Uncategorised
Celebrating Community
14th May marks the third European Coworking Day, a day to celebrate coworking and community, and our impact on individuals and society, through events organised by and taking place in coworking spaces all over Europe.
Celebrating 10 years of Tribe Porty
This year also marks a special milestone for us, 10 years of Tribe Porty. Home to over 145 members, we support a diverse community of social entrepreneurs, freelancers, charities, SMEs, and enterprises. From photographers and graphic designers to environmental consultants and translators. We also engage with our wider community through Tribe Talks, community events and workshops. Last year alone an estimated 1,275 folk came to Tribe for an event or workshop.
At Tribe, we believe a supportive environment that sparks creativity and collaboration benefits businesses, individuals, and the wider community. Alongside our coworking spaces, you’ll find like-minded organizations, including The Edinburgh Tool Library, Velow Bikeworks, Portobello Natural Health, Sodak, and The Pilates Studio Edinburgh.
More than coworking
For us, coworking is about more than a desk and a chair; it’s about connecting people. Personal and professional growth often go hand in hand in coworking spaces, where communities of like-minded individuals come together. When done right, coworking not only fosters collaboration but can also have a profound impact on health and wellbeing.
So, we’re asking our community: What do you get from coworking here that you don’t get working from home or elsewhere? How does being part of Tribe Porty influence your creativity, your sense of belonging, or even your daily motivation?
At Tribe Porty, we’re proud to create a space where community thrives and individuals flourish. One of the most beautiful aspects of coworking is the friendships that bloom along the way. These connections enrich our lives and our work, making every day a little brighter.
Finding your community
Studies show that 84% of people feel more motivated and engaged in a coworking environment. At Tribe Porty, community is central to everything we do, shaping a space where creativity and connection flourish. Dani reflects, “Tribe has become something far greater than I envisioned a decade ago. What started as a place to gather, create, support, and share resources has grown into a true community—a space filled with incredible people and genuine connection. Tribe is more than a coworking space; it reflects what collaboration, kindness, and shared purpose can achieve.”
Ten years of Tribe is about more than time passed, it’s about the friendships formed, ideas launched, and the meaningful work that has happened under this roof. Without the people, we are just a building. With that in mind, we wanted to connect with our community to see why they love being a part of Tribe Porty and what brings them back time and again. Here’s what they had to say:
“Since joining Tribe I have the chance to talk to friendly and interesting people during the work day, which is a welcome change! Working remotely, I value the push to get outside and interact with people, as well as the feeling of having greater boundaries between work space and home. Tribe has also been a great place to find encouragement and inspiration to try new things!”
“Tribe Porty has a positive affect on my wellbeing; it’s much easier to be here than in my workplace office. I enjoy having people around me and I can bring in my dog Freddie, which is hugely beneficial. People are friendly and coming to Tribe allows me to have a connection in my community that I wouldn’t otherwise have, I look forward to coming here!”
“Tribe Porty is so conducive to making new friends. Shared meals, dogs to snuggle, and coming in regularly have all been key for me in making new connections. Over time, I’ve gotten more and more comfortable in the space and familiar with the other ‘regulars’ and I’ve made a number of friends I see inside and outside of Tribe.”
“The team shows such genuine warmth and care for the co-workers, and also keeps the vibe lighthearted and fun at the same time. I’ve attended the seasonal parties, a couple of games nights, most of the coffee mornings and lots of social lunches. I’ve made it to a Soapbox night and a Tribe Talks, too! They’ve all provided the opportunity to connect with some new people or people I may not see that often at the hotdesk table.”
To find out more about joining Tribe Porty including our different coworking options, click here.
Thanks for reading. As always we’d love to connect and hear your thoughts. As we look ahead to the next 10 years, we’d love to know: What would you love to see more of in the future of Tribe Porty?
Mailchimp signup form
Psst, as part of European Coworking Day we are offering one free day of hotdesking to new coworkers. Spaces are limited, book here.
The fundamentals of failing
I’ve been thinking a lot about failing recently and actively seeking to do more of it. You could argue I’m trying to rewire my brain to appreciate the fundamentals of failing. Not to brag, but I have a plethora of things I am good at. I’d say, naturally good at… School was easy, university even easier (I mean it was an art degree.) And there it is, did you notice? Something I’ve also been very, very good at is downplaying my achievements.
Failure is emotional but necessary
For me, failure feels gut-wrenching, upsetting, and deeply emotional. I know I don’t take criticism well (sorry, Dani), but I also struggle to fully appreciate my successes. When I accomplish something, my mind often jumps to dismissive thoughts: “Anyone could do that,” or “So-and-so could do it better.” This persistent self-doubt is often called ‘arrival fallacy’, the illusion that reaching a goal will bring lasting satisfaction. Or, even more frustratingly, the dreaded and well known ‘imposter syndrome.’
The reason this has been on my mind recently all started with a 10K trail run. I have enjoyed running now for 4-5 years, it’s something that brings me calmness and joy. It helps me notice the seasons change, be around nature and my thoughts. Despite this, I’ve always had a fear around trail running and something I would blame my body for not being up to.
