Double Down on the Human Stuff
I can’t even type anymore without my computer trying to finish my sentences.
Before I’ve read an email, it’s drafted a reply. Before I’ve opened a blank page, it’s suggesting what I should write next.
Collective Conscious
Where do you even begin when it comes to AI and where it’s taking us individually and collectively? It’s in our search engines, our inboxes, our phones. It’s in the posters we look at, the adverts we see. Even when you think you’ve opted out, you’ve probably just stumbled into another version of it.
There hasn’t been a lunch at Tribe recently where AI hasn’t come up. The conversation is usually the same. We’re all a bit dubious. A bit nervous. We instinctively want to reject it, but most of us are already using it somewhere. Some of us love it and enjoy working alongside it.
I was hesitant to write about AI because it’s so vast I don’t know where to start. Are we all getting a bit sick of talking about it? And yet it feels impossible not to think about it.
There are things AI does remarkably well. Proofreading contracts. Summarising pages of notes. Turning spreadsheets into something that actually makes sense. Creating a power point in 3 minutes that would have taken a day. Realistically, that’s just the surface of it. I catch myself reaching for ChatGPT more often than I’d like to admit.
Of course there are the obvious concerns. People will lose work. Some already have. It takes enormous amounts of energy to run these systems at scale. It supercharges misinformation at a time where people already digest their news via social media and unchecked sources. It can imitate almost anyone, produce almost anything and do it convincingly. To top it all off, the power is in the hands of the powerful and greedy.
“AI will probably most likely lead to the end of the world, but in the meantime, there’ll be great companies.” — Sam Altman
The Human Stuff
I also worry about what it does to us.
If a machine is constantly suggesting the next sentence, writing the first draft, making the image, answering the question, what happens to the part of us that wrestles with ideas? The slow bit. The bit that can be difficult but can also be fun. The bit where the creativity, learning and little bit of human magic actually lives.
“The best agencies are about to figure out how to use AI to maximise, rather than replace the talent they have at their disposal.” –Ollie Scott
To pay AI some dues, I then think about the positive impacts it could have on the NHS. About admin. About all the repetitive, soul-destroying jobs that nobody actually wants to spend hours doing. The parts that can transform areas of life and society for good
Sometimes the tech isn’t the problem, it’s how we use it and manage it.
Finding Balance
Can we use it for genuinely useful stuff without letting it creep into every corner of our lives? Is there a version of this technology that supports our humanity rather than quietly replacing and destroying parts of it?
“Humanity is about to be handed almost unimaginable power, and it is deeply unclear whether our social, political, and technological systems possess the maturity to wield it.”— Dario Amodei
I don’t know. I also think for that to be reality the power is in the wrong hands and Pandora’s box is already open.
When my thoughts start spiralling, I always come back to the human hand.
No one does it quite like you.
A handmade card. A conversation that goes off on a tangent. A book that’s been underlined, folded and passed between friends. The magic of a live event that’s shared among hundreds but yet stays in the room. Someone making something simply because they wanted to.
If something is entirely created, automated and published by AI, I can’t help but question where its value comes from. It isn’t lived. It isn’t felt. It isn’t the product of someone’s curiosity or joy or sadness. It’s a mirror, reflecting back what it thinks we want and what already exists.
Maybe that’s useful sometimes.
But it isn’t life.
Be Intentional
So perhaps the answer isn’t trying to reject AI completely. Maybe that ship has sailed. Maybe the answer is to become more intentional about the things we choose to value.
Read more books.
Go to more events.
Support artists.
Make things badly before you make them well.
Let yourself sit with difficult thoughts instead of outsourcing them.
Spend more time in conversations that have questions left unanswered.
Double down on the good stuff. The human stuff.
Curious for more?
Tribers, what do you want to know about AI? Is it about the impact of Data Centres, the inner workings, how to use AI as a tool. Is it more of a hosted conversation where we can let it all out and see what others think? Let us know! Let’s talk about it together.
