Civic Engagement London

Introvert friendly volunteering walk through LDN listening, helping homeless

Afternoon English Classes (in-person)

Improve your English with Cambridge-approved teachers and teachers in training. Our friendly, practical classes are designed to help you communicate with greater confidence and enjoy using English in real-life situations. **Benefits** * Hear and practise natural, everyday English * Take part in learner-centred, communicative lessons * Improve your speaking fluency and confidence * Build your grammar and vocabulary * Develop your listening skills across a range of accents and varieties of English * Enjoy friendly, supportive and engaging lessons * Meet new people and make friends Register using this form to save your space: [https://forms.gle/pYNLzzPn5nHPkdu87](https://forms.gle/pYNLzzPn5nHPkdu87)

Volunteering walk through LDN listening, helping homeless 07877920245

Mandarin & English Exchange Group - Free Event in Marylebone

Improve your Mandarin and English while making new friends! Join [Manhattan Mandarin](ManhattanMandarin.co.uk) at the [Jackalope](https://jackalopelondon.com/) in Marylebone - appropriately situated above a Chinese restaurant, [Liu Xiao Mian](https://www.liu-xiaomian.com/). All levels welcome - these are **very casual** meetups where you're welcome to mingle until finding suitable language partners Pop down for noodles or stay outside in the lovely mews, but whatever you do, come ready to chat, make great new connections, and push your language learning forward 🤗🤗🤗 You're welcome to try our HSK Classes in Marylebone: [https://www.manhattanmandarin.co.uk/hskclasses](https://www.manhattanmandarin.co.uk/hskclasses) or our Saturday online HSK classes: [https://www.manhattanmandarin.co.uk/onlineclasses](https://www.manhattanmandarin.co.uk/onlineclasses) For more information please contact Harry@ManhattanMandarin.com, 07767260207) Since 2012, with a team of over 200 native and non-native Mandarin teachers in the US and UK, [Manhattan Mandarin](ManhattanMandarin.com) knows what makes for fun and engaging communication between English and Chinese speakers!

In what ways can we benefit from “the Arts”?

NOTE: the pub does not charge for our space on the understanding that we all purchase something from the bar. Please support them. I'll be there from around 7pm if anyone would like a social chat before we get started. **Please arrive in time for a prompt start at 7:30.** We’ll inevitably spend some time exploring what distinguishes “art” from anything else. But most of our discussion will focus on the ways in which art can be beneficial to both the consumer and the creator. We’ll take a fairly broad interpretation of "the arts", including music, literature and other forms of creativity, in addition to the sorts of things you see in art galleries. (Hence my use of “consumer” instead of “viewer”/”listener”/”reader”). Some questions we might consider… * To what extent does “art” need to be pleasing to the consumer? * If not “pleasing”, what else draws people to experience it? * To what extent should art challenge us to think, or see the world differently? How does this vary across different art forms? * In what ways is being creative for its own sake, beneficial? * In what ways is expressing feelings through art a form of therapy? * What distinguishes works produced primarily to benefit the creator from works produced primarily to benefit the consumer? Who judges? On what basis? * “Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist” is a quote attributed to Picasso. What did he mean? Was he right? Is “art” a licence to break rules? How healthy is that – for creators and consumers? * Marc Chagall, an early 20C painter said “If I create from the heart, nearly everything works; if from the head, almost nothing.” To what extent does successful creation and consumption of art rely on an emotional component / a rational component? * To what extent does a consumer need to understand the creator's intent in order to benefit from a work of art? * What effort does the consumer have to make to fully benefit from the art they consume? How does this vary across different art forms? * To what extent is the act of physically going to a gallery/concert/theatre… more beneficial than seeing photos of pictures in a book / listening to music at home / watching a play on TV etc.? * In what ways do the benefits of creating differ from the benefits of consuming? Relevant articles you may want to look at: [https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/oct/28/picture-of-health-going-to-art-galleries-can-improve-wellbeing-study-reveals](https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/oct/28/picture-of-health-going-to-art-galleries-can-improve-wellbeing-study-reveals) [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2yr0d3m1no](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2yr0d3m1no) [https://www.theguardian.com/books/2026/may/20/art-cure-by-daisy-fancourt-review-is-culture-the-best-medicine](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2026/may/20/art-cure-by-daisy-fancourt-review-is-culture-the-best-medicine) Hope to see you there.