Letting go of external validation
Anyone who sat with me for lunch over the past couple of months at some point will have heard me tell a derisive story about my partner’s parents signing me up for a 10K trail run at Glentress. This particular run covered 300 meters of elevation in the first 5KM, and let me tell you, it was cold at the top. Despite being full of dread masked in my humor and sarcasm, I went along with my only goal being to cross the finish line.
Within the first ten minutes of running, I was quickly at the back of the pack. Clearly, I was surrounded by very serious runners. A man in his 70s jogged alongside me and jeered, “I think we will be seeing a lot of each other.” He wasn’t wrong. I stomped my way up the hill, taking in the views along the way, slowly slid my way across the top avoiding ice patches, and threw snowballs at my friend. On the descent, the sun came out, and it was magic. I looked up at the trees, took in some deep breaths, and quickly made my way to the finish line. I did it, and I came dead last.
“I felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery—air, mountains, trees, people. I thought, “This is what it is to be happy.” Sylvia Plath
Finding joy in the process, not just the outcome
Would I do it again knowing I would come last? Yes! This could be the first time in my life where I was elated to fail. I did not give a rat’s arse about anyone else or their stats. All that mattered was the feelings I had along the way and the fact that I crossed the finish line!
Failure is misunderstood, and we avoid it at all costs. But to achieve and to grow, we must first fail. Our obsession with failure allows our failures to define us and keeps us from trying and from being open to experiences. On the other hand, when we do achieve, it is all too easy to downplay or minimize our accomplishments.
“Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.” Maya Angelou
To live well, we must remain open, curious, and most importantly, vulnerable.
Embracing discomfort and uncertainty
The truth is, failure is only failure if we allow it to be. What if we reframe it as learning, as progress, as proof that we are stretching ourselves beyond the confines of comfort? What if we measured our successes not by external validation but by our own growth, by how much we dared to show up even when we weren’t sure of the outcome?
That trail run wasn’t about time or placement, it was about pushing myself to go that bit further, about showing up even when I was certain I’d struggle. And in that struggle,I found joy in simply being in motion.
So maybe failure isn’t the thing to avoid, it’s the thing to chase. The more we appreciate the fundamentals of failing, the more we grow, the more we truly live. And that, to me, feels like the greatest success of all.
“Show me a man who has never made a mistake, and I will show you one who has never tried anything.” Albert Einstein
Thanks for reading,
Alice
You can read all of our previous blogs by clicking here. Make sure you’re subscribed to our newsletters by filling out the form below:
Mailchimp signup form
Postcards to Ourselves
Celebrating International Women’s Day at Tribe Porty
International Women’s Day is a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come in the journey toward gender equality and how far we still have to go. Back in 1911, only eight countries allowed women to vote and equal pay for equal work was unheard of.
Today, barriers to true equality remain and our rights grow increasingly precarious. This year’s theme, Accelerate Action, is a global call for increased momentum and urgency in addressing the systemic barriers and biases that women face. According to data from the World Economic Forum at the current rate of progress, it will take until 2158, which is roughly five generations from now, to reach full gender equality.
While we recognise the day, it’s essential to acknowledge that achieving gender equality is not just about improving the lives of women but coming together collectively to generate change.
“The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.”–Gloria Steinem
International Women’s day provides the perfect marker to collectively come together. This year, we wanted to take the opportunity to celebrate International Women’s Day by focussing on ourselves as individuals and helping each other reach the next level.
You are invited to an evening of creative reflection. We hope that by taking a moment to tune into what truly matters to us and the values we hold dear you will leave feeling replenished and focused.
Collage: The Art of Letting Go
Collage is an accessible and freeing form of art, it encourages letting go, embracing imperfection, and trusting the process. Through collage, we can explore what’s important to us and what holds us back. By doing so we can discover where we want to place our energy moving forward.
Creating art that is guided by existing images, words, choices of color, shape, and movement keeps us present and engaged in the moment. It allows us to quiet the noise, release expectations, and simply create without judgment.
“Creative practices help us to see the world differently, to offer ourselves calm and to bring joy and pleasure.”– Ellie Hutchinson
Join Us for a Creative IWD Celebration
In this interactive session, we’ll create postcards to ourselves. You will be encouraged to explore how we can recentre our work and lives around our values. Expect creative reflection, cutting, and sticking, no prior experience in collage is needed. There will be no pressure to share your work. This is a judgment-free zone, embrace the DIY aspect in all its messiness!
We will be guided by creative practitioner, researcher and facilitator Ellie Hutchinson. Ellie specialises in using creative tools to explore what the future could look like. She is the co-founder of The Collective and the founder of The Dots. Ellie works on issues relating to social justice and wellbeing. A key part of her process is acknowledging that we can’t imagine new spaces and places without having the space to think, reflect, learn and come together in community.
While Tribe Talks are usually free to attend, our IWD event will have a suggested donation of £5. All of your materials will be provided. There will be delicious cakes and refreshments available for purchase, with all proceeds going to Edinburgh Women’s Aid.
Join us in celebrating, reflecting, and creating as we continue the movement toward gender equality.
Find out more and book your space.
You can read all of our previous blogs by clicking here. Make sure you’re subscribed to our newsletters by filling out the form below:
Mailchimp signup form
More than coworking
Annual Report 24/25
Do you remember the first coworking space you walked into? How many have you tried since? And, most importantly, what makes you stay? Each year, we ask our members a simple yet telling question: Why do you choose Tribe? The answers consistently affirm that we’re achieving our mission as a true community coworking space.