For those already curious and want to explore the world of AI, here are some places to start that we found insightful and digestible.
- TV – Grayson Perry has seen the future
- PODCAST – AI Confessions: A Chatbot ended my marriage
- SHORT VIDEO – Why do all AI flyers look like that?
- ARTICLE – The AI fork in the road
And if you’re craving a little more of the wonderfully human side of things, here’s an open invitation.
This September, Tribe Talks and Art Club are both returning. They’re an easy way to try something new, learn alongside others, spark fresh ideas, get creative, and spend time with a brilliant community. More details to come, make sure you’re subscribed to our newsletter to be the first in the know.
If you’re looking for coworking in Edinburgh, a community to be part of, or simply a more connected way of working, Tribe Porty is here to help you connect, create and grow. Find out more about coworking here.
As always we’d love to connect and hear your thoughts, let us know what you think and what you want to see more of at Tribe Porty. You can read our latest Annual Report here.
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A guide to Be Well at Tribe Porty
Tribe is a coworking space, but that’s not really the whole of it.
Tribe is a place to work, but it’s also a place to be. To take a breath, get something done, have a decent coffee, and be around other people doing the same.
Tribe is also a hub. We bring together small businesses, freelancers and makers, alongside a creative events space that brings the neighbourhood in.
Tribe is a bridge for connection, for all kinds of people and in many forms.
What we share is this space, along with a quiet agreement to make it good for everyone. And we want it to work for however you work; quiet or loud, structured or not, and everything in between.
Keeping your house in order
Your work environment isn’t just a backdrop, it’s a catalyst to your productivity, focus and feelings. How we respond, act or handle stress can stem from the spaces we create for ourselves. In the UK an estimated 41% of the population work from home at least some of the time.
Whilst there are countless benefits to this like no commute and flexibility it can be difficult to create healthy boundaries between work and home. For many, working from home is seen as an irregular treat rather than a constant. Homes aren’t designed to be offices, nor should they be.
When you come along to Tribe, your environment is doing more work than you might think. The research on behaviour change is pretty consistent: we’re far more influenced by what’s around us than we realise.
Small changes to our surroundings often work better than simply trying harder. The spaces we work in, the people around us and the habits we build all shape how we feel day to day.
The quiet corners, the gardens, the call booths, they’re there to be used. If you need to decompress, or just sit somewhere without anyone talking to you for ten minutes.
Be yourself, with us
That’s partly why we’ve crafted a new guide for our community. Over the past few months, the Tribe Porty team have been creating a handcrafted guide filled with practical ideas, gentle prompts and useful information to help you make the most of Tribe and look after yourself while you work.
In a world where most information arrives as another notification, email or tab left open for later, we wanted to make something physical. Something you could pick up with your coffee, flick through between tasks, or leave on your desk for a reminder when you need it.
Inside you’ll find ideas for habits that actually stick, ways to look after your body while you work, and a few tools for those moments when you need a reset. We’ve also included a map of the building. Partly because it’s useful, but also because it’s easier to feel at home in a space when you know your way around and what’s available to you.
An open invitation
Coworking spaces are often described in terms of desks, meeting rooms and Wi-Fi. But what makes a place like Tribe valuable is everything else: the conversations, the moments of pause, the sense of belonging and the quiet support that comes from sharing space with other people.
In our guide, you’ll also find a schedule of our regular social activities, including coffee mornings, social lunches and meditation sessions. Consider this an open invitation to join in, but also a gentle reminder that there’s no obligation. For the introverts, the busy bees and anyone running low on social battery, sometimes you just want to quietly get on with your work, and that’s okay too.
Be well at Tribe Porty
You’ll find copies of the zine throughout the space and at reception.
Grab one, take it away, make it yours, share it, and use whatever feels useful.
If you’ve been thinking about changing up your working routine, this is your invitation to come and see what Tribe is all about.
