Meet Sonny & Beverley
You may have noticed two new faces at Tribe Porty’s reception desk recently. Over the past month, we’ve welcomed two wonderful additions to your Tribe Porty Team: Sonny, our new Community Support Assistant, and Beverley, our Operations Assistant.
We’re thrilled to officially introduce them and let them share a bit about themselves in their own words.
Meet Sonny – Community Support Assistant
Hiya! I’m Sonny!
I first came across Tribe Porty when my partner came home raving about a brilliant wee place he’d visited while working with Porty Community Energy—he said it was very up my street. A quick Instagram search later, I realised it was the same place where my old yoga client and pal Ellie was working! From the moment I learned about Tribe Porty, I knew it was somewhere I wanted to be involved with—whether that meant applying to join the team (I checked for vacancies more often than I care to admit!) or eventually becoming a co-worker.
It doesn’t take much to make me smile—whether it’s a warm cup of coffee, the sunlight hitting the trees just right, a cuddle with a dog, or spotting someone reading my favourite book. Smiling is just part of who I am. What I love most about Tribe so far is the warmth and life that fills the space. I’m a firm believer that buildings have souls, and you can really feel the soul of Tribe the moment you walk in. And then there are the people (and furry friends)—everyone is incredibly welcoming, which only adds to the warmth of the place.
My Working Life (Alongside Tribe!)
My working life has been delightfully varied, mostly because I’ve been a student up until this past year. I’ve hosted birthday parties at a bowling alley, worked as an admin assistant in San Francisco, slung coffee and doughnuts at Kilted Donut in Leith, played the role of shop witch at Edinburgh’s Black Moon Botanica, and chatted all things contemporary art as a Front of House Assistant at the Talbot Rice Gallery.
For the last five years, I’ve been working on my PhD in History of Art at the University of Edinburgh. My thesis explored the visual culture of a second-wave feminist magazine called Spare Rib. While finishing my degree, I served as Chair of a Doctoral and Early Career Research Committee—organising events, symposiums, and workshops. This past year, I was an Associate Lecturer at Newcastle University, where I supervised 20 undergraduate Fine Art dissertations—an absolute joy! I’m now working on publishing parts of my thesis and figuring out where my research adventures will take me next.
In addition to academia, I’m also a freelance yoga teacher! I teach at Tribe Yoga (mostly in Leith), Yoga’s Got Hot in Stockbridge, and David Lloyd in Newhaven. I’m hoping to bring some meditation sessions to Tribe Porty in the near future—so keep your eyes (and ears) peeled!
Community is the BEST
Since moving to Scotland, one of the things that’s grounded me the most has been the sense of community I’ve found in different places and spaces. Community not only gives us a sense of belonging, but helps us feel connected to something bigger than ourselves. Through various communities I’ve been part of, I’ve met some of my best friends, role models—and even my partner! I’ve built lifelong relationships that are deeply real and meaningful.
What truly drew me to Tribe was its focus on and dedication to building community. As adults, it can be so hard to meet new people—and even harder in this digital age and WFH culture. Coworking spaces like Tribe go far beyond just meeting people as colleagues or deskmates. They offer opportunities for real connection that move past the surface-level nature of traditional office culture—helping to build friendships, foster collaboration, and nurture a thriving, welcoming community.
“The moment we choose to love we begin to move against domination, against oppression. The moment we choose to love we begin to move towards freedom, to act in ways that liberate ourselves and others.” -Bell Hooks
Meet Beverley – Operations Assistant
Hello, I’m Beverley!
I first came across Tribe Porty when I became a part-time home worker – about eight years ago. I wasn’t missing the commute towork (two hours stuck on the Edinburgh by-pass twice a day anyone?) but I also didn’t find sitting in the kitchen – with the leaning tower of ironing winking at me from the corner – all that inspiring. I spotted Tribe Porty and loved the creative space and community feel. However it was not to be. But I did keep an eye on the events and activities that popped up on my social feeds and always felt it ‘was my kind of place’.
Fast forward to April this year, and after over 30 years working flat out running fast-paced brand and communications teams and a stint as Operations Manager helping establish a new Trust, I had the chance to step back and think about what was next for me.
