NOVEMBER'S FOCUS: Understanding Neurodivergence

Following our reading with kao hove on Ellie Middleton's 'Unmasked', join us to explore actions we can take to understand neurodivergence and how we can cultivate more caring and understanding communities, both for neurodivergent people and neurotypical allies.

You don't have to have read the book to come along to Action Point but you can find more info about it here (and of course we encourage you to read the book even if book club has passed as it is GREAT!)

Please note: this will be Amie's last Action Point for a wee while, whilst we undergo a period of rethinking and revisioning our BABF spaces. Join afterwards for an optional farewell drink!

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Join us for a series of hands-on activities which can be approached at your own pace, in your own way. They'll involve...

• Reflections on the book and some of its main points and quotes - a reminder that you do NOT have to have attended book club or read the book to join!
• An opportunity to share experiences and talk about your own experience with neurodivergence, whatever this looks like
• Myth-busting, resource sharing, and crowdsourcing information
• Creative writing activities
• Support mapping

CHOSEN ORGANISATION FOR DONATIONS: 42nd STREET MANCHESTER 

42nd Street is an innovative Greater Manchester young people’s mental health charity with 40 years’ experience of providing free and confidential services to young people who are experiencing difficulties with their mental health and emotional wellbeing, learn how they help young people here.

"We are here to support young people with their emotional well-being and mental health by offering a choice of effective, creative, young person-centred and rights-based approaches.

The 42nd Street team recognises that many young people feel disempowered, that some services are difficult for them to identify with and access and that their mental health and personal difficulties can be made worse by the health, social, cultural and economic inequalities that they might experience

We will do all we can to make young people feel listened to, valued, included, safe and unique."

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What is Action Point and How is it Different to the Book Club?

Think of Build a Better Future: Action Point as the cool sibling to our Book Club. The sessions will happen in the same time slot (last Thursday of the month, 6:30- 8:30pm) and you’ll be able to join in person or online.

Whilst Book Club is led by a facilitator, 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. Be it signing a petition, researching mutual aid groups or listening to a podcast, Action Point is a space for us to hold ourselves accountable - taking our reading further.

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!

Some sessions may differ in format and activity - i.e. in focusing on transformative rest and disability justice we might make space for a collective resting session… If you have any ideas or suggestions for what you’d like to see in Action Point please get in touch!

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ACCESSIBILITY: 

Both the Book Club & Action Point can be attended either in-person or virtually, as we recognise that this is a measure of accessibility and expression of care for those unable to get to physical events. We would like to build community as much as possible and hope to ensure that you’re a part of our community regardless of your mode of attendance. That said, we make our in-person spaces as accessible and immunocompromised-friendly as possible, and hope you can join us in person!

You can find full accessibility information for the venue below.

HOW THE GROUP WORKS:

We’ll be meeting in person and online. Both digital and IRL spaces will be open 10 minutes in advance to arrive for a prompt kick off.

Links to online meetings will be sent in advance of the session.

Digital attendees will be in groups together and in person attendees will be in groups together

In order to pay our facilitators for their preparation and leading time, we are making paid for tickets compulsory at check out to help us cover the cost of their fees. We feel this is important, particularly when we are asking people with lived experience to contribute. If you are currently unwaged or the ticket cost is a barrier to your attendance, please book the free ticket, but we encourage payment where possible.

There is also an optional donation to a relevant charity which changes each month and is selected by our facilitators, should you wish to donate.

Please book your place in advance for each session.

WHO IS ACTION POINT FOR:

The sessions are open to people of all genders/races/sexualities/classes/disability inclusive - if you have any specific accessibility needs in regard to the sessions, please let us know and we’ll do our very best to accommodate. For parents, single Mums, and those with a legitimate reason to be late, don’t worry we will still let you in the room! For everyone else, please try to be on time if you can so we can all be a part of the full conversation where possible.

This is a space for everyone - though we would like attendees to be aware that participants may be at different stages of their personal educational journeys. We must be prepared to push one another and address our own shortfalls to get the most out of the sessions, valuing the voices with experience, if they wish to attend.

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Refund policy: Paying for a ticket funds freelance artists, creatives and facilitators and helps support Girl Gang Manchester in continuing to run events. All tickets are non refundable and non transferable.

Girl Gang Manchester’s events aim to be as inclusive as possible. This event is open to people of all genders, ages, races, sexualities, and classes. All are welcome, please see specific access information below.

Accessibility information:

• The venue for this event is Bridge 5 Mill, M4 7HR. The room is the Canal Side Room - the building lift is currently under maintenance and the room is reached by going two steps down. 
• The room will be lit with normal lights. 
• We won’t be using strobe lighting for this event.
• All gender toilets are provided.
• Seating will be available throughout the event.
• We happily offer free tickets for personal access assistants, please email us at girlgangmanchester@gmail.com to arrange this. Registered assistance dogs are also welcome!
• Specific COVID guidance can be found below.
• A Girl Gang Manchester team member will greet you as you enter the event space and will be available as a point of contact throughout the event if you require anything.
• If you have any other access requests or worries, please contact us at girlgangmanchester@gmail.com. We are super proud that our events and club nights are welcoming and that there are always people who feel comfortable to attend on their own.

COVID-19 Guidance:

Though we no longer have any specific COVID-19 guidelines in place at our events, it is our expectation that you as a member of our community exercise personal responsibility in that you do not attend if you knowingly have COVID or any other contagious disease, or if you have knowingly had contact with a positive case.

Why do we ask identity questions?

We want to make our events as inclusive as possible and we often get questions from people who for whatever reason say, ‘I really want to come but I am nervous, will I be the odd one out?’ Whilst we will always strive to do our best to make everyone feel welcome, it is useful to know a little more about who our audience is for each event so we can be honest in our responses to any queries. It also helps us tailor events for the people attending and identify who we aren’t currently reaching with our work.

This data really helps us, please answer any questions you feel comfortable with. If you do not want to share this information, please leave it blank. More information can be found on our Privacy Policy.