Spend a day with us, find your favourite corner, join us for a coffee morning, or simply get your head down and focus. However you like to work, there’s space for you here.
Book a free tour, meet the team and get a feel for our space here.
As always we’d love to connect and hear your thoughts, let us know what you think and what you want to see more of at Tribe Porty. You can read our latest Annual Report here.
Sign up to our newsletter to keep up to date with all things Tribe. To find out more about joining Tribe Porty click here.
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Cut, Paste, Resist
Community and Pride
This year marks the 5th Porty Pride celebration, a milestone that feels especially significant for a grassroots, community-led festival built on care, creativity, and collective joy. What began as a local celebration has grown into an important inclusive space for LGBTQ+ people, allies, families, friends, and neighbours to come together in Portobello.
At its heart, Porty Pride has always been about community: creating a space where people feel seen, safe, and connected across generations. Yet Porty Pride also exists within a much longer history of queer activism in Scotland, one shaped not only by celebration but by resistance, solidarity, and mutual support.
Queer Liberation in Scotland
For many people, Pride history in Scotland begins with Pride Scotia, the country’s first official Pride event held in Edinburgh in June 1995. However, queer liberation movements had already been active for decades. In 1970, activists Bob Mellors and Aubrey Walter founded the Gay Liberation Front (GLF), a movement radical in both its politics and imagination. Rather than simply asking for tolerance or legal reform, the GLF demanded liberation, aligning itself with feminist movements, anti racist struggles, workers’ rights campaigns, and broader fights against inequality.
This intersectional understanding that systems of oppression are deeply connected remains central to queer activism today. Queer liberation has never existed in isolation. It has always been tied to questions of class, race, gender, disability, housing, healthcare, and access to safe public spaces.
Community-led Pride events like Porty Pride continue this legacy by centering inclusion, accessibility, and collective care, rather than the corporate spectacle and ‘pink washing’, often seen from large brands and institutions.
As Porty Pride celebrates its fifth year, it feels important to recognise both how far queer communities in Scotland have come and the challenges that still remain. At a time when LGBTQ+ rights, particularly trans rights, continue to face political and social hostility, grassroots spaces of solidarity and care matter more than ever.
Creating Space
Pride began as both a protest and a community. Perhaps its greatest strength lies in its ability to bring people together across generations, identities, and experiences to celebrate queer lives while continuing the ongoing work of building a more inclusive and joy-filled future.
The 1980s marked one of the most difficult periods for LGBTQ+ communities in the UK. Against the backdrop of the AIDS crisis, fear and prejudice were amplified by politicians and the media. Margaret Thatcher’s government introduced the infamous Section 28, or Clause 28, in 1988, legislation that prohibited local authorities and schools from ‘promoting homosexuality’. The impact was devastating, particularly for young queer people growing up in silence and shame, often without access to information, support, or representation. Yet even in the face of hostility and institutional oppression, queer communities continued to create spaces of resistance and survival.
In Scotland, protests such as the ‘Lark in the Park’ demonstration at the Ross Bandstand in Princes Street Gardens in May 1988 became important public moments of visibility and solidarity. Alongside these demonstrations, quieter forms of community building were taking place every day in queer bookshops, cafés, bars, arts venues, and community centres.
These spaces mattered because they allowed people to find one another. They became places where friendships formed, activism was organised, knowledge was shared, and futures beyond isolation could be imagined. Volunteer-led organisations like Porty Pride and community-driven businesses like Tribe Porty support this ethos today, fostering environments where queer people can celebrate and live without fear.
Print Culture
Print culture also played a vital role in queer community organising. Long before social media, zines, flyers, newsletters, and independent journals allowed LGBTQ+ people to tell their own stories in their own words. Publications such as Gay Left (1975 to 1980) and Sappho (1972 to 1981) explored the intersections between sexuality, socialism, feminism, and anti-capitalist politics, while DIY zines created democratic spaces for personal reflection, creativity, and grassroots political discussion.