Coworking is about more than shared desks; it’s about connecting people. Personal and professional growth often go hand in hand in coworking spaces, where communities of like-minded individuals come together. When done right, coworking not only fosters collaboration but can also have a profound impact on health and wellbeing. At Tribe Porty, we’re proud to create a space where community thrives, and individuals flourish.
A year in review
2024 has been a great year for Tribe Porty. From receiving the Places for Everyone grant to improve our front yard space to hosting another fun filled summer party. We also relaunched Tribe Talks and kicked off with a series on Sustainability. Tribe Talks welcomed 247 attendees this year—120 more than last year! We’re thrilled to see our efforts making a difference and can’t wait to build on this success. Series 2 launches this February and will focus on women’s health, wealth, and wisdom.
We had 218 day passes booked over the course of 2024. Day passes are an important offering at Tribe Porty as we are not a members only club. We understand that a reccuring membership is not for everyone.
2024 saw us welcome 53 new members, our largest demographic for coworkers remains folks working in the Arts, Culture & Entertainment sector. Across the board, the mix of sectors in our community has stayed pretty consistent, which shows how balanced and diverse Tribe continues to be.
One of the coolest things? Most of you found us through word of mouth! That speaks volumes about the love and belief our members have for what Tribe offers. It’s more than just a workspace—it’s a community worth sharing. And when new faces join because of your recommendations, it keeps our Tribe collaborative, creative, and full of energy.
What’s next?
Each year, we gather valuable feedback from our coworkers to understand their experiences and identify areas for growth. This feedback is used to shape our team meetings. We were already able to action most constructive feedback which includes:
- Updating and enforcing shared policies and common courtesies to foster a harmonious coworking environment.
- In 2025 will plan more creative workshops both during and outside office hours, not only to build our community but nuture the wellbeing of our coworkers.
- Upgrading furniture, ensuring comfort and usability.
- Improving signage for our building and to aid efficient recycling and kitchen cleanliness.
- Installing better lighting in the upstairs coworking space for a more productive and homely atmosphere.
- Community Solar Pannels we are currently liaising with Porty Solar Project to explore the potential for community owned solar panels hosted on our building. These contribute to local funds.
When reviewing the feedback we were overwhelmed by consistent praise for our dedicated team and the social opportunities, which remain highlights of the Tribe Porty experience.
Ten years of Tribe Porty
This year we celebrate 10 years of Tribe Porty. The milestone is about more than time passed—it’s about the friendships formed, ideas launched, and the meaningful work that has happened under this roof.
Tribe aims to provide a space for nurture and growth of human potential through supporting local people in work, art and quality of life. This is done through practical opportunities and support and encouraging connections. There is evidence that people-powered health not only brings transformational change, but also economic benefits.
Over the next year, we will continue to grow and strengthen our community by fostering exciting new collaborations with local businesses. We are also developing online programs focused on providing holistic business support for our members. Alongside these online offerings, we plan to launch new networking events designed to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and resources among our members. Additionally, we will nurture and enhance our connection with our community through our podcast, Working For Progress.
Thank you to everyone who has been part of our story so far. Here’s to the next chapter and all that we will create together!
Read the full Annual Report here
You can read all of our previous blogs by clicking here. Make sure you’re subscribed to our newsletters by filling out the form below:
Mailchimp signup form
Christmas in Porty
It’s here, folks! Christmas season is upon us! If you’ve been around Tribe Porty or chatted with me for more than five minutes in December, you’ll know I love this time of year. Lights? Love them. Tinsel? The more, the merrier. Gift-giving? Bring it on. Wallace & Gromit reruns? Absolutely.
But (and isn’t there always a but?) there are parts of the festive season that make me a bit bah-humbuggy. The tsunami of plastic tatt we’re pressured into buying and giving, the expense of it all and the overbearing need to show off on social media.
For me, Christmas is about the little joys: shared laughter, thoughtful gifts, and seeing our community come together to celebrate and share. So, this year let’s focus on just that— Portobello and all the festive magic it has to offer.
I’ve put together a festive guide full of local events and gift ideas to help you shop sustainably, support small businesses, and soak up all the warm, fuzzy vibes Christmas in Portobello has to offer.
Gift ideas for every kind of friend
For the crafty pal
There are always lots of Wreath Making Workshops available, why not treat you and your pal for an evening out! Here are two of our recommendations:
Wreath Making with Holly Grows
Holly will be at Tribe Porty and other venues in Musselburgh for fun evenings of Wreath Making. The wreaths are made with all eco friendly, sustainable materials. A glass of fizz (or non alcoholic alternative) will be available along with festive treats. You are also welcome to byob.
Wreath Making at Company Bakery
Pyrus specialise in wild and natural foliage, which you will use to create a unique and personal wreath. You will learn how to navigate the design process and listen to your creative instinct, while picking up design tips to help your design stay on track. You will be creating your own wreath alongside a spread of festive sweet and savoury Company Bakery canapes, as well as any hot drink or a glass of bubble.
For the wild friend
A gift for a friend that is willing to give anything a go! Soul Water Sauna is Edinburgh’s first mobile sauna nestled on Portobello’s promenade. Offering a place of relaxation, where you can reconnect with your body, the elements and the coastline. Give your loved ones time to care for themselves, to get cosy and find utter relaxation.