Home & Work Life
I’m officially what’s known as an empty nester – no more ‘what’s for dinner, can you pick me up at 2am I’ve missed the last bus or have you washed my favourite top I’m going out in five minutes’. Both children are now either working or at University and weirdly more than capable of working a washing machine (who knew it was that simple). I’d also had my fill of board meetings, all staff away days and strategy sprints. I wanted to spend some time re kindling my love of all things creative whilst finding my tribe – people who care about connections, creative thinking and doing things because they are the right thing to do not just because someone wrote it in a ten year business plan in a world before COVID threw everything up in the air.
I feel so lucky to finally make it through the doors at Windsor Place and join Dani, Alice and Sonny on the Tribe Porty Team. The role is a part time one – enough to get to know everyone and feel part of the team – but with plenty of free time to flex my creative muscles (they’re not very toned at the moment – a bit like my thighs!).
Something I LOVE
So I’ve recently bought myself a small printing press and turned the attic bedroom into my creative space. Which brings me on to what makes me smile… mixing relief inks, carving out lino for a new linocut print, visiting galleries and talking to experienced printmakers about their amazing work. I’m also happiest in the garden in spring watching the tulip bulbs coming through and sowing climbing beans into little pots loving how fast they break the soil and grow their winding stems.
Finally, my guilty pleasure at the moment is re-watching Mad Men on Netflix which first aired in the UK in 2007. (It feels so much easier to watch now I’m no longer working in advertising!) There’s a quote from Don Draper the main character; ‘ If you don’t like what’s being said, change the conversation.’ It feels so relevant to what’s happening in the world right now.
Say hello!
We’re so excited to have Sonny and Beverley as part of the Tribe Porty family. Be sure to say hello next time you’re in the space—they’re both keen to meet more of our wonderful community! We’ll soon be interviewing them both on our podcast Working For Progress, watch this space!
Thanks for reading,
Your Tribe Porty Team
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? Sign up to our newsletter to keep up to date with all things Tribe.
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Reflections & Changes
Celebrating 10 Years of Tribe Porty
We’re halfway through our tenth year at Tribe Porty which is a marker for reflections and changes, what a year it’s been so far! We’ve marked this milestone in true Tribe style, with gatherings full of connection, creativity, and joy.
Our anniversary dinner at Dovecot Studios was nothing short of magical. It was a pleasure to work with POP Conscious Catering who hold values so close to our own. They curated a beautiful meal, family style. The room sparkled with generosity and laughter as our Tribe came together in singing, reading poetry, and celebrating all we’ve built together. The energy was unforgettable, and our team, as always, made it all happen with heart and brilliance.
We also hosted our much-loved annual community summer party. Not even a heavy downpour could dampen the spirit! With the help of Team Oi Musica (and some very quick gazebo-building), we kept the party going. Workshops ran, sketch walks stepped boldly into the rain, and Peter & his trad jig crew quite literally brought out the sunshine. As always, Brass Blast closed the show with a bang. Huge thanks to everyone who joined and contributed, it was, once again, a highlight of the year.
A Time of Changes
Next month, we’ll welcome a new team as we say heartfelt goodbyes to two much-loved members of Tribe.
Debbie is retiring after six wonderful years. She first joined us as a volunteer before becoming Tribe’s first receptionist, a vital role as we expanded and evolved. Debbie has been a constant, a friendly face, and a huge part of our daily rhythm. Here’s what she had to say as she prepares for her next chapter:
“It’s hard to believe that Tribe is 10 years old and I have been part of it for 6 of those years. I am so grateful and blessed to be able to do such a great job with such amazing people.
I can only thank Dani for having faith in me and being so supportive and patient, that also goes for Alice, Ellie, and all the girls I’ve worked with. Thanks also to all the Tribers, past and present, who’ve given me good advice and so many laughs.