For many queer people, the alternative press became a way of documenting lives and experiences that mainstream media ignored or erased entirely. These publications were collaborative, personal, affordable, and accessible, passed hand to hand through communities and created networks of solidarity long before digital platforms existed.
That history feels especially important now. Originating as a bookshop in the 1980’s and now archive, Edinburgh’s own Lavender Menace continues the work of preserving queer stories and ensuring these histories are not forgotten. More importantly, they remind us that queer history is not only shaped by major political events or famous figures, but also by everyday acts of care, creativity, friendship, and collective organising.
An Invitation
To honour this history and recognise the importance of the alternative and informal press, our team here at Tribe Porty will host a queer zine-making workshop alongside a wine tasting session with Kirsty from Bludge Wine. The themes will centre on queer history, activism, and joy, and we will also be launching our co-worker Danielle Mustarde’s new magazine, Tell Me How You Really Feel.
Through these events, we hope to create and celebrate new work that follows in the footsteps of the queer people and allies who came before us.
Friday 5th June, 7-9PM. Book your spot here.
Special Note: Lavender Menace’s funding is at risk – help save them & protect queer history! To donate to their fundraiser, head here.
Thanks for reading,
Sonny
As always we’d love to connect and hear your thoughts, let us know what you think and what you want to see more of at Tribe Porty. You can read our latest Annual Report here.
Sign up to our newsletter to keep up to date with all things Tribe. To find out more about joining Tribe Porty click here.
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European Coworking Day
European Coworking Day is a community-led celebration of coworking, a day dedicated to recognising the power of connection, collaboration, and shared spaces. Events take place in coworking hubs all over Europe, each one bringing people together in its own unique way.
Each year, we take this opportunity to celebrate our community while welcoming new faces to experience the benefits of coworking first-hand.
Coworking is about more than just shared desks, it’s about connection. At its best, it creates a space where like-minded people come together to collaborate, support one another, and spark new ideas. And when good people come together, good things follow.
But don’t just take our word for it:
“I couldn’t believe my luck when I discovered Tribe was near where I live. I’ve been to many co-working spaces, and many have emphasised their ‘community’, but Tribe really does have it. It feels like a home in many ways. I’m only just getting started there, but I already feel very connected and welcome.” – Tribe Member feedback
It takes time
In previous years, we’ve offered free day passes. A day to try out the space with no strings attached. Uptake was often surprisingly slow so this year we took a moment to question what we are brilliant at and what keeps people coming back.
Ironically, what keeps people coming back takes one thing – time. Time to settle, to feel confident and comfortable in our space. Time to get to know the team and your fellow coworkers. Time to get to know the ebbs and flows, the nuances of a space. Really… time to find your groove!
Tribe has been rooted in the Porty community for 10 years. We’ve had coworkers with us for the full decade, some who have dipped in and out, and others now reaching their five-year milestone. What’s truly special (and a real privilege) is being a steady anchor point. Watching friendships grow, seeing coworkers support one another, and noticing those quieter moments that remind us just how lovely people can be. And it’s often in the everyday moments that this shows up:
“I moved to Edinburgh at the beginning of March 2026 and started at Tribe Porty shortly after. They instantly made me feel at home. It was great to see people from different jobs and experiences chatting at the morning coffee breaks or jacket potato lunches. Also the dogs in the office were a great bonus! I love it.” – Tribe Member Feedback
To help nurture more of that, while opening the doors for more people to be part of it, we’ll be introducing a few new member perks over the coming months. Nothing flashy, nothing that reinvents the wheel, just more space to be, to breathe, and to be human. We know our community is made up of all kinds of people, with different working styles, different rhythms, and different needs. That’s not something we just accommodate, it’s something we genuinely value. These new offerings are designed with that in mind.
Member Perks
Meditation Mornings are every Friday – you’re warmly invited to join Sonny in reception for a 15-minute guided practice.