Novice | 10-12pm Aug 23 Vortex upstairs

update: full for all instruments **Meetup event will always show as closed - please use this link to sign up and pay** https://tickts.co.uk/events/novice-10-12pm-aug-23-vortex-upstairs (Note you must already be accepted as a member of this group, otherwise your ticket will be cancelled) There will be a delay in the attendee list here being manually updated - please always check tickts.co.uk link above which is always up to date for what instruments are available. full list of scheduled sessions: https://www.meetup.com/Practice-Jazz-Jam-Sessions/events/ **What is it** (please expand for full description including set list) The novice rehearsal sessions provide an opportunity for people who are relatively new to jazz, to play in a friendly, low-pressure environment. With a short set list that attendees can prepare in advance, it becomes a little less daunting to play and get the most out of practising in a group. See below for this week's setlist. Please sign up before attending. Already full for your instrument? Please check back every other Wednesday, when new sessions go live. If you keep not being able to get a spot, please message the organiser (Xie). Location: Vortex upstairs **Who's it for** Anyone who has practised following the forms (chord progressions) of jazz tunes - maybe on their own at home - and would like to build up playing experience, expand repertoire and practice performing with other musicians. There are various introductions on how jazz jams work - see e.g. https://jazznightschool.org/pages/jam-session-basics You don't need to get all these details right for these novice practice sessions. The set list format should offer opportunities for those at different levels of developing their playing. While at the beginning one might struggle to follow/comp the chords or play through the melody, it gets easier over time and one can start to develop approaches to improvisation, harmonise lead lines, add intros/endings, work on communication between band members, and even listen to recordings together and pick up specific arrangements. Bass players are expected to be able to play a walking bass line on swing tunes, and simple bossa lines for bossa novas. Playing the melody, or "head" - the responsibility is shared between horns players (e.g. sax, trumpet, violin), guitar and piano. Feel free to discuss among the group before each song - different parts of the head or the starting / ending heads can be played by different players. Some melodies will better suit several voices at the same time, whereas others are sensitive to variations in how they are played and may prefer a single instrument at a time. **What it's like** A relaxed and welcoming atmosphere - please put aside any worries of making mistakes if you’re thinking of joining us for the first time. To ensure the group is accessible for those at different levels, I ask that each novice session should work on only the below four songs of the set list, unless each and every attendee feels they prefer to move on. Each novice session is limited to up to: 1 drummer, 2 bass, 2 keys, 2 guitar, 3/4 lead instruments. The tickts.co.uk page will have tickets available only for the instruments/vocals with spots remaining. **Tunes this week (Sun Aug 23)** * Freddie freeloader in Bb (warm up) (Miles Davis) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZcuSBouhVA * Black Orpheus in Am (Wayne Shorter) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4aJWz0ysDk * Cheese cake in Cm (Manhattan Jazz Quintet) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNcWuedLvZw * Beatrice in F (Sam Rivers) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2lnek_Z_Zs Everyone is encouraged to listen to a variety of recordings for each song, but please ensure you are familiar with the recording provided as a primary reference. (Note the recordings provide stylistic reference, but may not be in the key listed, with the latter based on common real books) **Tune preview - next novice session (Sat Aug 29)** * Blue bossa in C (warm up) (Dexter Gordon) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdR7v0WbZbA * Nardis in Em (Joe Henderson) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsENJXvdz7M * Footprints in Cm (Wayne Shorter) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgaIUqH0w6c * Almost like being in love in Bb (Chad LB) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2DLnEhsimM **Preparing for the session** The chordal form of each song follow the iReal Pro app as a common reference, or you can use sheet music from Real Books. Resource for finding sheet music: https://www.seventhstring.com/fbindex.html http://therealbook.info/ (may be temp unavailable, use Google) Try to immerse yourself in the songs by listening to recordings by different artists on youtube, spotify etc. Learn the head (main melody) of the song if you can. Don't hesitate to let the band know you can play it so you can start things off **Playing well together** The rehearsal groups are often quite large for a jazz ensemble setting. Please follow the below arrangements, which are designed to help the group be mindful of each other's volumes, and to build good habits for playing as a group * Every tune should be played at least twice. Swap the bass, piano and guitar players between the two renditions (if there are two attending) * Only one guitarist should comp - i.e. play chords - for each rendition (both guitarists can solo, and comp without amplification) * After each rendition of the warm up tune, the whole group should take a moment together and help each other to check on volumes, including: \*\* Can everyone hear themselves? \*\* Are the drums too loud? \*\* Can everyone hear the bass? \*\* Is the guitar comping too loud? \*\* Is the piano loud enough? (staff at the office can turn this up) \*\* Feel free to revisit volumes after subsequent songs * For any song, if at least two people in the group feel it would be better, the guitar and piano should share the choruses for comping (instead of comping together) - e.g. guitar comps the first time through the head, then piano, then guitar, etc. **Equipment** there is a piano, drum kit (no cymbals or high hat clutch), bass and guitar amps, stands, and microphones. Drummers: please bring cymbals (none available for rental) and hi hat clutch **Percussion** Percussionists are welcome to join with their instruments, alongside the drummer. Feel free to sign up to any session, even one that says "full for all instruments" at the top, unless it explicitly mentions "full for percussion". **Vocalists** Singers are welcome, however please note that the songs have fixed keys, and some of the repertoire are likely not in the right key for your range. If you are an experienced singer, it may be possible to arrange sessions with repertoire catered to you - to explore this, please first come to the "Afternoon Open Jams" so I can get a sense of your singing. **Observing** Would you like to attend a session without playing/singing, to get an idea of the format or to get a sense of what to practise first at home? You can sign up as usual to any novice session, and send me a message that you'd like only to watch the session. When you feel ready, the fee paid can be carried over toward any future session where you join to play or sing at the rehearsal. **Cancellation policy** Please try to make it to any session you sign up to, as the jams are organised around a particular mix of instruments. However, if things do come up and you can no longer make a session, please send a message to the organiser, Xie, as soon as possible. Places are non-refundable if your plans change, but if you provide over 1 week notice it may be possible to carry over the fee for a future session. \-\-\-\-\- any questions do get in touch!