BUT mostly I must thank all the gorgeous pups who have made working at Tribe so memorable and made me feel so loved.” – Debbie
Ellie also moves on at the end of June, after a year of energising presence and contribution. Ellie brought a creative spark to our Tribe, most notably with the launch of The Story Sessions, which quickly became a staple of our events calendar. Here’s Ellie in her own words:
“I can’t quite believe we’re here already, but my time at Tribe Porty has come to an end. From my very first day, welcomed with such warmth and a genuine sense of belonging, I knew Tribe was more than just a workplace. It’s a vibrant, ever-evolving community.
What I’ve loved most is the people: the Tribers, the conversations over coffee, in the kitchen, and those one-on-one chats at reception. Sharing ideas, projects, stories, and life’s big and small moments made me feel truly connected.
One highlight has been launching The Story Sessions. A space to gather, listen, and be inspired by real stories from our community. It’s been amazing to see it grow into something that deepens our sense of connection.
Though I’m moving on from the team, I’ll still be around, hosting The Story Sessions bi-monthly, starting again in September after a summer break.
Thank you, Dani, Alice, Debbie, and all the Tribers, for making me feel at home and reminding me of the power of community.”
Reflections & Looking Ahead
At Tribe, it’s always been about the people. Without you, we’re just a building. That’s why we say: once a Triber, always a Triber.
As we say goodbye to Debbie and Ellie, we’re also excited to welcome two new team members, Sonny and Beverly, who will be joining us in July. Please say hello and make them feel right at home!
And there’s more to look forward to. As part of our 10-year celebrations, we’re excited to tease our next series of Tribe Talks, returning this autumn. This special edition will be centred around our core values: Work. Make. Share. Each month we’ll host a themed session to explore and celebrate these ideas in our community. This includes a collaboration with Edinburgh Tool Library. Stay tuned for more details soon!
Thank you for being part of our journey. Here’s to ten years and the many stories, celebrations, and new beginnings still to come.
Thanks for reading,
Alice
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?
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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?
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Psst, as part of European Coworking Day we are offering one free day of hotdesking to new coworkers. Spaces are limited, book here.
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!
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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
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Discover the joy of coworking
Tribe Porty brings good people together and makes good things happen. This year for European Coworking day we want to shout about our Tribe, celebrate the joy of coworking and invite you to join our Tribe.
Why coworking?
Do you remember the first coworking space you entered? How many coworking spaces have you tried or been a part of? What makes you stay? A question we ask every year to our coworkers is why do you choose Tribe? A simple question, but it always proves that we are achieving our mission as a community coworking space.
Coworking spaces are fantastic at joining communities together. Personal and professional growth is closely linked to coworking. One thing that coworking spaces all have in common is the desire to bring people together and create a community of like-minded people. Furthermore, when spaces are great at doing this, it can have a significant impact on your health and wellbeing.
Surround yourself with good people
Don’t get us wrong, we can’t beat a day in your PJS in the comfort of your own home on a rainy, windy Scottish day. But at times working from home can feel lonely and isolating. Coworking statistics show that 89% of independently employed people feel happier after joining a coworking space and 83% of people feel less lonely.
Not to mention, you’ll be surrounded by the best and most interesting people that you’ve ever met. I’ve lost count of the amount of times I’ve said and thought “what, I had no idea that job existed!”. Studies found that 69% of coworkers say that they have acquired new skills or upgraded their current skills due to the people they have worked alongside in a coworking space. It also gives the opportunity to share and develop your work with a fresh set of eyes and ears.
Boost your productivity
As well as the extra social contact, coworking spaces offer a more productive and focused space to work. The same study found that 84% of people feel more motivated and engaged with their work whilst at a coworking space.
Community is important to the way we work. At the heart of our ethos lies a deep commitment to community values, shaping the environment of our coworking space. Tribe’s design is thoughtfully crafted to foster creativity, promoting the collision of diverse individuals and ideas that spur innovation, knowledge exchange, and meaningful connections.