For the friend who needs some TLC
Give the gift of relaxation. Pop into Dook to chat over their range of handmade soaps, cosmetics and bath salts. They also have a lovely selection of hand crafted soap dishes, bath accessories and the most beautiful towels.
Dook make salt soap in small batches using organic ingredients, essential oils and natural colours. Each batch is mixed and poured by hand resulting in distinctive, high-quality hand and body soap.
For the Book Worm
The Portobello Book Shop has a great range of books covering all ages. They also have a fabulous stationary section with other wee gifts. The Portobello Book Shop also has some fantastic events coming up including book launches and creative workshops. The Indigo dyeing winter workshop would make a great gift and evening out for you and your crafty pal.
The Portobello Book shop will also be taking part in the late night shopping evening featuring jazzy festive tunes, complimentary mulled wine and mince pies. They are also offering 10% off everything.
This year the shop will also have a Christmas Giving Tree. They have teamed up with charities, StreetReads, HomeStart, as well as with Ecole du Bon Berger, a school based in Rwanda, to provide books to those who need them the most thanks to our customers’ generous donations.
For the coffee date friend
I’ve got a few friends I haven’t spent nearly enough time with lately. We’re usually pretty good at sneaking in coffee dates, but somehow life has been running away with us recently. That’s what inspired this idea—a little way to reconnect and keep the caffeine-fueled catch-ups alive!
Start with some freshly roasted coffee from Tanifiki—they’ve got a brilliant selection of beans, accessories, and mugs. Build it into a thoughtful coffee nook hamper by adding a sweet treat from Gogo Beets or Babyfaced Baker. Top it all off with a handwritten invite to meet for coffee in the new year—an easy but heartfelt way to make plans that stick.
If you’re feeling extra generous, why not include a few extras like tea, chocolates, or artisanal condiments? You’ll find plenty of options at Gogo Beets which also makes for great stocking fillers – organic and vegan yogi teas, vegan chocolate coins, ocelot chocolates and Gift vouchers. Gogo Beets will also making their annual Christmas vegan treat boxes that have a selection of cookies, cakes and traybakes to be enjoyed on the run up to Christmas Day!
Thoughtful, delicious, and guaranteed to brew up some good vibes!
For the Foodie
I love this idea because it works beautifully as either a gift or an experience to share. Why not create a festive dinner hamper with Aemila’s delicious handmade pasta as the star? Their new festive menu is full of fresh, comforting flavors perfect for a cozy evening in.
If you’re up for hosting, invite your pall over, add some candlelight, festive tunes, and you’re all set. If hosting feels like too much, no worries! Pick up a gift bundle instead, complete with their signature pasta, sauces, and even dessert (yes, they have dessert!), all tucked into a stylish Aemila Tote Bag.
For the Dog lover
Put together a doggy hamper with goodies from The Dog Port and Harry’s Treats. Think toys, treats, and stylish accessories for their four-legged bestie. The Dog Port take pride in curating the finest ethically-sourced natural treats to delight your furry companion’s taste buds. As well as toys galore, at Harry’s Treats you’ll find a range of homemade treats lovingly handmade at their base in Edinburgh, Scotland.
For the Triber
This year for Art Walk Porty Tribe Member Peter Jones painted our wonderful building and would make a great gift for the Triber in your life. You can place an order by contacting Peter directly. We also have lots of gift ideas from our community, if you are still stuck check out:
- 20 Photos
- Bike Packing Scotland, Markus Stitz
- It’s A Race, James Robertson
- Edinburgh Tool Library Memberships
- Gift cards from Portobello Natural Health
- Capturing Dani Prints, email directly for 30×30 prints or postcards
Events and Markets
Origami wreath making
Sunday 1st December @ Portobello Town Hall
I absolutely adore some Christmas Crafts, particularly to spruce up a Christmas gift or to use as part of a Christmas window. Here’s a fab activity to do with a pal or your kids at Portobello Town Hall.
Get into the festive spirit with Makiko in a delightful and relaxing Origami Workshop. Learn to fold beautiful Christmas wreaths and snowflakes—perfect for festive decorations. Suitable for everyone, no experience needed. By the end, you’ll take home your handmade, sustainable, and everlasting decorations.
Makers Christmas Market organised by Support The Makers
Sunday 1st December @ Portobello Town Hall
There’s nothing I love more than a market to source Christmas gifts. Showcasing a selection of handmade products from local makers including art, accessories, jewellery, ceramics, homeware, textiles, houseplants, home-baking, coffee & creative workshops.
Porty Local Market
Saturday 7th December @ Brighton Park
Portobello Local Market is a much loved monthly event for truly local food, drink and crafts.
Porty’s Festive Light Switch On & Late Night Shopping
Thursday 5th December @ the Christmas Tree near the Town Hall
The big light switch on with entertainment from the Throwback Choir and Porty Pop Stars. Most of the shops along the high street will be trading late with festive treats and discounts on offer.
This year, let’s do Christmas differently—together. Shop local, gift thoughtfully, and soak up the community spirit that makes Porty so special. Because honestly, isn’t that what this season is all about?
Happy Holidays Porty!