TEiP SUMMER CAMP • FREE RETREAT • Location TBD | Thought Experiments in Public

**A free day retreat under the trees of London, co-produced by our community.** **WHY:** Humans are naturally creative, naturally social, and naturally part of nature. Modern life squeezes our creativity, our time together, and our time outside. We want to make space (physically, temporally, economically) for people to come together, be creative, and connect with nature. **How does this connect to THOUGHT EXPERIMENTS IN PUBS (TEiP)?** TEiP has become a thriving community because our events create opportunities for people to get straight into meaningful, imaginative, creative conversations. We want to take that imagination and creativity to the next level. We've met so many people with skills and ideas to share, and so many people up for trying new things. So we're creating an opportunity for people to share and learn from one another in the same openminded, relaxed spirit as TEiP. And we're doing it outside because it's Summer, we love nature, and our last outside event attracted a huge number of RSVPs demonstrating major enthusiasm for outdoor gatherings. **How will it work?** * We'll gather in one of London's pockets of forest (location TBC) for a day. * There will be a central hub for '[hanging out](https://experimentsingroupwisdom.substack.com/p/hanging-out)', refreshments, and the occasional TEiP style round of conversation. * In nearby clearings and 'rooms of the forest', throughout the day, there will be optional activities hosted by community members (e.g. improv, forest bathing, poetry, yoga, etc.) * It will all be free! **Please [get in touch](https://www.alltogether.one/contact) if you'd like to run an activity 😊** **And please come along if you'd like to hang out and possibly try something new ❤️** **Notes on the general atmosphere:** * The vibe is relaxed, collaborative, and friendly. * Participate in as much or as little as you wish. * We appreciate both depth and levity in our conversations. * A 'beginner's mind' takes the pressure off everything. **Who should come:** Everyone! This group is not about being experts. The more perspectives, the richer our conversations and the richer our collective creativity. By bringing our various life experiences and lenses on the world together, we all become a little wiser. **What to bring**: * Something to sit on - picnic rug, camping chair, plastic bag (handy because it can double as a bin-bag at the end of the day) * Water * Other drinks/snacks for yourself (you can share if you want to, but there's no pressure) * Layers, sunglasses, sunblock, umbrella... it's London **Where we'll meet:** * Location TBD. As we've had such an enthusiastic response, we're scouting a few appropriate places I will share a what3words link when we've found the perfect spot. **Some relevant links:** Newsletter - [Upcoming events and our evolving story](https://experimentsingroupwisdom.substack.com/) 💌 Instagram -[Scrapbook and thought provoking stuff](https://www.instagram.com/thoughtexperimentsinpubs) ❤️ Whatsapp - [Occasional announcements](https://chat.whatsapp.com/DapwAXpnOHO5DRYThobpe4) Looking forward to meeting & talking & celebrating SUMMER with you! Bonny ❤️ N.B. we may take some photographs and videos at this event to share the story and help others discover our events. By attending, you acknowledge that you may appear in photos or videos. If you would prefer not to be included, just tell one of the organisers and we'll happily respect your wishes. #CoProduction #Creativity #Community #TEiPinthepark #ThoughtExperimentsInPubs #thegreatoutdoors #BritishSummer #Inclusivity #Openmindedness