All of this makes coworking spaces an indispensable environment that allows you to balance work, wellbeing, productivity and socialization. Did we miss anything? Not convinced yet? Here’s what our coworkers have to say about coming to Tribe:
“Tribe feels like such a community and it was a really easy environment to get to know people. The vibes were always good and the added social events (Thursday lunch, coffee mornings etc) actively encouraged people to get to know each other. I’ll be honest, a shared office I went to twice a week was the last place I thought I would make friends when I moved to Edinburgh. Upon leaving I can say that I’ve made some excellent pals! I don’t think there’s a single co-working space out there that could hold a candle to Tribe”
“I’ve worked remote for 7 years and coworking spaces keep me sane – and productive! When we moved to Porty, I ditched my place in town within the week and haven’t looked back. It’s just a lovely place to work. Everyone’s super nice and getting to see loads of different jobs, companies and perspectives is inspiring.”
“I moved up to Portobello from London and was looking for a place to work as my new role is fully remote. I followed Tribe’s instagram page before I moved and heard only great things about Tribe from everyone I met here. I love the people, the working space (especially the garden), the sense of community, the opportunity to chat to people with interesting work and lives while hanging out with the many cute dogs. It is a joy to work here!”
Choose Tribe
Beyond the workspace, we remain deeply connected with our community through various activities such as coffee mornings, social lunches and our monthly free Tribe Talks. At Tribe Porty, community is not just a concept; it’s a lived experience. We look forward to the continued growth and vibrancy of our community.
To our current coworkers, you guys rock and make this place what it is. Thank you for being a part of our Tribe. To those who are yet to visit us, hello! Pop in for a tour and meet our team. You can keep up to date with all of our social events and Tribe Talks by subscribing to our newsletter.
You can view our day pass options and membership packages by clicking here.
We can’t wait to meet you.
Thanks for reading,
Alice
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Hitting Pause on Christmas
Christmas is a time where life becomes intensified, days are shorter, money is tighter and you have social gatherings galore. As Christmas draws closer, the need for a pause button grows.
As a fan of Christmas, there are times that it even makes me want to bury my head in the snow (Christmas joke). It can be a difficult time to adjust expectations as we fall into the usual routine of overindulging in every aspect of life. I often reminisce on that weird covid Christmas where we had to remain within our own households. I remember initially feeling sad, like something had been taken away. On reflection, it was probably one of my favourites. Yes, I missed my family but it was lovely to spend the day in my own home, possibly the most relaxed Christmas of them all. Yet, every Christmas since then the intensity comes back in full swing.
It’s not all bad, who doesn’t love the lights, spending time with loved ones and eating your favourite Christmas foods. It’s also a time to reflect and give thanks, especially as the year draws to a close. Team Tribe had an evening of wreath making with artist Jana Middleton at Dook Soap for our Christmas do this year. At the start of the evening, host Jana asked us all to close our eyes and think of a colour that comes to mind when thinking of Christmas. Orange, red, green and white all came up. She also asked us to think of smells that we attach to Christmas, pine, mulled wine, spices and homebaking were mentioned. Lastly, she asked us to close our eyes and write down words or a sentence that come to mind when we think of Christmas. The feedback felt warm and cosy, like a Christmas hug.
Earlier that day, I had been constructing this blog post. A helpful guide to make the most of Christmas and enjoy the festivities. I came away from the wreath making evening feeling extremely mellow and calm about Christmas. I felt like that simple exercise served as an important reminder as to what is and what makes Christmas. It’s a lot simpler than the panic, gift buying hussle that we find ourselves wrapped in. Christmas isn’t always an easy time of year and it is all too easy to forget that you do in fact have control. As a team, we have gathered some thoughts around Christmas and how to thrive and enjoy this period rather than survive.
Wreath Exercise
Close your eyes and think about the following questions, write these down on a piece of paper. Use this as a guiding force over the Christmas period, these are arguably what you love the most over Christmas and the easiest to forget:
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What smells come to mind when you think about Christmas?
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What colours do you think of when you think about Christmas?
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Write some words or a sentence that comes to mind when you think about Christmas.
Catch some Sun
Christmas is in itself tied up in the winter Solstice. The winter solstice marks a crucial turning point in the year as the sun is at its weakest point. This is a point throughout history where people would hold fests and gather at monuments. It is a time to remember that winter is not forever.