You can read all of our previous blogs by clicking here. Make sure you’re subscribed to our newsletters by filling out the form below:
Mailchimp signup form
Nourishment
To know how to feel nourished is fundamental to our wellbeing. Nourishment comes in many forms, not only physically but mentally and emotionally. On the surface, nourishment can take the form of foods, from the way we eat to where we eat and who with. As well as sustenance, food is a great way to gather people and nurture in person connections.
Community
Beyond food, our sense of community can be one of the most profound sources of nourishment. When you find yourself surrounded by people who support, challenge, and uplift us creates a space for growth and belonging. Whether it’s spending time with family, working alongside colleagues, or participating in shared activities, these connections nourish our spirit. In a world that can often feel isolating or fast-paced, finding and being part of a community is more important than ever.
For others, nourishment comes in the form of quiet moments of solitude and reflection, a time to rest, recharge and refocus. You might find it in a quiet moment of meditation, reading a book that inspires us, or spending time in nature.
Finding nourishment
As we move into the darker months of winter, knowing how to nourish ourselves becomes even more essential. The cold, dark days can feel draining. Many people, especially in places like the UK, associate winter with a reduction in energy and happiness. The shorter days often bring a sense of anxiety or dread. This makes it easy to fall into the trap of doing less and feeling less nourished.
How to Winter: Harnessing Your Mindset to Thrive in Cold, Dark, or Difficult Times suggests that winter can be a season of opportunity if we shift our mindset. It encourages us to embrace winter as a time for restoration, inviting us to transform darkness into an asset. By finding activities to look forward to that align with the season, we can see winter as a season of restoration and opportunity.
“Do something that you can look forward to that takes advantage of the darkness and turns it into an asset”-Kari Leibowitz
Undoubtedly nourishment is about taking care of our minds and souls. What activities help you feel restored? When we prioritize these practices, we acknowledge that our well-being is not just about what we consume, but also how we nurture our inner beings. There’s no right or wrong way to find nourishment; what’s important is understanding your own needs and making the time to practice what brings us joy and fulfillment.
Each of us has different ways to nourish our body, mind, and soul, and this month offers a chance to explore what fills us up in all areas of life.
An invitation to gather
The Story Sessions is back! Tribe Porty is collaborating with Soapbox to bring an evening of storytelling, join us on November 8th from 6pm to gather, to be inspired, to be heard, to tell and to listen to stories.
The theme is Nourishment – How do you feel nourished? Is it through food? Being in community? With family and friends? How do we nourish our body, mind and soul?
This session we will be treated to a menu of canapés from Còmhla, a luxury dining company founded by friends Helena and Joanna in Edinburgh. Brought together over a passion for wild natural Scottish ingredients, Còmhla’s philosophy is to celebrate the seasonal. With a deep-felt desire to sustain both environment and community, all that Còmhla does is driven by creativity, consideration and social-consciousness.
Tickets for this event are pay-what-you-can to feed back in to our communities. Click here to find out more and book your space.
Thanks for reading,
Alice
You can read all of our previous blogs by clicking here. Make sure you’re subscribed to our newsletters by filling out the form below:
Mailchimp signup form
Holding Space
Meet Loretta
We wanted to take this month’s blog as an opportunity to introduce you to Life Celebrant, Death Doula and friend of Tribe, Loretta Dunn. Loretta has a special interest in living well and dying well. Her journey so far has included a long career in nursing and midwifery, she is a member of The Institute for the Study of Birth, Breath and Death, and an EASE Facilitator (end of life aid skills for everyone) with the Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care. She is passionate about bringing death out of the shadows as a means of helping us to live our best life in the present moment.
Compassion and love are at the heart of her work. Loretta recently reached out to us to express her interest in running The Death Curious Cafe at Tribe Porty. Simply put, this gathering is an open invitation to gather and discuss mortality in a supportive and progressive way.
What is a Death Cafe?
Death Cafes first launched in Switzerland in 2004 and have since spread around the world. This has been encouraged through a growing number of folks moving towards death positivity and away from death denial. The key of this is that through understanding and welcoming our own mortality we improve the quality of our lives. As a society, it is more valuable than ever to hold space for conversations about death. A survey by the charity Dying Matters reveals that more than 70 per cent of us are uncomfortable talking about death and that less than a third of us have spoken to family members about end-of-life wishes.
Holding Space
In the UK, the topic of death is avoided due to a combination of cultural, psychological, and social factors. Many of us not only fear death itself but the potential pain, loss of control, and uncertainty it brings. Psychologically, people often engage in death denial to shield themselves from these anxieties.
In the book, Continuing Bonds: New Understandings of Grief, the authors and researchers challenge traditional views on grief which emphasise the need for detachment. The authors argue that grief is not about “letting go”. Rather it is about finding a new way to incorporate the presence of the deceased into one’s life. This could be in the form of personal rituals, keeping mementos and maintaining an inner dialogue with the loved one.
You can see this approach manifest itself through modern technology with the keeping of ‘memorial profiles’. Continuing bonds and having open dialogue around death has become an essential part of death doulas work and perhaps an important key to reopening the conversation around death and grief.
