of BIS and, Volans invite you to come and connect to use this exciting opportunity to be in touch with a representative of the UK Government.  This representative will be joined by a member of the Volans team who will be able to share insight on how partnerships between entrepreneurs and the private and public sector can be catalytic and mutually beneficial for all parties involved.

This is an informal drop in session. If you have any questions please contact Eleanor at Hub Kings Cross (eleanor.whitley@the-hub.net). Please note: the UK Government representative is not responsible for the funding arrangements for social enterprise and so will not be at the Hub to advise on this. However, they will try, where they can, to point you in the right direction.

clearlyso
Hub Partnership | Investor Speed Dating in association with ClearlySo, Tuesday 23rd February
Hub Kings Cross, 7pm

Social enterprises have two minutes to pitch to each of our carefully selected investors. Investors will then have two minutes to ask questions about your business, capital requirements and expected financial and social returns. After this more formal part of the evening ClearlySo hosts drinks at the bar downstairs… often where the real connections are made!

If you are interested to take part please contact Simon Evill from ClearlySo on 020 7281 7913.

 

The Feast at King's Cross... 

Feast | Hosted by Hub Kings Cross & Food Stuff, Wednesday 24th February 
Hub Kings Cross, 7pm

On the last Wednesday of every month, Food Stuff and the Hub host a feast. The invitation is for people who love food, cooking it, talking about it and most of all, eating it, to come along with both an open mind and a dish to share to eat with people that feel the same.

An informal evening with a very loose agenda, we hope to create a feast where conversation about food, life, love and everything in between, can flow freely. In February we’re very excited that Andy from Mindapples (an online campaign that encourages us to explore the five a day we need for our mental health) has put the date in his diary and will be thinking about the dish he’s going to bring. Whether you’re keen to talk more about Mind Apples, or a million other things, we look forward to seeing you there.

If you are interested in joining please get in touch with Eleanor at Hub Kings Cross (eleanor.whitley@the-hub.net) or Holly at Food Stuff (holly@foodstuff.org.uk)

 

Starsuckers

Hub Screening | Starsuckers, Thursday 25th February
Hub Islington, 7-10pm

 

Premiered in the 2009 London Film Festival and heralded by the Sunday Telegraph as “Thrilling” and “Revolutionary”, Starsuckers exposes the toxic effect that the media and celebrity are having on our world. Filmed in secret over two years, Chris Atkins (of award-winning Taking Liberties) and his production team posed as tipsters, making up stories for the tabloid press and seeing how far they could get. Chris will be joining us to introduce the film, and for Q/A at the end.

Tickets are £4 to Hub members and £5 to non-members. Space is limited so email alex.rinsler@the-hub.net to reserve your place, or call 020 7841 8900.

.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Hear from a Host, Hub News | No Comments »

Don’t call us Four Eyes….

Monday, January 11th, 2010

Having just got new glasses today (being somewhat old now and being tired of my eyes increasingly failing me) we realised how many Hubbers wear glasses. Does this mean we’re all more intelligent than non glasses wearing non Hubbers? Mean we’re cooler? Mean we all become Superman at the weekend? Or just mean we have bad genes?

Either way, here is a pic of us. Hot eh?
Holly xx

We heart Glasses!

We heart Glasses!

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Pool of Hosts | Sarah

Friday, November 13th, 2009

Pool of Hosts | SarahIts that afternoon slump time, as Holly mentioned in her post yesterday…though I don’t think we’ll be creating any human pyramids today…but the good news is that it’s Friday (dare I say it – Friday the 13th…ooooh!), and Wine Friday is just around the corner! Phew!

Its a good day to be inside, it’s raining…it’s pouring…it’s drizzling out there, and even popping out to run a few errands and grab a coffee is depressing stuff…thankfully I can warm myself (and my now wet shoes) by the fire, and dream about a quiet weekend of hibernating!

Pity I missed the Hub Lunch yesterday, it sounded like a lot of fun, and seeing as I am really fond of food too (perhaps not more than Holly though – whose passion is amazing?!) it would have been great to be there…

Its my second Friday helping to host here at Islington…I am so loving the environment and Hub community feel, its such a nice change from the usual formal office environment.

Hope to chat to more of you in person soon

Sarah

Tags: , ,
Posted in Hub Islington | No Comments »

Start of the week…so full of potential….

