October’s Community Newsletter

Hello and welcome to this month's Better Space newsletter

September has been all about giving back, sharing skills and creating opportunities for our community to learn from one another. From Lunch and learns to co-working days and creative pop-ups, members and visitors came together to exchange knowledge, support each other's growth and contribute to the collaborative spirit that makes Better Space special.

One of this month's highlights was our Lunch & Learn with Abdirahim Hassan, Founder of Coffee Afrik CIC. The session explored community organising, co-production and regenerative governance, offering thought-provoking insights into community power, liberation and collective action. It was an inspiring afternoon that sparked meaningful conversations and demonstrated the value of learning directly from those creating change in their communities.

Supporting entrepreneurship, networking and learning remained a key focus throughout the month. We were delighted to host our first Female Founders Co-Working Day, bringing together an incredible group of women entrepreneurs for a day of focused work, collaboration and networking. The energy in the space was inspiring, with founders sharing experiences, exchanging ideas and building valuable connections.

Members have been busy getting creative throughout September, with our Mends & Makes Circle, Bracelet Making Pop-Up and Matcha Pop-Up offering plenty of opportunities to connect, unwind and try something new. Alongside these moments of creativity and community, our Sustainability Circle Lunch encouraged thoughtful discussion around the new Natural History GCSE and the future of environmental education.

We were also pleased to welcome partners and organisations from across our network into the space. Revolt hosted an inspiring evening of conversation and fresh thinking, while Allia's Community Day brought together local entrepreneurs and aspiring founders to explore the support available through the Allia Start Strong Islington programme and connect with others taking their next steps into entrepreneurship.

As we move into October, we're excited to continue creating opportunities for our members to connect, learn and contribute to one another's success. Whether through sharing expertise, giving back to the community or simply making space for meaningful conversations, it's these collective contributions that help make Better Space such a vibrant and supportive community.

Thank you to everyone who has hosted a session, attended an event, volunteered their time, shared their knowledge or supported fellow members this month. Your willingness to give back and learn from one another is what makes the Better Space community thrive.

Looking Ahead
October is set to be another exciting month at Better Space, with plenty of opportunities for members to learn, connect and share their expertise. From thought-provoking Lunch & Learns to community celebrations and networking events, we're looking forward to bringing the community together throughout the month.

We're particularly excited for a special Halloween and Black History Month Lunch & Learn hosted by our very own Asha Okasili-Henry. Exploring vampires, racism and film, the session will look at the history and present-day representation of Black vampires on screen, using horror as a lens to explore important conversations around race, identity and storytelling.

We're also looking forward to welcoming Community Catalyser Madhi for an upcoming Lunch & Learn. More details will be shared soon, but we're excited to create another opportunity for members to learn from the expertise within our community.

Be sure to save the date for our Better Space Town Hall on 21st October. This will be a great opportunity to meet new members, reflect on the past few months at Better Space, hear what's on the horizon and share your feedback and ideas as we continue shaping the community together.

And for the bakers among us, or anyone looking to show off their baking skills, we'll be hosting a fun Bake Off on 21st October. Whether you're entering a masterpiece or simply coming along to sample the results, it's sure to be a delicious addition to the day.

As always, we'll continue sharing funding opportunities, local events and useful resources throughout the month alongside our regular programme.

We look forward to seeing you throughout October!