“The goal of grief is not to sever bonds, but to reweave them into the fabric of life.”-Continuing Bonds
The importance of community
There are many cultures that have religious or spiritual rituals that provide the building blocks for both accepting and preparing for death. In the past, even in the UK, death was a communal experience with both community members and family taking an active role in end-of-life care and rituals. Philosophical traditions, such as Stoicism or Buddhism, death is seen as an inevitable part of life, and whether it happens early or late is simply a fact of existence, not necessarily a matter of fairness.
Due to the breakdown of close-knit community structures and families often living far apart, death has been removed from everyday life and conversation. Thus encouraging an environment where it is easier to avoid and therefore removing any sentiment of acceptance or feelings of fairness.
Advances in medical technology have also shifted the perception of death to be something that can and should be delayed. In the UK the percentage of people who died in hospital in 2022 was 43.4%. Arguably this contributes to the notion that death is something to be resisted or “fixed,” rather than embraced as a natural end.
Of course the practice of guidance is not new and death is not an unknown phenomenon. A certified end-of-life doula, Christy Marek suggests that the lack of community ties in today’s society has led to the lack of conversations around death and resulted in the overwhelming need to contract a trained professional.
“In America, a few generations ago, our communities were doing this work,” she said. “The reason the role is showing up in a formalised way now is that we don’t have those community ties any more, not in the same way, and certainly not the same level of responsibility to each other as used to be woven into our communities.”- Christy Marek
The place of a Doula
Doulas help to relive these challenges and open up the conversation in a relaxed and informal way. Something we must also consider is that death denial is the overwhelming norm, our individual wishes for end of life care are not considered until late on. The result is that people struggle to have their wishes fulfilled.
All of the above contributes to a whole host of anxieties, the biggest problem being that we will never achieve a “good death”, one that aligns with our own values, desires and needs. This is a big conversation and one that cannot be fixed into one blog post, but we can certainly hold the space for it. When we are willing to take responsibility for our life, we can make peace with death.
An invitation to hold space
Join Loretta for our first Death Cafe on 24/10/24, she will also be joining us at Tribe for Social Lunch on 03/10/24. This will be a safe environment for sharing and exploring a deeper understanding of spiritual wellbeing for living well to die well over tea, coffee and cake. This is a pay-what-you-can event with a £5 suggested donation. Click here to find out more and book your space.
“Love has triumphed from the enfoldment of my inner circle—my closest friends and family. Engaging in open conversations about life and death has woven tighter bonds among us. Death, a shared human experience often wrapped in silence, has become a pivotal topic of our discussions. Through this, I’ve gained invaluable insights about the inevitable but more so about how to live.”-Dani Trudeau on conversations about death
Thanks for reading,
Alice
Read more: Exploring the evolution of grief & Living longer
You can read all of our previous blogs by clicking here. Make sure you’re subscribed to our newsletters by filling out the form below:
Mailchimp signup form
Tribe Talks Sustainability
Tribe Talks are starting back up in September, the theme for our first quarter is Sustainability and we will be joined by Boom Saloon, Adam McGibbon, LifeMosaic and WildFish.
The goal of Tribe Talks is to bring together bright minds, and interesting topics, that can help foster inspiration, provoke conversations that matter, and help to educate our community to do better, and be better.
We selected sustainability as our initial focus because many of our members are actively involved in this field. When choosing speakers, we aimed to cover key aspects of sustainability—social, environmental, and economic. Each session includes a Q&A, providing a valuable and actionable way to explore how we can contribute to a better world. The Q&A sessions will encourage group discussions, giving you the chance to delve deeper into each subject. Through this guidance, we hope to to ease any negative feelings towards the subject.
We’ll also steer each talk away from the typical doom-and-gloom narrative often associated with sustainability and climate change. Instead, we’ll emphasize facts and actionable solutions. By covering a variety of topics, we aim to highlight environmental success stories. In addition, we seek to discuss impactful environmental policies and government actions. In turn we hope to help you feel empowered in your personal efforts.
Meet our guest speakers
Rachel Arthur-Boom Saloon
Boom Saloon is a global media movement to democratise creativity for good, driven by international members.
They explore the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals through the lens of creativity, across print publications, online features, newsletters and events. This work supports a series of community projects which inspire and empower people facing challenges.
Rachel Arthur, founder and editor of Boom Saloon invites you to an insightful, behind the scenes talk. She will share how boom saloon has evolved to explore the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals through the lens of creativity – bringing together a global community of members working together to democratise creativity for good.
Adam McGibbon- Oil Change International
Adam McGibbon is a campaigner and strategist. Currently, he works with Oil Change International. His primary focus is on a campaign to end the flow of money from major governments, pledging to take action and shift billions into clean energy instead. Adam has also ran a campaign to get the UK Government to stop using billions of taxpayers money to finance fossil fuels overseas, from 2017-20.
Prior to this, Adam worked as an election campaigns manager for climate-friendly politicians. Adam’s Tribe talk focuses on 2013 when he took up a risky job in becoming Campaign Manager for Caroline Lucus, the UK’s only Green MP. Caroline Lucus was out to defend her Brighton parliamentary seat for the first time in 2015, with a wafer-thin majority. Lucas is re-elected with a large majority over her closest rival, in a huge turnaround that arguably saved the Green Party during a fragile time. Adam’s talk shares the inner workings to reveal how the campaign was won.
