About this event
On March 20th, we will open our doors just for all folk who identify within a community that centres on women. Nonbinary siblings welcome!
A day packed with activities to connect with ourselves and our community from 11am to 5pm.
At 6pm, to end the day on the highest note, we will screen Rebel Dykes. Tickets for the movie can be purchased here.
11 to 12pm - Yoga with Jen
12 to 1pm - elop presents: Boundaries and Relationships
1 to 4pm - Pocket Making workshop with Melissa Jo Smith (she\her) and Rebecca Cole-Coker (she/her) from Illuminated Arts
3 to 4pm - Queer book club: In The Dreamhouse by Carmen Maria Machado
4 to 5pm - ‘Starting a queer family’ chat with The Queer Parenting Group
elop presents: Boundaries and Relationships
A group discussion about boundaries and relationships: what they are and why they matter. We will look at what we mean by ‘relationship green and red flags’ and how to become more comfortable with saying no when our boundaries have been crossed.
About the Pocket Making workshop
An intergenerational open-access workshop for members of the LGBTQI+ community. The workshop will teach participants how to sew or print a historical pocket and learn a new creative hand-skill. This will be an opportunity for people to tell their own personal stories through the mindful process of sewing or lino printmaking.
The pockets are based on those usually worn by women in the C17th and C18th, when pockets were not integral to women’s garments. Pockets were worn either singly or as pairs, tied around the waist between skirts and petticoats for safekeeping or, in the case of traders and workers, on the outside of their skirts for ease of access. The concept of the Pocket as women’s only means of securing their personal possessions or money has inspired this project. Pockets were traditionally exchanged between women and were decorated with personal symbols and tokens.
The pockets created will later be displayed as part of a community exhibition. This project will facilitate connections, provide opportunities for story-telling, bring generations together and teach restorative skills.
About ‘In The Dreamhouse’
For years Carmen Maria Machado has struggled to articulate her experiences in an abusive same-sex relationship. In this extraordinarily candid and radically inventive memoir, Machado tackles a dark and difficult subject with wit, inventiveness and an inquiring spirit, as she uses a series of narrative tropes—including classic horror themes—to create an entirely unique piece of work which is destined to become an instant classic.
About the ‘Starting a Queer Family’ chat
Starting a family is such a unique experience for everyone! Nowadays, there are so many different ways you can go about it, that we decided to make an easy-to-read guide to explain your options. We will go through the different ways to start a family, depending on the gametes (sex cells) that are naturally available to you, and further down there are detailed descriptions about what those options mean.
More info here.
About the facilitators
Jennifer Knowles - Jennifer is a trained dancer and gymnast of fifteen years. Since graduating she has had a highlighting career in performing arts, taking her all around the globe.
She fell in love with the practice of Yoga as it helped her manage the stress and competition of the dance industry.
On the mat, she was able to completely let go and she felt a sense of release.
Jennifer completed her 200hr training in Vinyasa and Hatha at ‘One Yoga Thailand’ on the beautiful Island of Koh Pha-Ngan. In addition to this Jennifer is also 60 hr Yin trained of which she completed her online course through Samporna Yoga.
She is an avid learner, with a yearn to constantly grow and evolve within her practice.
In Jennifer’s classes expect to synchronise breath and movement as you move through the asanas, letting go of any unwelcome stress.
elop - elop is an LGBT mental health and wellbeing charity, serving the LGBT community across London and Essex. It was established in 1995 and has since inception grown to incorporate a wide variety of services, groups, activities & events.
We have a large community counselling service offering low-cost counselling to individuals, youth, and couples/ relationships; a mental health crisis prevention, intervention, and wellbeing support service; a youth support service; befriending service; and varied wellbeing support programmes, including workshops, community events, and social and support groups. We have earned an excellent reputation as a responsive, flexible, and accessible organisation that places service users at the heart of our business.
The Training and Education Service is well established and offers quality and professional LGBT+ training, consultancy, and policy development packages for schools; healthcare services; statutory services; and the corporate sector. We have recently launched a Foundation Certificate in LGBT+ Aff