It is widely known that the sun benefits our body in numerous ways and keeps our circadian rhythms in sync. Being in the sun can tweak our immune and cardiovascular systems as well as causing our blood vessels to relax and widen. When we feel the sun on our skin, we release endorphins which can boost our alertness and energy levels.
Over the winter months, it is so important for us to harness this energy. Next time there’s a cold bright morning or the afternoon sun is peeking through some clouds, try to get outside. The sun being out also makes an excellent motivator to get your family outside over the Christmas period. Here’s a great read on the power of the sun.
Take a break!
The busier you are, the greater benefit there is to taking some time alone and finding that pause button. It can take a bit of confidence but take a break when you need to. A 15 minute brain reset in solitude can make a world of difference to both your mood and energy level. Studies show that alone time can increase happiness, better life satisfaction, and improve stress management.
Practice Mindfulness
It may not be your top priority over Christmas but daily mindfulness is important at any time of your life. Through mindfulness exercises, such as meditation, breathing exercise and yoga you can become more aware of your thoughts and feelings. This gives you time to both process and manage them rather than becoming overwhelmed. Click here for some easy and quick breathing exercises.
Take stock and look to the year ahead
The end of the year is a very natural time to take a moment of reflection. We should all lean into this urge to celebrate our achievements and note our successes. It’s important to refrain from a critical mindset and instead hone in on what has brought you joy this year.
If you are new to this, we’ve gotchu. Keystone have a free online course to help you on your way. This will help you designate the time to reflect, check in and gather yourself for what’s next.
Relax and say no.
Ya know you can do that at Christmas right?? Check in with yourself and make the time to chill out and do the things that you like to do. It’s also okay to miss out on things and to say no when your cup is already full.
Shop small, gift small.
The biggest overwhelm and stress can stem from gift giving. It’s always important to reframe what and why you are buying a gift. Especially when you consider that 80% of returned gifts end up in landfill and this year alone 3,088,345 bad Christmas gifts were thrown away. Before buying something, consider the journey this gift will take and what its lifetime value is. Sentiment and gesture is always far more powerful than cost and volume.
Considering all things, seek and stay true to the things that you love about Christmas. Here are some words from Nick Cave on the power of small actions:
“The everyday human gesture is always a heartbeat away from the miraculous.
Remember that ultimately we make things happen through our actions, way beyond our understanding or intention; that our seemingly small ordinary human acts have untold consequences; that what we do in this world means something; that we are not nothing; and that our most quotidian human actions by their nature burst the seams of our intent and spill meaningfully and radically through time and space, changing everything.
Our deeds, no matter how insignificant they may feel, are replete with meaning, and of vast consequence, and that they constantly impact upon the unfolding story of the world, whether we know it or not.”- Nick Cave
As always, thanks for reading. 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:
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Working For Progress
We recently took the time to record a season wrap up episode of our podcast, Working For Progress.
Reflecting on Working For Progress
Working For Progress was launched with the intention of clebrating our communities and sharing their individual journeys. We are lucky to have a community of creative people, all doing interesting work and who are also interested in the bigger picture. Their health, their communities, their impact on the world. It is important for us to connect through conversations about how we craft our working life and make progress. Each episode sees us ask our communities questions about their working life, the challenges they’ve faced and the progress they’ve made.
It was funny to think back to the initial awkward fears that producing and recording a podcast brings. We are forever grateful to our pals over at Glocast for allowing us to record our trailer episode with them. Perhaps without this as a date in the diary to record we would not now be reflecting on our eleven published episodes!
We spoke at length about what stood out to us in season one and we really wanted to thank our guests for their honesty and vulnerability. Even recording a conversation with people that you know in a place that you are familiar with can bring nerves. Not to mention that using a mic can initially feel very intimidating. It has been a joy to listen to the intricacies of people’s journeys and without creating the space to reflect there’s so much we may have never known! The podcast has made both myself and Dani feel ever more connected to you all. Taking the time to interview each person has served as a valuable reminder of how important connection and conversation is.
Dani reflects: “Each person brought their unique story to the conversation, a bit of where they have come from in terms of significant life moments which have impacted on what they are doing today. Thinking back, it was often a person or an interaction which profoundly impacted a decision or direction. Sometimes only with hindsight do you notice such influences.”