Serge Marti-LifeMosaic
Indigenous peoples protect 85% of the worlds biological and cultural diversity, through ancestral knowledge and practices that nurture diversity, spirituality, interconnection and collective approaches. Indigenous peoples and their territories are also under threat, from the high speed growth of giant extractive industries, infrastructure development, homogenous education and belief systems, as well as the spread of internet and social media. On the whole, these processes lead to monoculture, materialism, disconnection, and individualism, all of which are at the heart of the global polycrisis (the great clusterf**k).
LifeMosaic supports movements to defend nature and culture. They particularly support indigenous peoples movements to reflect on and vision their role and contribution at a time of eco-system collapse and climate chaos. As well as sharing some lessons of their work, Serge would love to hear your thoughts about the importance of movements to defend nature and culture, and how best to nurture these in Scotland.
Rachel Mulrenan- WildFish
Wild fish populations are collapsing as their habitats are destroyed faster than anything else. In the UK, most of our rivers fail to reach ecological targets. Open net salmon farming is ravaging wild salmon and sea trout. All fish are threatened by abstraction, barriers, and pollution.
Salmon has become one of the most popular dishes in restaurants and at home, but its popularity has come at a cost for the environment, fish welfare and the health of the planet. Almost all the salmon we eat is farmed. Scotland is one of the world’s largest producers of farmed salmon, but how much do we know about the realities of this industry taking place in our waters?
In this talk, Rachel will give an overview of the Scottish salmon farming industry – what it is, and how it impacts on the health of fish, people and planet. She will give a short introduction to WildFish’s Off the table campaign, which calls on chefs, restaurants and consumers to stop serving, buying or eating farmed salmon, and open a discussion about what a future in Scotland could look like without the salmon farming industry.
Book your space
We hope to see you at one of our Tribe Talks this year. Our mental and physical health, as well as the strength of our communities, is undoubtedly tied to our natural and built environments. Promoting sustainability in any form helps to lay the groundwork for environments in which we can thrive. More importantly, doing so also conserves resources for future generations. We hope that this series can help channel your curiosity and desire for better in a positive and productive way.
You can view the full series of talks and book your space by clicking here. If you have any questions, or would like to book a space to a sold out talk please contact us: more@tribeporty.org or call 0131 258 3471.
Thanks for reading,
Alice
You can read all of our previous blogs by clicking here. Make sure you’re subscribed to our newsletters by filling out the form below:
Mailchimp signup form
Hello, how are you?
Friendships and community are integral to our wellbeing and a good conversation can leave us feeling understood, energised and revived.
Losing community
Friendships and community are integral to our wellbeing. Despite this, I’ve noticed a similar narrative amongst friends, coworkers and folk posting online. This is that friendships are hard to come by and even harder to keep. In adult life, friendships require a certain amount of dedication and maintenance. Unfortunately, we often do not have time or even the energy needed to support the functioning of a good friendship.
As we age and grow priorities to shift, we get busier and life provides less opportunities for connection which become harder to come by if we let them slip away. Long term friendships require consistency, an ongoing dance of give and take.
Science has repeatedly studied and proved that friendships bring us a wealth of benefits. From keeping us mentally and physically healthy to improving our creativity and even reducing our blood pressure. So why don’t we value and maintain social connections as much as we should?
Modern life is often fast-paced and demanding, leaving little time for nurturing relationships. The rise of digital communication can create a false sense of connection, reducing face-to-face interactions. The pressures of work and daily responsibilities can make it challenging to invest in social connections, even when we recognize their importance.
Bridging connections
Humans have a fundamental need for interaction. Conversations connect us, sparking new ways of thinking, resonating with our emotions, and building bridges between us. However, we each require different levels of social connections and companionship.
A meaningful conversation blends opinions, experiences, and ideas. When a natural state of flow is achieved, it opens the heart and forges genuine connection. In essence, conversation links us together, and nurturing it involves genuine curiosity. To engage in meaningful conversation it is important to have interest in the people you encounter daily, ask questions, and avoid ending sentences in a closed manner.
By definition, conversation is improvisational. As we engage in dialogue, we uncover new aspects of ourselves. At its best, a conversation bridges the gap between our physical selves and our minds. A good conversation leaves us wanting more, with questions still unresolved. I’m sure I can vouch for many Triber’s that our weekly Social Lunch has left us with this feeling as we often attempt to put the world to rights!
Place and time
So how do we in the busy modern day seek physical spaces where we can find ourselves lost in conversation? Social connections require a special kind of place. A place where yourself and others have time, freedom and capacity to get lost in conversation. Third Spaces, a term coined by the sociologist Ray Oldenburg, are spaces beyond work and home. A sacred space where we can interact both freely and casually.
“Life without community has produced, for many, a life style consisting mainly of a home-to-work-and-back-again shuttle. Social well-being and psychological health depend upon community.”- Ray Oldenburg
Modern commodities and capitalism have led to a scarcity of third spaces. A true Third Space is a physical place where you are under no obligation to be there and the presence of a “regular” is more than welcome. Though rare, these spaces are essential to neighborhoods and can significantly enhance quality of life, well-being, and health.
This is why free events, like Tribe Talks, are so vital to Tribe as a community coworking space. We continuously seek new and exciting ways to welcome the wider community into our space because community is at the heart of Tribe. Our commitment to inclusivity and engagement drives us to host a variety of events, workshops, and social gatherings that cater to diverse interests and needs. By doing so, we aim to create a vibrant, supportive environment where ideas can flourish, collaborations can emerge, and everyone feels a sense of belonging.