Open Work – An accountability group that offers a space to talk through work, projects, challenges, and ideas, a place for perspective, momentum, and support from fellow members.
Slow Lunch– Enjoy a proper lunch, and eat something delicious. In the UK 80% of workers take their lunch huddled at their desk. We’re saying no to this! During June we’ll share simple recipes from our cookbook Work Make Share Eat and take a proper pause together.
Triber’s, you’ll find more details in the next Inside Tribe newsletter.
Join Us
Community only works when it keeps evolving. Tribe is shaped by the people who are already here and those who choose to be part of it next. We know community doesn’t happen in a day. It takes time to recognise faces and find your rhythm. It takes more than one visit to start feeling like your place.
That’s why, for European Coworking Day, we’re doing things a little differently. We’re a space for all kinds of minds.
As always we’d love to connect and hear your thoughts, let us know what you think and what you want to see more of at Tribe Porty. You can read our latest Annual Report here.
Sign up to our newsletter to keep up to date with all things Tribe. To find out more about joining Tribe Porty click here.
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Finding belonging in a coworking community
Finding belonging in a coworking community, or any community is not always easy. Community is built into the way we do things at Tribe. At this point often feels so natural it goes unnoticed.
Our Tribe
As a team, we are often struck by and deeply grateful for our coworkers and their willingness to show up, contribute, and shape Tribe. It’s that shared energy, care, and creativity that makes Tribe what it is. We feel incredibly proud to be part of it. Our anniversary dinner, in particular, was a magnifying glass on how needed community is, and how a gathering place can become integral to our wellbeing.
Over the past ten years, Tribe Porty has taught us that real community is not something you purchase or perform. It is something you practice. It lives in small, often unseen moments: how we arrive in shared space, how we listen, and how we respond to difference, discomfort, or change.
This is why we want to write a book about community. Not to offer a formula, but to share what it feels like to belong to a place which in today’s climate is ever more important to individual wellbeing and community wealth.
Nurturing community
Community is never static. It evolves, expands, and reshapes itself over time, shaped in part by the events and experiences that we both share and hold as individuals.
As an established community, many things now happen naturally. Connections form with ease, conversations flow, and a sense of belonging often emerges without much effort.
Our team’s focus has increasingly shifted towards how we welcome and integrate newcomers. We want every person who walks through our doors to feel seen, valued, and included. Never like they’re standing on the edges looking in. But we can’t expect this to happen on its own.
There’s an interesting balance to navigate here. Over time, strong bonds form between people, and what might be perceived as “cliques” can actually be a sign of something positive. Friendships that have deepened and extended beyond the workspace, a gift only time gives. At the same time, we recognise that these close-knit dynamics can unintentionally make it harder for new members to find their sense of belonging. Our role is to gently bridge that gap, creating opportunities for connection that feel natural rather than forced.
Coworking and Community
We continue to nurture our community through shared spaces, intentional social time, and, most importantly, a genuinely warm invitation to belong. None of this would be possible without the care and dedication of our team. And it raises an important question: why does this matter in a coworking space?
Because we are more than just a building with desks, walls, and Wi-Fi. We believe that when community and wellbeing is prioritised, everything else follows: productivity, creativity, collaboration, and overall happiness. By creating the right environment and offering thoughtful tools and support, we empower individuals not only to do their best work, but to support one another along the way.
As we grow, we’re also thinking about how to make this sense of community accessible to everyone. This thinking includes those who are more introverted, or whose schedules don’t allow for regular social events like coffee mornings or social lunches. Community shouldn’t be limited to those who can attend at a certain time or feel comfortable in larger group settings.
A Culture Guide
We’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to create a space where people feel genuinely held. For many of us, life no longer happens surrounded by extended family or long-standing community. We live far from where we grew up, our lives are full, and sometimes fragmented.
