Highgate Lunch Club at Stanhope Hall by Balsallheathan
If it’s been a little quieter than normal on here of late, it’s because I’ve been quite busy with my new job with talk about local, where I’m spreading the hyperlocal joy by helping people in communities across the UK get a powerful online voice and create simple but effective community websites.
At the moment we’re in the West Midlands pilot phase of the project, which means we’ll be delivering training across the region over this autumn, mainly through UK online centres.
We were keen to do something in Highgate as, being based in Fazeley Studios, it’s pretty much on our doorstep and there’s some great things going there which need shouting about. Digbeth life has kept me sufficiently occupied to not explore much beyond Cheapside, but hopefully there’ll soon somewhere online telling Highgate’s story.
One of the best hidden gems I’ve discovered in Highgate, thanks to Friction Arts’ local knowledge, is Stanhope Hall on the corner of Ketley Croft/Emily Street (map here). It’s a community and youth centre that always seems to have something going on – community lunches a couple of times a month, often eating the food they’ve grown in the garden space outside, and a holistic medicine course that started this week.
I met with the Women’s Group there, who agreed it would be great to get what they’re doing online. So this coming Monday 19th October 10.00am-12.00pm talk about local will be holding a free, open session there in the why’s and wherefore’s of community websites. Fingers crossed we’ll even have created a couple by the end!
All are welcome so if you’re free and interested in creating a site, or perhaps you already have a site that you’d like some help with, please come along and meet me and Mike Rawlins at Stanhope Hall at 10.00am on Monday.
Hi Nikki – this is really interesting for me as I’ve just joined Women & Theatre in the Friends Institute in Highgate – and we Stanhope Hall well (in fact I think I’ve got a meeting with them next week!)
I can’t make your session on Monday, but just kind of wanted to express an interest really, and just ask if we could somehow be kept in the loop etc…! Thanks! x
ps LOVE the image! x
Cheers Pippa! Yes, will definitely keep you in the loop, I hear Women & Theatre are doing some great work in Highgate. You can also email me at nicky@talkaboutlocal.org or telephone 0121 288 2910. It’s a pity you can’t make this one but I’m sure we’ll be back soon enough!
By the way, the image is by Balsallheathan at http://www.flickr.com/photos/28046887@N05/
It seems to have been submitted to Big Picture 2008 at http://www.inthebigpicture.co.uk/
really looking forward to the comedy night at Stanhope hall next wednesday . the comedy is going to be really great -all local women xx