Finding your community
As with everything, it is about finding a balance but also actively engaging and seeking the types of connections you crave. According to British anthropologist Robin Dunbar, the “magic number” for an individual’s community is 150. That’s 150 connections that make up your social network. Dunbar split’s these connections into different circles, or you could call it communities. The most important circle being the ‘inner’, this includes family and long term friendships. The rings extend outwards from there and include distant friends, fleeting friends, coworkers and folk who you occasionally cross paths with. This could include people met in a pub or coffee shop, people you pass on walks or places of common interest.
“What determines these layers in real life, in the face-to-face world… is the frequency at which you see people,” says Dunbar. “You’re having to make a decision every day about how you invest what time you have available for social interaction, and that’s limited.”
What I appreciate about Dunbar’s theory is its emphasis on the importance of cultivating depth in our communities, friendships and community are integral to our wellbeing . It’s not just about having close friends and deep relationships; the acquaintances and casual connections that come and go in our lives are equally vital to our daily health and happiness. It also highlights the importance of finding and frequenting places to nurture these relationships. Psychologist Holt-Lunstad similarly concluded that being within a large supportive social network reduces the risk of mortality after a chronic illness by an enormous 50%.
Your attention is a gift
Making friends isn’t that different from when we were kids, the only difference is intention. Making new friendships should be both interesting and fulfilling, stay curious! Intention is also important when selecting where to dedicate your time. At the forefront of coworking is community, the beauty of coworking is the people you meet and the connections you make. Creating and actively participating in in-person events can increase a sense of connection. Choose the places you visit with the intention of gravitating towards people and, with some time, social connections will form (and maybe even a new friendship.)
When we talk about curiosity it is also beautiful to remember that our attention is a gift. Engage with conversations actively and ask questions, maybe pop your phone to the side too! Through this self awareness we can become more approachable and friendly, in turn the people we engage with will return the favour.
“The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated”-William James
Thanks for reading,
Alice
You can read all of our previous blogs by clicking here. Make sure you’re subscribed to our newsletters by filling out the form below:
Mailchimp signup form
Let’s make good things happen
It feels good to gather, connect, share, listen, breathe. Soaking up all the goodness and emotion in real time. We’ve had a wonderful month at Tribe Porty which has seen us gather in many beautiful ways.
Tribe is a connectivity hub which promotes a healthy and happy community. Tribe aims to provide a space for nurture and growth of human potential through supporting local people in work, art and quality of life. This is done through practical opportunities and support and encouraging connections. There is evidence that people-powered health not only brings transformational change, but also economic benefits.
Places for Everyone
June saw the completion of our newly revamped yard space with new seating custom built by Move On Wood, planting by Kerry-Anne Saouter and a wonderful mural from KMG. This project was supported by Sustrans and Artroots. The aim of Places for Everyone is to create safer, more attractive, healthier, and inclusive places which are enjoyed equitably by increasing and diversifying the number of trips made by walking, wheeling or cycling for everyday journeys. Please enjoy and use our new seating, it is through these collective efforts that we can foster a stronger, more connected neighborhood.
It was great to see our outdoor space come alive during our summer party. A heartfelt thank you to all those who came to support us and make donations to Re-Act Scotland. It was fantastic to see some new faces amongst our regular members. We have several bags full to the brim ready to be taken away to Re-Act Scotland. Whilst we are no longer taking donations, you can contribute and support Re-Act Scotland by clicking here.
June also had team member Ellie take on her first event in collaboration with Soapbox and Porty Pride. Her storytelling event brought together a group of humans ready to share with openness, kindness and honesty.
“On Friday evening – popcorn in hand – we gathered for the first Story Sessions event, and it was glorious. Sat together, we listened to three unique stories; celebrating queer love, self discovery and partnership. To be able to connect with others, to gather, and to learn made for a very special evening.”-Ellie
Let’s collaborate
In addition to providing flexible work and coworking spaces, Tribe Porty offers unique and affordable event space for all different kinds of activities which could be ongoing or one-offs. There is a strong community of makers and social shifters who bring brilliant variety to what is on offer here.
Community coworking will always be at the heart of Tribe Porty but in an ever changing and shifting landscape the need for third places grows. We are always seeking collaborations and events that can aid in the bringing together of our community and make good things happen. We have hosted many different kinds of table top workshops, seminars, meetings and markets in this space to date. Partnerships and collaboration are a key part of Tribe and by using our space, you are supporting our work. If you are interested in hiring Tribe, please click here.
Tribe Talks
Tribe Talks are free monthly talks hosted by a Tribe member or friend of Tribe. We’ve see a whole range of talks from astrophysics to coffee tastings and womens health. Whilst Tribe Talks are on a summer hiatus it gives our team time to challenge our perspectives and question the needs of our community. Tribe Talks will be back in September so watch this space! For now, we want to hear from you. Please take a moment to fill out a quick survey about Tribe Talks, we thank you for taking the time. Now let’s make good things happen.
Thanks for reading,
Alice
You can read all of our previous blogs by clicking here. Make sure you’re subscribed to our newsletters by filling out the form below:
Top