Tag Archives: BASE

Parenting Beyond the Couple Norm

Saturday 11th February, 11am – 1pm, BASE Library

Do you parent or want to parent beyond the couple norm? With more than 2 adults? With a friend? As a single parent? Do you believe it takes a village to raise a child? Are you raising children in a multi-generational household? Does the typical nuclear family model of parenting seem to be lonely and not enough support and adult company? What might be possible and what are the challenges?

Queer, polyamorous and all other identities welcome.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/parenting-beyond-the-couple-norm-discussion-tickets-519004585687

Conflict Club

Thursday 2nd of February, 6:30 – 8:30, BASE Events Room.

A peer organised meet-up to explore practical conflict navigation and support skills using discussion, role-play, theatre of the oppressed and other tools. ⚙️🤔👌

Are you

  •  involved in supporting and navigating conflicts in your community? 
  • interested in transformative approaches to conflict?
  • curious about how we can use embodied learning to connect the theory to our everyday lived experience?
  • keen to develop your skills and awareness in this area?

Come along! This is an experimental space, and we will develop group agreements around confidentiality, care for each other, and care for our communities. This is not a formal training space which will ‘qualify’ you for mediation or other conflict support work. It is also not a space where you will be able to receive advice for specific conflict situations.  We hope it will be a regular reflective, supportive space where people with a range of backgrounds and approaches can learn from each other and develop ideas and skills in community.

We first met in October 2022, and here’s some notes from that session and resources that might help you figure out what we’re about…

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JrylClp3bOkOLLvqMPHvfbRFVdrnw-eq_no6d-Txjbo/edit?usp=sharing

Whatabout Wednesdays Is Back!

Into 2023 we go, and Base social centre’s mini-cafe – Whatabout Wednesdays – is back every week from 4th January, from 11am to 5pm.

Whatabout Wednesdays is an alternative welcoming space for everyone local – neighbours, community, strikers, doleys, students, rebels & friends.

We offer a very cheap basic cafe comprising: a soup & bread (£1); cakes (£1); and hot drinks (50p) – but nobody is turned away if they’re skint.

There’s also Base’s range of free facilities: wi-fi; radical reading library & workspace; campaigns info; toilets; or just hang out and have a chat.

Plus there’s Base’s Info Shop to purchase all your radical presents – books, pamphlets, stickers, postcards, t-shirts, diaries, music cd’s.

Got any ideas for other things that could be on in the building? Come and speak to us!

Note: Base’s ground floor cafe area and one toilet are wheelchair accessible, but the 1st floor is not.

Capitalism, Anarchism, and Mental Health

A two part workshop on two Saturday afternoons in January.

A discussion and workshop on the ways capitalist society damages our mental well being. We’ll discuss everything from housing, to advertising, from secure units to endless waiting lists.

We will also look at how a more anarchist society could foster better mental well being, and how we can apply anarchism to improve our lives in the hear and now.

The workshops will take place from 14:00 – 18:00 with a break in the middle. We plan to stay in the space after to allow more informal discussion, and to keep the space open for anyone that doesn’t want to be alone after such heavy discussion topics.

The second Saturday (21st of January) we will hold a second session where we look at more practical steps we can take to support each other in our communities, groups, and friendships.

BASE infoshop at the 10th December Radical Book Fair

BASE infoshop are excited to have a stall the next radical bookfair in Bristol. We have loads of new and revolutionary books just in, so come say hello and get some stories, ideas and analysis for all your seasonal / lifelong trouble making needs!

Active Distribution are hosting another Radical Book Fair at the Exchange on Old Market, Bristol. We’re under attack from all sides, and we need radical ideas and community more than ever. At the bookfair, you’ll find new and second hand titles from radical publishers, zine makers and activists plus stalls from local campaigns groups. Plus vegan hot dogs, cakes, snacks, hot drinks, mulled cider, and beers available from the Exchange cafe.

