BASE infoshop will be at the Exchange this Sunday alongside other radical groups and troublemakers. We think it will provide some welcome relief from weeks of enforced “mourning” and are reliably informed there will be no outpourings of grief for the ruling class or their figureheads. Instead there will be plenty of radical books, pamphlets, music, talks a bar and top notch vegan food. Come meet folks involved in local organising and carry on fighting back, for a better world together. See you there! The queen is dead. Long live anarchy!
BASE social centre in Bristol has provided an important space for community and organising for a better world for over 25 years. Putting principles of mutual aid, solidarity, self organisation and co-operation into practice it has been an inspiration to many. This autonomous, not for profit space has contributed so much to Bristol’s good reputation as a city of radical and progressive politics. BASE has provided genuinely affordable / free space to a wide range of community, campaign and activist groups and hosted innumerable events of all sorts. It is a place where people can meet others, socialise, eat, work, learn and organise together as equals. We are very proud of all that it stands for and all that it has achieved over the years and long may it continue.
Like many grassroots community projects, BASE has been really badly affected by the pandemic. We took the decision to keep the cafe, our primary source of income, closed to prioritise community safety and to avoid contributing to the spread of covid 19. This has meant that while our principles of collective care, mutual aid and solidarity are in good shape, our finances are not! The project’s reserve funds are now at a critically low level. So, it’s about time for some sponsored stuff! We get that everyone is a bit tired of yet another crowdfunder, so we thought we’d give this one some legs!
A group of BASE volunteers and supporters are running a half marathon along the Devon coast on 5th February to raise some much needed funds. While there may be some nice views along the way, it’s undoubtedly going to be an arduous metaphor for the struggle! It is described by the run organisers, Endurance Life, as “punishing” and “severe terrain”. Because the tougher it is the more money we raise, right? We will get it done, in the spirit of the old revolutionary adage of “Run comrade, the old world is right behind you!”
If you value autonomous, free, not for profit, community spaces please contribute to the crowdfunder and share it as widely as you can. Your support for BASE social centre is really appreciated.
The Kebele General Meeting takes place every 2-3 months at the social centre. If you come to/use Kebele you are welcome at this meeting!
Monday 7th March, 6.30pm prompt start, at Kebele social centre. Meetings last upto 2 hours.
Kebele General Meetings are an opportunity for the wider Kebele community and users of the building/facilities to come together to hold the Co-op to account, find out more about Kebele, discuss any urgent and/or relevant issues, and volunteer to help with ongoing matters (cleaning, maintenance, cafes, outreach etc) and at any upcoming events. So the Agenda may include:
– recent decisions by the Community Co-op, any new proposals, and get an update on Kebele’s finances. – any urgent matters relating to Kebele, be they practical (the loo is leaking!) or political. – review any recent events at Kebele, and discuss any forthcoming events that need wider involvement/support to ensure they happen. – there is sometimes a political discussion for a part of the meeting.
The actual Agenda is posted on the wall in the Kebele cafe – where you can add items, and emailed out to our volunteers list. There is usually cake and/or snacks, and hot drinks, available.
General meetings are facilitated (not chaired) by a volunteer, and any decisions are made via consensus decision-making practices (see here for info).
Find out more about Kebele – read OurStory and other pages on this website.
Note that the Kebele social centre is formally owned & managed by Kebele Community Co-op. So get involved….new volunteers wishing to become Co-Op members are always welcome!!!
LaDIYfest Bristol (FB page) in association with Bristol Anarchist Bookfair 2016 present an evening of good food, friends, music and poetry! Starts 6pm (and see FB event)
Featuring…
GOREM & AVONA – Members of Viva Zapata! bringing rich sounds of folk, punk into stories of the wild, love and resistance.
LEILIAH JANE KING – Spoken word to fill your senses!
BEX – Insane spanish guitar with grunge twist.
PLUS: Kebele vegan meal, three courses including cake provided by the Bookfair collective and LaDIYfest. Spirits and Mixers available for a suggested donation of £2.50 each!
£5 suggested donation – all proceeds go to the costs of putting on the Bookfair and AfterParty – which is on 30th April 2016 at Trinity Centre!
Yum Yum! Kebele’s weekly Sunday Social vegan cafe features a set vegan meal cooked up by volunteers, and served up about 6.30pm…until we run out!