Working at the speed of trust
We also spoke about what we wanted out of the podcast. I really wanted to showcase all of the possibilities your working life can bring and highlight the turning points in people’s career journeys. For myself, I am very early doors. I have spent most of my working life in hospitality. I adore the world of hospitality but always desired something more stable without losing what I value. Before Tribe, I remember having this weird sensation that I was failing or doing things wrong and that I simply wanted more out of my working life.
Coming to Tribe gave me the term value based work. It’s a privilege to work alongside so many people where value is at the heart of their working lives. At points in my own journey, value based work felt out of reach and at times it just felt like ‘a nice idea’. I wanted this podcast to highlight how many different avenues and directions life could take you. Career journeys are not always a linear path like you are told at school. For me, each episode really encapsulates this as each guest highlighted the journey and risks that they have taken themselves.
It was interesting to note how the support of communities and the right people at the right time came up alot in each person’s journey. Alongside this came trust and putting yourself in the relationship of trust to find trust. These seem to be vital ingredients in both navigating working lives and in taking risks. Here’s what Nasim Forootan said about the importance of trust:
“It’s okay to trust and to open yourself up and be vulnerable sometimes with how you are feeling and what you’re seeing. Sometimes you need to have difficult conversations to explore the nuisance of things. Have faith that things will come out right. If you go into a situation with doubt, you won’t let yourself explore the relationship that could be. Trust is a really strong value for me. Trust is embedded in everything I do. When we work in organizations or when we look at community spaces and governments, it’s one element that is constantly broken. If we had a tiny bit more trust in each other the world would be a better place”-Nasim Forootan
The importance of community
Trust and honesty certainly became an overarching theme, both in trusting in yourself and the people around you. This is why coworking is so incredibly important. It’s not often in life you get to choose the people around you and people are such a strong and beautiful part of Tribe. Tribe is not just a desk to work from, it is the people that you’re sitting next to, have lunch with and stop for a tea break and a chat with. Coworking perfectly encapsulates the human need and want for both community and connection.
During our chat, Dani reflected: “Think of Brene Brown’s saying, ‘It’s hard to hate people when you see them up close and know their story’, it’s true. Bear with me, I am so far from hating anyone, especially this crew. But in a similar vein, the care and love I now have for each guest has expanded. To know them a bit more, to be trusted enough that they share themselves with us (and everyone who listens) is not taken lightly. We could easily brush it off, quite normal to be on a podcast and chat about your working life. But when people share their values, why they do what they do, what brings them a sense of belonging and awe, it connects us in generative ways.”
Bob Cummins of SODAK amply said during his interview that “Emotional safety is formed with people. If you’ve got others you can take the journey with, it makes risks easier”. We hope that in listening to each of these stories you may find more confidence in navigating your own journey and not to feel scared of taking the necessary risks. Founder of Good Life School, Lorna Lythgoe spoke of this in such a beautiful way whilst reflecting on her on career journey :
“I felt like I had leapt off a cliff, I was falling and would occasionally land on a shelf. It was painful and scary and uncomfortable, which sounds like I’m saying don’t do it. In retrospect, now I know that was the growth and the career path, I started to gleefully leap off as I understood It wasn’t an abyss”- Lorna Lythgoe
Keep working for progress
Most of all, our podcast makes us feel so very grateful for the communities of Tribe Porty and Keystone. We are so lucky to meet so many incredible people through these communities. It is an honour to share your stories. We want to keep showcasing you as the brilliant, incredible and completely normal people that you are. People who are real and care deeply about others and this planet. We hope that our little podcast helps you to stay surrounded by good people, keep true to your values and to keep working for progress. (Too cringe? Nah, we love it!). You can listen to all of our episodes, including our season wrap up by clicking here. Fancy joining myself and Dani in an episode? Drop us a line at: more@tribeporty.org
As always, thanks for reading. 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:
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Step up for Pride
Pride is more than a party, for allies of the community it’s an important time to step up and create inclusive change.