Balancers Community Volunteering - Clothing Distribution

Hi Balancers, We believe community is about more than meeting new people. It's also about showing up for those who need support. As part of our ongoing partnership with Refugee Community Kitchen, we're inviting you to join us for a different kind of volunteering session. This time, we’re joining **Refugee Community Kitchen (RCK)** at their Goodge Street service to provide essential clothing to people who need it. 👕 **HOW IT WORKS** We’ll meet at **6:00 PM in front of the Dominion Theatre**. From there, we’ll cross the road to Primark and split into small groups. Each group will be given a few essential clothing items to find and buy. Once we’re done, we’ll walk about **5 minutes to Goodge Street**, join the RCK service and distribute the clothing while their team serves food. 💷 **CHIPPING IN** We’ll collect contributions from the group and use the full amount to buy the clothing that evening. If you can, **bring some cash** — but there’s absolutely no pressure to contribute much. Even **£1 helps**, and you’re just as welcome to volunteer regardless of how much you contribute. 💬 **Join our Volunteer WhatsApp group for updates and coordination:** [https://chat.whatsapp.com/Hzm7P7Tr0QD92MnwmpHTVK?s=cl&p=a&ilr=1](https://chat.whatsapp.com/Hzm7P7Tr0QD92MnwmpHTVK?s=cl&p=a&ilr=1) 🤝 **NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED** We’ll explain everything on the day. Just bring yourself and be ready to help. **Good to know:** 📍 Meet: In front of the Dominion Theatre ⏰ 6:00 PM 👕 Primark is directly across the road 🚶 Goodge Street is around 5 minutes away As always, Respect, Kindness and Authenticity come first. We’re there to support people with dignity and without judgment. Let’s keep showing what our community can do when we act with heart. See you there 💛