What can be missing is something simple but essential: knowing there are people around you who notice, who care, and who have your back in small, everyday ways. We don’t think this comes from programmes or pressure. It comes from culture. And culture is shaped, quietly and powerfully, through language. The words we use, the tone we set, the way we name things.
These all signal what matters here, what’s welcome, and how we treat one another. We’re beginning to shape something we’re currently calling a Culture Guide, a small, thoughtful, handcrafted book that reflects how we care for ourselves, each other, and this shared space. It won’t be a rulebook. More of a living document. A way of making visible the quiet agreements that already exist; how we check in, how we look out for one another, how we create a space that feels safe, steady and human. At its heart, this is about something very simple: creating a place where you don’t have to do it all alone.
Alongside this, we’re considering a few more ways to deepen connection and wellbeing across the community:
- Gentle, low-pressure ways to connect
- Peer support groups like Tribe Men
- Quiet times and meditation mornings for those who need space to recharge during the day
- Short, accessible and off the cuff sessions that can fit into different schedules like stretching, walks
Most importantly, we want to hear from you. What do you want to see more of, or even less of to make your time with us foster the best version of you.
Tribe Talks
We already have this in practice with our ongoing Tribe Talks series around the Body & Mind. Our next free talk is with SoberBuzz Scotland on Thursday 2nd April.
All are welcome to join us for a talk with founder Kirsty Mulcahy, on exploring a different relationship with alcohol. Kirsty introduces the idea of sober curiosity and explores how experimenting with alcohol-free or alcohol-lighter living can support self-love, mental wellbeing, and a deeper connection with yourself and others.
This talk is for anyone who’s ever wondered whether alcohol is really adding what it promises, or if life might feel lighter, calmer, and more joyful without it at the centre.
Through warmth, humour, and real-life stories from the SoberBuzz community, Kirsty creates a space rooted in compassion rather than judgement. This is not about labels or quitting forever, it’s about tuning into your body, listening to what you truly need, and making choices that feel kind, empowering, and supportive.
A relaxed, inclusive conversation that welcomes everyone, whether you drink, don’t drink, or are simply curious about doing things differently. Click here to find out more and book your free spot.
As always we’d love to connect and hear your thoughts, let us know what you think and what you want to see more of at Tribe Porty. You can read our latest Annual Report here.
Sign up to our newsletter to keep up to date with all things Tribe. To find out more about joining Tribe Porty click here.
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Let’s talk about it
Celebrating International Women’s Day at Tribe Porty
Each year at Tribe Porty, International Women’s Day begins the same way: with the gathering of women. But no two years feel alike. Each brings its own energy, shaped by the voices in the room. Our hosts have been public speakers, authors, creatives and poets. All who openly invite us into deeper thought, shared understanding and genuine companionship.
I’ll admit, on the surface, I sometimes find the international marking of days like this overly constructed and lacking substance. But what I really mean is the big-business version of it. The empty policy statements, the strategic planning box-ticking, the performative nods toward equality.
That’s not what we do here.
At Tribe Porty, we craft our International Women’s Day event with curiosity and thoughtful intent. It is less about promotion and more about participation. Less about optics and more about collaboration. It is, fundamentally, about gathering.
As Gloria Steinem reminds us:
“The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organisation but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.”
The IWD 2026 Give To Gain Campaign encourages a mindset of generosity and collaboration. When people, organisations, and communities give generously, opportunities and support for women increase. Giving is not a subtraction, it’s intentional multiplication.
Nothing is off the table
We are hosting International Women’s Day in collaboration with ‘Have you frozen your eggs yet?‘ podcast hosts, Louise Mason and Kelly Crichton. We’re gathering and inviting women to bring the unspoken things. The awkward questions. The inherited shame. The impossible expectations. Nothing is off the table.
For many women, the journey of knowing ourselves involves reclaiming parts of our identity that were shamed, silenced, or sexualised too early. It means meeting the shadow. Those internalised voices that whisper: don’t be too much, don’t take up space, don’t be messy.