The bookfair is free to attend and all are welcome (please get in touch if you have any access needs or requests). We are currently planning a small programme of free talks and discussions in the basement room – watch this space for details. COVID is still with us and you are encouraged to wear a mask if you are attending. http://exchangebristol.com/exchange-covid-safety…/

See you there!

https://www.facebook.com/events/532435688434948

BASE Arts Collective and Avon Gleaning Network present: The Gleaners and I

BASE Cafe Collective has, for a long time, provided filling and yummy Sunday meals, a lot of which comes from gleaned produce – from field and shop alike.

On Sunday 11th after the Cafe’s meal, BASE Arts Collective and Avon Gleaning Network will be screening The Gleaners and I, Agnes Varda’s poem to the waste-saver, the stooper in the field, the bin-diver.

We’ll do a short intro to the Gleaning Network and what they’ve achieved in only a couple of years, saving tonnes and tonnes of produce from going to waste. This produce is then redistributed to charitable food projects who are supporting people experiencing food insecurity.

This is the right time to talk about food waste. At Christmas, binned food usually amounts to 42 million dishes of Christmas dinner…

You never know, you may organise your first bin-dive or glean on the crisp morning of the 12th ;)

TRAILER: https://mubi.com/films/the-gleaners-i/trailer

Whatabout Wednesdays!

Note: From 2nd November – 21st December and then 4th January until further notice

Base social centre opens it’s doors every Wednesday from 11am to 5pm, offering a mini-cafe, drop-in & welcoming space.

In the Cafe – hot drinks (50p), soup/bread (£1), cake (£1).

Spend time in our free Library; check out Free Info; browse our Infoshop for books/pamphlets/music to buy; use the Wi-fi; or just hang out and chat.

#DontPayUK BS5 group will also have a drop-in from 11am-2pm in the Cafe, with campaign news, flyers & posters, and info on where to get support.

Plus…surprises! Speak to us if you have ideas for any ok.

Stay Grounded Gathering

19th and 20th November @ BASE

Stay Grounded Communications Training Weekend on Aviation & Climate Justice
Open to activists and campaigners across the UK and free to attend,
with overnight accommodation and support for travel costs available.

Please apply by 7th November via https://stay-grounded.org/training-uk

What is this about?

    * Free training weekend about aviation & climate justice,
greenwashing, just transition and changing travel policies

    * Reflection on _how we talk _about aviation and _how we counter the industry’s greenwashing with our own narratives for fair and grounded mobility
     * Creating a network of _multipliers _in Europe who support each
other with future workshops, campaigns and actions
     * Based on our latest guide ‘Common Destination: Reframing aviation to ensure a safe landing and lay the tracks towards a fair planet’

Who is it for?
     * Campaigners against airport expansions or for a fairer mobility
system
     * Climate justice activists interested to do more on aviation
     * Communicators seeking to reflect and expand on their framing
strategies
     * Anyone looking for a new way to join the movement and meet
like-minded people!

You can find more info and apply here

https://stay-grounded.org/training-uk

Stay Grounded is an international network of more than 180 groups campaigning for a reduction of aviation and its negative impacts, as well as against problematic strategies like offsetting and biofuels.

Bristol Airport Action Network is a coalition of groups and individuals working to oppose Bristol Airport’s expansion plans and are currently mobilising around a Brisotl High Court hearing on 8-9th November. Get in touch to find out what you can do:
BAANcc@protonmail.com.

Prisoner Letter Writing Solidarity

Tuesday 1st November, 7pm BASE

NOTE: this session will be in Library and Resources Room but see https://basebristol.org/event-list/ for future dates; all in cafe

Our monthly letter writing night takes place on Tuesday 1st this month (due to a clash with Halloween),
We’ll be back to the last Monday of the month for November (28th).

Monthly session where we write to prisoners, Come along and learn about anarchist, antifascist, and Kill the Bill Prisoners,.
Join campaigns, write some letters, make some art, sign some cards, or just offer moral support and some snacks. Solidarity in a chill way.

Donations for stamps and room hire appreciated, but not required.

contact bristol [at] afed [dot] org [dot] uk with any questions.