GoodGym Kingston // Group Session // Do Good & Get Fit

**PLEASE VISIT THE WEBSITE TO CONFIRM SESSION DETAILS AND LET US KNOW YOU PLAN TO ATTEND. THIS IS MANDATORY.** **Want to do something useful with your exercise? GoodGym is no ordinary gym. We're a group of people who get fit by doing good - helping out local charities and community groups with physical jobs like shifting compost and planting trees.** **📍 We meet at** **The Quaker Centre, Fairfield, Kingston Upon Thames, KT1 2PT** **at 6:30pm.** **🏃‍♂️ At 6:45pm we'll run, walk or cycle to do a 30-40 minute task.** **🏃‍♂️ Then we'll head back to where we started by 8:30pm, do some stretches and maybe grab a beverage?** It's FREE. It's fun. It's fulfilling. And we're a very friendly bunch. 🍇 — **BOOK ONTO THE SESSION** **To come to the session click here:** https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions **You will need to confirm your attendance on the GoodGym website** (this includes creating an account with us if you haven’t already - it only takes a few mins). The link above takes you to the session listings in your area - if this session doesn’t fit your schedule, you may find something that does so check it out. p.s. GoodGym is a charity and you will be asked whether you’d like to donate when first creating an account. The choice is yours and does not affect your ability to attend a session. — **FAQ** Not sure you'll keep up? GoodGym is for everyone (18+). Whether you've never run before, or are chasing a marathon PB, you are 100% welcome. We always have a back-marker so no one gets left behind. 70% of GoodGym members start as non-runners so if you're new to this kind of thing you will be supported by people who are all on the same journey. 👍 What do I need to wear? Most of us wear gym/running gear. Make sure you're prepared for the weather. Don't feel like you're fit enough? Our tasks are simple and fun. There are easy jobs as well as more challenging things for those who want a workout! The choice is always yours. Do I need to bring anything? Gardening gloves are really useful for a lot of GoodGym tasks. And a head torch too if it’s likely to get dark. Please bring some if you can but there’s no requirement 🧤💡🧤 What is GoodGym? We're a (really lovely) group of people who use our energy to make a difference in our local community (and in communities across the UK!). We often meet on a weeknight, at least once a week, for a session to do good and get fit. We'd love you to come and join us. Any questions, just pop a comment below or send me a message. Find out everything you need to know at goodgym.org

Litter Pick - Catford/Sydenham - Waterlink Way (SE London)

Join the Eco Around Community for a litter-pick walk from Catford to Sydenham along the Waterlink Way, facilitated by Biljana. Waterlink Way connects several parks and green spaces in Lewisham borough, following the Pool and Raversbourne rivers. It stretches 8 miles from South Northwood Country Park to the Cutty Sark ship in Greenwich. Considered one of South London’s hidden gems, it not only provides an enjoyable route to walkers and cyclists, but it also improves habitats for aquatic wildlife. While maintained by Lewisham Council, contributing to the Waterlink Way’s extra clear-up would be much appreciated. **When:** Saturday, 29 Aug, from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm **Where:** We’ll start from Halfords in Catford and follow the Pool River along the Waterlink Way, finishing at B&Q in Sydenham. Use the What3Words navigation below to see the exact meeting points. Start: what3words: [///dash.liver.flip](https://w3w.co/dash.liver.flip) Finish: what3words: [///note.news.short](https://w3w.co/note.news.short) We are planning to have some optional drinks/food afterwards. **How to dress and what to bring:** Appropriate footwear, no open-toed shoes and we recommend some waterproofs (just in case). We have some gloves, bin bags and litter pickers but feel free to bring your own and a refillable water bottle in case you get thirsty. Hand Sanitiser is also useful. **Updates:** Unless there is a heavy rain forecast, we will stick to our plans. Please check the event for updates. **Photo Consent:** We plan to take general pictures and a group picture to document the activity and help us promote future online events. If you wish not to be in the pictures, let us know.

Discuss & Social 🍷 Longevity: hype or healthy awakening?