I found it hard at times to write this year’s pride blog post. I knew I wanted to write a piece about creating inclusive culture and finding strength in community, but it’s hard to write about something that you feel should be an obvious and rightful norm. I’ve always been an ally to the LGBTQ+ community, even as a youngster before the concept of an ally existed to me. So sometimes when I speak of allyship, it frustrates me because my brain can’t see it any other way.
But I have also seen friends targeted by bigotry and hate, I’ve seen friends struggle to defend their identity, I’ve seen the consequences of an innocent person being forced to be someone they are not. Sometimes it is important to remember that you as a person are shaped by the world around you. It can become hard at times to sympathise with the ‘it was different in my day’ notion. That’s why Pride is important and that’s why spreading this message is important.
“I was not and had never been a part of a queer community, how to access such a thing was not just a mystery but an impossibility. The loss of which was sizable. Agony in isolation, the shame and pain that I thought was mine alone.” Elliot Page: Pageboy
How to contribute to Pride
Pride is a time to celebrate, congregate and highlight the progress that society still needs to make. Pride is a time to spark conversations, collaborations and bring attention to both achievements and injustices all over the world. As businesses, it’s time for us to step up, contribute in meaningful ways and show our communities that we are always a safe space.
To truly be involved with pride celebrations is to contribute in meaningful ways and further the cause of LGBTQ+ rights and equality. The corporate world sees far too many important issues ‘washed’ and pride is not exempt to this. Highlighting issues around consumerism and ‘washing’ shows the growing recognition that businesses have towards actively cultivating inclusion and diversity. Every person deserves to feel safe and whilst progress has been made it’s still not enough. The past decade has seen an ever growing rise in reported hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community. We must remember that inequalities and barriers still exist and we must do what is in our own reach to help.
One in five LGBTQ+ people were the target of negative comments at work.
Over a third of LGBTQ+ people feel they need to hide who they are at work.
One in five feel that being LGBTQ+ limits their job opportunities.
-Britain in Work Report
What it means to be an ally
Being an ally is an ongoing mission and is more than putting up a flag once a month, this is at best tokenistic. We often believe in the myth of individualism, that we are independent from each other and the natural world. Whilst we do have individual agency, we show our true strengths when we collaborate and we become stronger when we act together. To move past tokenistic gestures, let’s work together to build stronger communities, safer spaces and secure workplaces.
Even when you as an individual, an employee or an employer have good intentions, unfortunately there isn’t a button for instant inclusion. Instead it is an ongoing, ever evolving journey. Much the same, there is not a singular template that forms an inclusive workplace. Inclusivity should be seen as a process, not a quick fix.
The best employers recognise the value in taking proactive steps to create inclusive culture and there is a wealth of information out there, the internet can be a magical place! Starting points can be as simple as developing clear policies against discrimination, diversity training and the most obvious, taking action on LGBTQ+ employee and customer feedback. As an employee, it may at times feel like an impossible task to generate change. As an ally, use your privilege to speak up and have difficult conversations with managers and bosses.
Step up and use your privilege
Being asked to understand your privilege is not an attack, it is simply acknowledging that you feel safe and valued in everyday life and recognizing that not everyone has the same experience. You can put this to work by being an effective ally and advocate for others.
I often hear people talking around inclusive culture like it’s an impossible and bewildering task. It is okay to feel lost at times in an ever changing world, but do not stand idly by and become part of the problem. It is up to you to educate yourself, it is not someone else’s job to give you a lesson on gender identity. Engage with the LGBTQ+ community, work with other businesses that do it well and stand up for what is right. By networking with other members of the community you will not only show strong allyship, but gain invaluable experience and knowledge.
Not sure how to step up? Start here:
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Creating Inclusive Workplaces
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What does allyship look like
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LGBT Youth Scotland
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Equality Network Resources
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Privilege isn’t a dirty word, here’s how to use it
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The Portobello Book Shop: Pride Picks
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Get involved: Porty Pride
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Porty Pride poetry evening at Tribe Porty
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Each month, we offer Tribe Talks. A free evening hosted by a Tribe member or friend of Tribe. We are so excited to share that our next Tribe Talk is to celebrate Porty Pride! Our Porty Pride poetry evening will be hosted by the wonderful author and poet, Anne Pia. Click here to find out more and book your free ticket.