We’ve invited poets to close the evening, because poetry slips past our defences and reaches places policy and productivity never can. Our invitation was simple: send us a poem about womanhood.
“The greedier the Gods, the more of us they’ll send to the gallows. We can’t win with our estranged sisters. We can’t protect all our daughters from a darker tomorrow if we don’t light our torches today.
Our misguided betrayers are full of hate. They are in pain. They ate too many lies, each bloated belly waits to hatch and spread its poison, to silence lives. There is nothing worse than knowing it could be different.” – Naomi Head, excerpt from Daughters of Eve.
When selecting the poems, we were struck,and at times overwhelmed, by how many were riddled with sadness. They spoke of everyday injustices, quiet threats, inherited fear, and the sharp edges that can accompany simply existing as a woman.
And yet, running through them all was a golden thread: friendship. Gathering. Holding one another up.
Creating Space
As much as we want to create space for women to express their deepest fears and challenge the mechanics of the social systems forcefully built around us, we also want to celebrate the profound bond we share and the gentle beauty of womanhood.
Women do this instinctively for one another. We steady each other’s nervous systems, we widen each other’s worlds. We whisper, “You’re okay. You’re safe. You’re beautiful.” When thinking about self reclamation, Dani couldn’t have worded it better: “It often happens in the presence of other women. Because there is something alchemical that happens when women gather.”
An Invitation
You are warmly invited to join us at Tribe Porty on March 5th to come together in marking International Women’s Day. When you arrive, you’ll be invited to anonymously add something to our Rumination Box. Nothing is off the table. This can be anything: an awkward question you’ve been asked, an inappropriate comment, a thought on surviving womanhood. What are those thoughts in your head you are scared to say outloud?
Louise and Kelly will pull from the box throughout the evening to spark conversation, invite reflections, and open the floor to you, our audience. Expect a fun, relaxed, and welcoming atmosphere. Bring your own snacks and drinks, come as you are, and be ready to listen, share, laugh, and most importantly connect. Click here to book your ticket.
“We are lights upon the water; we are a different point of view, we go disembodied into night and arrive at the morning smiling. We are trying to, remembering our dreams, to remember our feelings, for next time, we are how it is to feel warm.” – Alice Keeling, excerpt from Women.
As always we’d love to connect and hear your thoughts, let us know what you think and what you want to see more of at Tribe Porty.
Sign up to our newsletter to keep up to date with all things Tribe. To find out more about joining Tribe Porty click here.
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Gentle Growth
Gentle Growth
As we begin a new year, it’s a natural time to pause, reflect and gently welcome growth and positive change. And we really do mean gently. If you’ve been with us for a while, you’ll know we don’t buy into the whole “new year, new me” mindset. But, new year, new changes, new thinking, new rituals…that feels more like us. Meaningful change doesn’t happen overnight. It builds slowly, through small habits, intention and a solid foundation, often starting with a bit of inward reflection. At the heart of it all is the connection between body and mind. When you care for one, you’re caring for the other too.
“Plants and animals don’t fight the winter; they don’t pretend it’s not happening and attempt to carry on living the same lives that they lived in the summer. They prepare. They adapt. They perform extraordinary acts of metamorphosis to get them through. Winter is a time of withdrawing from the world, maximising scant resources, carrying out acts of brutal efficiency and vanishing from sight; but that’s where the transformation occurs. Winter is not the death of the life cycle, but its crucible.” – Katherine May, Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times
Connecting Body & Mind
Body and mind are deeply connected. They are our homes, carrying our thoughts, emotions and lived experiences. They hold joy, sensation and creativity, but they can also carry stress and pain, past and present. How we move through the world, how we relate to others and how we show up at work or in our communities is often shaped by how these experiences live within us.
Developing awareness of how we look after our body and mind helps us build trust in ourselves and, in turn, in each other. Mindfulness invites us to take responsibility for our time, energy and attention. By becoming more present and intentional, we are better able to act with balance, regulate our emotions and care for ourselves in ways that are sustainable.