**Join our no-judgment space to make new friends and chat about everything from daily life to big world issues. This week's topic:** We ignore basic physical activity for years, but more and more of us will pay for an Oura ring or a biohacking course if a TikTok health influencer tells us to. Western society ignored simple, traditional healthy habits for decades - only to rebrand wellness into an expensive social media trend and status symbol. Is this a genuine wake-up call to fix our broken habits, or just sheep behavior driven by algorithm-backed information overload? Are we finally taking our health seriously, or just victims of the latest trends? We'll discuss, for example... 1. Is this a genuine culture shift or just internet hype? 2. Why did we spend decades choosing unhealthy convenience even if the basic secrets to a long life were always public knowledge? 3. What does all of this tell us about our society? *Skip the small talk and join a room of global minds and cosmopolitans for our weekly conversation lounge. Find meaningful and international perspectives on modern culture, relationships, and society. No expertise needed - just an open mind and your life experiences. Come for the perspectives. Stay for the connections.* **🍸 THE VIBE** * **Curated Conversations:** Thoughtful, intriguing, and deep. It's more about our personal journeys and lived experiences, less about academic point-scoring. * **Cinematic Backdrop:** Hosted in a moody lounge perfect for late-night drinks and cozy conversation. * **Fluid Mingling:** A balance of guided group discussions and casual socializing over drinks. * **A Global Collective:** Connect with international graduates, London's creatives, open-minded travelers, etc. **🕒 THE RUN SHEET** * **19:30 – 20:00 \| The Warm Up:** Arrive, grab a cocktail, and chat casually as everyone settles into the lounge.. * **20:00 – 21:30 \| The Discussion Circles:** We move into our hosted conversation circles. We shuffle groups so you meet new faces. * **21:30 – Late \| The After\-Chat:** Shift to casual socializing. The lounge bar stays open late for socialising and drinks. **📜 OUR DISCUSSION CODE (house rules)** 1. **Curiosity over judgement:** We're here to explore how different people think. Listen, ask questions, learn from each other. Every view is a puzzle and we want to understand all angles without judging the people who bring them. 2. **Respect the mic:** This is a shared space, not a soapboxing stage. Give everyone a chance to speak. 3. **Don't take it personally:** We can explore different views while remaining completely kind and respectful to the people sharing them. 4. **Be Present:** We put our phones away during the conversation to truly connect with the people around us. **📍 THE LOGISTICS** * **Where:** The lounge bar/cafe at Curzon Aldgate, 2 Canter Way, E1 8PS. * **Entry:** Free entry. Kindly support the venue by ordering drinks or snacks at the bar throughout your stay. * **Dress Code:** Smart/City Casual * **Transport:** Aldgate East, Aldgate, Tower Hill/Gateway stations are all within a 5-minute walk. **✅ "Pending approval" to group?** Please wait until you are approved as we're balancing participants across different channel pools. **🌎 ABOUT US** **World Citizens** is London's premier cosmopolitan collective. For over 15 years, we have curated high-vibe spaces, salon discussions, and cultural mixers for global minds, young professionals, and international expats living in the capital. **\*Our other weekly events\*** \- Friday evening socials every week \- Cafe tour around London every Saturday \- Canary Wharf socials every other Wednesday \- Outdoor fun \(hiking\, kayaking\, etc\) every weekend \- Dining\, cultural and travel activities on\-demand **JOIN OUR TEAM!** We're all volunteers, so if you enjoy organizing activities or events in your spare time, while meeting great people every week, send a message to our team account "TP"! **DISCLAIMER** We are a 100% volunteer-run team. Though we have high standards in planning, this is a private informal activity so we cannot be liable for any damage or inconvenience. However, we put safety and comfort first. We take all complaints seriously, and take severe action against any harassment, verbal or non-verbal, and anti-social behaviour, towards our guests or team members. We collaborate with the police when needed. We take photos and videos which may include you to help promote the community in line with GDPR Data Protection law, as well as stock photos from Pexels or Unsplash. We may restrict or prioritize guests at our own discretion for safety, quality and logistics reasons. While our team's decisions may not be perfect we ask that you follow our decisions first and raise any disputes to discuss with us later and privately. By attending you understand, agree with and respect all terms of this disclaimer.

REGISTER INTEREST: ZINE MAKING with LESS STRESS PRESS: cultivate creativity

**Join our [MAILING LIST](https://thoughtexperiments.kit.com/59860c6d0d), if you'd like to receive invitations to future events (some of which will be hosted off of meetup).** What is a Zine and why should I make one? Zines are handmade booklets. They can be used to share information, ideas, stories, art (etc.). Zine making creates opportunities to: * spend time exploring ideas * hone in on something you love or care about: a cause, a message, a skill, a place (the possibilities are endless) * get creative with collage, drawing, writing, printmaking (etc.) * produce compelling and unique booklets that you can print cheaply and share with friends and strangers offline After lots of creative brainstorming of their own, Bonny and Ellie have landed on zine making as the perfect way to both open up space for playful, low stakes creativity, and focus their minds on bite sized projects. **Join our [MAILING LIST](https://thoughtexperiments.kit.com/59860c6d0d), if you'd like to receive invitations to future events (some of which will be hosted off of meetup).**