Speed Mate-ing x Action Point: Mental Health & Community Special!

✨ Did someone say collab? ✨

Join Amie and Megan in a GG crossover: think of everything you know and love about Speed Mate-ing, combined with the innovative focus of Action Point. This month, we’re talking mental health! 

We’ll be taking key thoughts and ideas from Micha Frazer Carroll’s ‘Mad World’, July’s book, and weaving them into the usual speed mateing format to open honest, frank, and generative discussions about mental health. 

Via one on one conversations, group ice breakers, creative stimulus, activities and discussion, we'll be connecting individually and collectively to create actionable ideas around our own mental health, the wellbeing of our community and zoom out to the wider politics of mental health globally.

“We should build towards a future where communities can lead research and exploration, and collectively devise ways of describing ourselves and relating to one another that are characterised by creativity, complexity, community, abundance and solidarity.” - Micha Frazer-Carroll (Mad World, 2023)

Come join us to build a community of abundance, solidarity, and ZERO judgement!

Event details: 

£10 / £7.50 / £12 adv // 18+ // Trans and non-binary inclusive // Wheelchair accessible / 7pm - 9pm (Doors at 6.30pm)

This event is open to people of all ages (we are ALL about a cross generational friendship!), genders, sexualities, races, classes,  backgrounds, we just love people! 

Doors and arrivals from 6.30 for free form mingling, to get drinks and get settled in- grab a drink or dive straight in with our guided ice breaker.

Buy your ticket in advance to avoid disappointment!

Please note: Masking is optional but encouraged. Please do not attend the session if you have tested positive for Covid-19, or have any symptoms. If possible, please try to do a lateral flow test before coming.

About Speed Mateing:

It can be hard making new friends as an adult, can't it? Fear not, with 8.5 years of success, Speed Mate-ing with Girl Gang Manchester is here to help! We can't wait to watch the wonder of new friendships blossoming before us!

Speed Mate-ing is an evening of speed sessions so fun that you'll step outside of your usual comfort zone without even realising. You'll be chatting to new people in no time and maybe even meet your new BFF!

Taking inspiration from dating shows, agony aunts and teenage sleepovers, we'll encourage you to undertake creative challenges and respond to conversational topics, creating authentic connections between new friends.

Thanks to Josephine Dellow Illustration for the beaut poster 😍

About Action Point:

Think of Build a Better Future: Action Point as the cool sibling to our Book Club. Action Point is a self-led co-learning space. It’s an opportunity to revisit some of the themes and issues of the previous month’s book with a familiar, friendly community in a judgement-free safe space.

You’re also welcome to come along if you haven’t been to a Book Club session before or didn’t manage to read the previous month’s book; while the sessions are loosely linked this way, we welcome anybody who wants to learn more about the session’s focus.

We intend to maintain a long term, consistent space for people to take personal responsibility and communal accountability for their allyship and coalition learning, creating a space for reflection, discussion and to hear from other voices. The group is always open to new members, or returning ones, so we’d love for you to join us!

👭👫👭👭👫👭👭👫👭👭👫👭👭👫👭👭

Still unsure? Read about some of the press for previous Speed Mate-ing events to ease your fears:

"For those all-too familiar with the principles of speed dating, it would be understandable to expect awkwardly mismatched encounters that lead to little more than a forced conversation.

"But to my relief, speed-mateing offers genuine interactions... The effect is reminiscent of that 'best mate' scenario many of us have encountered in the club bathroom, friendship forged over outfit compliments and lipstick-sharing.

"Except this time, you're not off your face and you might actually see each other again…. there was nothing but friendliness to be found amidst the waves of open-minded, intelligent women. The atmosphere was buzzing, fuelled by the excitement of trying something new and the energetic Girl Gang team.

"Positivity and acceptance was at the core of the activities, with a bit of silliness thrown in for good measure….Girl Gang's speed mate-ing was a success. I connected with smart, funny, like-minded women and had a great night out."

Manchester Confidentials: https://confidentials.com/manchester/speed-mateing-manchesters-answer-to-tinder-for-friends

👭👫👭👭👫👭👭👫👭👭👫👭👭👫👭👭👫

About the venue:

Set in a 19th Century cotton factory, every area in Whitworth Locke– from the beautiful Conservatory Bar to the spacious co-working lounge – celebrates the building’s quirks and features. There’s also a packed calendar of events, pop-ups and fitness classes for you to join in with, if you fancy. And if you’re heading out, you’re just minutes from the city’s best bars, shops and nightlife.

Accessibility Info:

- As there is no longer free testing, we put Covid measures down to personal responsibility- please DO NOT come to the event if you are feeling unwell, or have knowingly had contact with a positive case.

- There is wheelchair access to the lower ground floor via the elevator in the Johnson Building, as well as a mechanical ramp for the entrance to the Storehouse itself.

- We happily offer free tickets for personal assistants, please email us at girlgangmanchester@gmail.com to arrange this. Registered assistance dogs are also welcome!

- The room will be dimmed lighting and we will use a presentation and background music. As it will be lots of people speaking at the same time, the event can be very loud! We encourage you to find seats and corners away from the group.

- We won't be using strobe lighting at this event.

- A Girl Gang Manchester team member will greet you as you enter the event space and will be your point of contact through the night if you require anything.

👭👫👭👭👫👭👭👫👭👭👫👭👭👫👭👭

Girl Gang Manchester is a collective of artists, activists, academics and party instigators who put on events and create projects building connection, community, collaboration, confidence and creativity.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you would like to be kept up to date with all Girl Gang Manchester's projects and events be sure to sign up to our mailing list here! http://eepurl.com/dvAoXj

The session includes:

• 6.30pm: Room opens and people may arrive to settle in, grab a drink or do more free form mingling- find that person sheets will be provided to find some structure!
• 7.00pm: Beginning of facilitated activities.
• 7.55: Break
• 8.05: Second half of facilitated activites
• 9: End of event but bar will remain open whilst people are still buying.

Prices:

We do self assessed tiered ticketing to try and make our events as accessible as possible whilst still playing facilitators, producers & promoters- quite hard to do! Please use honestly to support us in making our work sustainable <3

- Unwaged: £7.50

- Standard: £10.00

- Solidarity: £12.00

If the listed costs are a barrier to your participation, please get in touch.