As always, we would love to hear your thoughts, keep in touch by signing up to our newsletter below! You can find our previous blog posts by clicking here.
Thanks for reading,
Alice.
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Embrace Equity
International Women’s Day is on the 8th of March. This years theme is Embrace Equity. But what does equity mean and how do we embrace something that isn’t always there?
What is Equity?
“An equitable outcome is one where every individual from every demographic has the opportunity to reach their full potential resulting in more economic opportunity for everyone.”
–Imani Dunbar
The simple definition of equity refers to fairness and justice. Whilst it is easy to list it as a synonym to equality, it is in fact a very different matter. Equality fights for the same for everyone, expecting that this will make people equal. However, this wrongly assumes that we all start out in the same place. Inequality affects many people, historically it has and continues to block marginalized communities.
Equality revolves around the concept of fairness, which makes things tricky as it is often assumed that being fair means that everybody should get the same thing. Equality is only fair if we all start with the same things, equality only works in a world where we are all equal to begin with. The only way to truly remove these barriers is through personalized approaches.
The goal of equity is to change systemic and structural barriers that get in the way of people’s ability to thrive. Equity acknowledges that people do not begin life in the same place and unfortunately, evolving circumstances make it increasingly difficult for people to achieve the same goals. Despite leaps of progress, women are still under-represented in the workplace. Even more so, inequality affects people of colour, people with disabilities, economically disadvantaged groups and those in the LGBTQ+ community. This is why equity is so important, peoples experiences are diverse and reach beyond gender.
What does it mean to Embrace Equity?
“ 42% of young women have experienced discrimination whilst working or looking for work. Furthermore, 73% of women experience bias at work—yet less than a third of employees are able to recognize bias when they see it.”
– Young Women’s Trust: Annual Survey 2022
Whether it is deliberate or unconscious, bias makes it not only harder for women to get hired, but it blocks promotion and career progression. Aside from this, it negatively impacts day to day life. Finding connection and support at work is a major challenge. Since most senior leaders are men, women are less likely to have access to mentors who can not only relate to their experiences, but promote important change.
Significant numbers of young women are in precarious financial situations, this hardship is only spurred on in the ongoing cost of living crisis. Young Women’s Trust: Annual Survey 2022 found that 44% of young women have been offered zero hour contracts in 2022, compared to 33% of young men.
Active Allyship in the Workplace
“Women and underrepresented groups alone cannot solve diversity and inclusion problems. An ally is a person who stands up for others to proactively build inclusion in our workplace”
–Rosanna Durruthy
So how do we as individuals, or as employers, managers or coworkers ‘Embrace Equity’ in a system which is flawed? One vital way is to become an active ally. Active Allyship in the workplace means that we as individuals must put in the groundwork to not only examine, but confront personal and systematic bias. When we not only witness, but acknowledge bias we can then build actionable change.
Active Allyship is arguably the most important catalyst to not only build but drive inclusion in our workplaces and communities. It must become a daily practice sustained through not only action, but education. Rosanna Durruthy writes about the importance of connection in order to “explore where you can be creating opportunities, build professional bonds and act as a resource and advocate for others in your professional community”.
Ok things have improved over time, but this doesn’t mean we should settle. Nor does it mean that we should overlook barriers that disadvantage groups still face. Make the commitment to yourself to become an active ally, ensure that people’s rights are upheld and respected. It is important to create communities that revolve around compassionate accountability. Remember, your perspective will always be limited by your own circumstances and personal biases. Keep listening, sharing and growing and actively drive for inclusive culture. It is only through embracing equity that we can achieve equality.
Get involved with International Women’s Day:
International Women’s Day Events
Tribe Porty: Celebrate International Women’s Day
Keystone Women: Find Your Community
Building an Equitable Workplace Culture For All
Edinburgh Women’s Aid: Challenge 50 Fundraiser
Share your thoughts and keep in touch by signing up to our newsletter below!
Thanks for reading,
Alice.
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