Running virtually every Sunday for more than 20 years, the Sunday Social and Vegan Cafe sums up the essence of Kebele social centre – DIY, healthy food, politics and community. Read OurStory for the full rundown on those 20 years! Cafe proceeds help Kebele stay open, alive & kicking!
Vegan Cafe
Each week from around 3pm a team of volunteers prepares and cooks a set vegan meal for about 50 people. The ingredients come from donations, local shops & markets, local food projects, and we bulk buy some ingredients from the Essential Trading Co-op.
Dinner one Sunday in the spring…
We start serving by 6.30pm…until it runs out, which depends on how early people come! We ask for a donation of approx £2.50 for starter & main, and £1 for puddings. Hot/cold drinks available for 50p. We do not turn people away who are skint – please just say so and you’ll be fed. Perhaps you can contribute in some other way?
We always welcome new volunteers to help cook for the cafe, and to wash up & clean up after. If you’d like to get involved then speak to one of the cooks or the host, or ask for a Co-op member.
Sunday Social
Sometimes before, but usually around 7.30pm after dinner, there may be a film; sometimes a talk or discussion; and sometimes music. There may also be campaign or project group meetings upstairs. There’s always plenty of people to chat with, socialise & network. You can also check out Kebele’s free library (borrow a book!) and Info Shop (buy a book, pamphlet or CD!), use the free wi-fi, plus there’s loadsa free info on local campaigns & events. We stay open until around 9.30pm.
Kebele social centre is available for use by local groups, projects & campaigns. We have various sized meeting rooms plus the kitchen and cafe. Read the details here and get in touch!
Yes! Here it is, the 20th anniversary bash for Kebele social centre, the living anarchist experiment in Easton. It’s gonna be at The Plough pub in Easton (see Plough’s FB event), scene of many a benefit put on by and for campaigns & issues linked to and supported by Kebele.
Come celebrate 20 years of anarchist organisation and resistance.
Proud of what we got? Hell yeah!!! So raise a glass and a fist for your local anarchist social centre! Dance like it’s 1995! “If I can’t dance, it’s not my revolution!” It is on!
Friday 18th December, 8pm til late at the Plough, Easton. Don’t be late, cos it’s gonna be rammed! All proceed to the dancefloor, all proceeds to Kebele social centre. £5 donation. Keep Kebele kicking!
Plus DJs playing all sorts from hip hop and ragga to soul and cheese, with a few drops of dub and roots via the jungle!
GITSURFER; BLACK RAINBOW; THE POINTLESS SISTERS; SUN MONKEY; DUB MARK
(PS: Sorry but Dub Revolution are NOT playing)
Welcome to the final full weekend of our NovemberFest (FB event), which includes a typically anarchic mix of work & play, and rounds off on Monday with a serious look at the impact of alcohol on both anarchist activity and on wider society.
The main weekend event sees Kebele hosting the 6-monthly UK Social Centres Network Gathering – see here and here for more info. We anticipate activists from at least 6 other UK social centres joining us for some in-depth discussions across Saturday & Sunday. Please note the building will be closed to anyone not attending the Gathering between the hours of 8am-6.30pm on Saturday 28th, and 8am-5pm on Sunday 29th.
From 6.30pm on Saturday 28th we’ll be putting the Social into the social centre with a party for Gathering attendees, along with loadsa local activists & friends. Come down for some acoustic folk acts followed by some notorious (and mysterious) local DJ’s. Entry is by a suggested donation of £3 and early arrivals will be able to eat up any dinner leftover from the Gathering’s evening meal.Continue reading Nov/Fest – 6th weekend – mixing people, food, anarchy and alcohol→
“Anarchy’s all about chaos and throwing bombs, right?”, “Yes, but who would take out the bins and do the dirty work?”, “But people need to be led!”, “How would you stop crime without prisons?”, “But how would we live without money?” “Humans are naturally greedy and selfish!”….blah…bluster…blah…bullshit… The Dangerous Thoughts Collective presents a participatory discussion – An Introduction to Anarchist Ideas & Politics.
On Thursday 26th November at 7.30pm, at Kebele social centre. Continue reading An Introduction to Anarchist Ideas and Politics→