Monday, July 27th, 2009

Mondays are always a good day in the Hub. We look to the week ahead, plan what we will be working on, stat getting excited about who will be coming through the doors, catch up with members. Just generally get ready for the next 5 days!

This mornign I’ve been doing some space tidying – this is how we usually start the week. It’s great to come in after the weekend as your eyes are so fresh and you see things you didn’t notice before! We’ve had an influx of new members lately so they all need storage space – this means telling a few current members to tidy up a bit! I also signed up a member who is just about to finish a business plan for a participatory video project. She wants to tell ’stories’ of people in the community, but real stories that will then be shown on TV or the internet. The example she gave me was of a black bus driver who got promoted quite quickly once he started the job. He also got outcast by his colleagues and fired quite quickly. Purely because of his colour (this happened in 2008!). She wants to tell his story, filming at the locations it happened in and maybe even interviewing the people involved. Her biggest problem is finding funding to build a website which she feels would really help her move things forward. Funding is one of our members biggest issues I think.

There is of course the Unltd’s out there and the Big Lottery fund quite a few people, but I think one of the biggest issues is around timescale. You do the application, you wait a month to hear if you’ve got it, you submit a further proposal, then you find out wahey! you’re in! then it’s another month before you see any cash. Quite a long process! Not that I’m complaining, it’s just frustrating I think because so many of our members deal with issues that need solutions NOW! Or yesterday more precisely. Climate change, social inclusion, sustainability, community buidling. They’re all urgent things and if you wait four months to be able to act on them, lots can change. Of course, it is important not to depend solely on funding though and I’m always amazed at how dedicated people are to what they believe in and the sacrifices they sometimes have to make – financial, emotional or otherwise.

Today I need to finish off the report from the AGM – a bit of evaluation and next steps – and circulate it to members. I want their honest feedback but I’m never too sure on what the best forum for this is. We are launching a members council in the coming weeks which will meet once a month to share knowledge, ideas, thoughts and feedback so hopefully this will work well. One of the things that came out of the AGM though was having a vairety of ways to engage for members so that whatever suits you – whether you’re a techie, a talker or a drawer – you can get involved.

I’m also following up from an exciting meeting I had on Friday with Tal from Seeducation – he’s organisaing a one year development course for young people who will be paid to take part in a new curriculum that creates leaders in social enterprise and activity. The Hub wants to develop a programme that engages with more young people and ideas we talked about were an internship programme where Seeducation students could do an internship for relevant Hub members, the students being able to study in the space and on a separate note, Seeducation hosting the space in the evening and weekends (when most of their students will be working).

To end on an exciting note, we had a visitor from Madrid over on Friday who wanted to see a Hub in action before h decided whether to invest in Hub Madrid or not. We must have done something right because he chose to invest! Congratulations Madrid :) The drinks are on you….

Holly

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Hub Islington | No Comments »

And so the blogging begins…

Thursday, July 23rd, 2009

I will start by giving you some facts.

I am Holly. I host Hub Islington. The Hub provides physical and virtual spaces for social entrepreneurs to meet, work and play. Having begun 4 years ago in an old derelict warehouse just behind Angel tube station, the Hub is now an international network of amazing people doing amazing things.

In London, we have spaces for working, meeting, hosting events, entreprenurs working towards a better environment, sustainable design solutions, coaching and consultancy, going back to the local, facilitating dialogue and much, much more. In Europe we have Hubs running Summer Schools full of inspiration, planning and action, co creation being used, shaped and developed, and learning being shared, transferred and expanded. In South America, new definitions of Hub are taking shape – local Hubs, creative spaces dependent on communities and opening an opportunity for conversation and resolution. And other networks expanding, using the potential of collective power, action and decision-making and helping to shape a new economy, a new way of working and a new way to live.

I am a Host and this means that I (along with other Hosts) run the space in Islington, facilitate collaboration between members, develop an exciting member led programme of events, explore opportunities for development both within the local community and beyond and do, well, much more than I could write here .

Members have asked us to start blogging about what we do and how we do it so consider this the official starting place of fulfilling that request. Over the coming posts you can expect to get an insight into the world of social entrepreneurship, what it’s like to be involved in a fast expanding international network of change makers and other thoughts, innovations, conversations and hey, maybe even the odd photo or two. If you want to find out more about the Hub, please email us at islington.hosts@the-hub.net and to get an idea of what we look like, look here

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Hub Islington | 3 Comments »

Blog