“It’s easier to fall into distraction but the rewards of self-knowledge, mindfulness and emotional literacy are vast.”― Emma Gannon, Sabotage
When we feel disconnected from our bodies or ignore our internal voice, it becomes harder to self-regulate. This disconnection can quietly seep into our home lives, workplaces and relationships. Rebuilding that connection supports emotional adaptability, clarity and a deeper sense of wellbeing.
Getting to know you
Recently, I’ve been finding ways to tune into my internal voice. I’ve tried to get to know myself better by revisiting loves and hobbies from childhood. Particularly those that once felt natural and were enjoyed without question or hesitation. For me, this has taken shape through swimming and sewing (not simultaneously.) Swimming helps me reconnect with my body through rhythm and breath, and I now make time before leaving the pool to simply float. It sounds daft, but it’s honestly the best part.
Sewing, on the other hand, is both creative and methodical. It draws my attention into deep focus, and I quickly find myself in a state of flow. Before I know it, two hours have passed and I haven’t picked up my phone once. A double win! Over the past few months, returning to these pastimes has brought a renewed sense of joy, playfulness and ease, reminding me how powerful it can be to listen to what once came instinctively.
“Self-knowledge doesn’t mean solving the mystery of who we are, but learning to sit beside it with curiosity, rather than confusion.”— The School of Life
Well-being and community
At Tribe Porty, we see firsthand how individual well-being shapes collective experience. When people feel grounded, supported and present in both body and mind, communities become more empathetic, collaborative and sincere. Mindfulness is not just a personal practice, but a communal one. How we show up for ourselves directly impacts how we show up for others.
This ethos sits at the heart of our 2026 season of Tribe Talks, which opens with the theme Body & Mind. The series explores how we nurture ourselves and one another through wellness, community and collaboration. Each session is designed to be practical, relatable and accessible, creating space to meet ourselves where we are and to honour how we feel in the moment.
Tribe Talks – Body & Mind
We begin with a session led by Gary Young from the Mindful Enterprise, who will lead an empowering session on self-managing wellbeing, offering tools to support balance, focus and resilience in everyday life.
To mark International Women’s Day, we’re excited to welcome Louise and Kelly, hosts of the podcast Have You Frozen Your Eggs Yet?, for an honest and engaging conversation about womanhood, the intrusive questions we are asked, and navigating the many expectations placed upon us. The evening will close with a poetry open mic, centred on themes of mind, body and womanhood.
In April, we will be joined by Kirsty from Soberbuzz Scotland for a relaxed and uplifting session that champions sobriety and mindful socialising. Together we’ll explore how joy and genuine connection can thrive without alcohol, and how a sober lifestyle can positively impact mental clarity, wellbeing, relationships and self-confidence.
The series concludes with Procrastination Station, experts in ADHD coaching and building thriving workplaces. This session offers valuable insights for both employees and employers, focusing on neurodiversity, productivity and wellbeing at work.
These conversations aim to support greater self-awareness, helping us feel less stressed, more focused and more connected to ourselves, our work and our wider community.
To find out more and book your spot, click here.
As always we’d love to connect and hear your thoughts, let us know what you think and what you want to see more of at Tribe Porty.
Sign up to our newsletter to keep up to date with all things Tribe. To find out more about joining Tribe Porty click here.
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From Small Beginnings to a Thriving Community
Small Beginnings
Tribe Porty was bootstrapped into existence with just £10,000 from an Awards for All grant. That tiny seed allowed us to create rooms, hallways, secure entries, windows, and fireproofing, just enough to begin.
I was still working full-time, quietly piecing it together in every spare moment: applying for social enterprise grants, writing business plans, pitching, painting walls, and reaching out to local people and groups who might share the vision.
We launched Tribe alongside TEDxPortobello: Seeing Things Differently. After eleven months of hard work, pitching, borrowing, and asking for every kind of help imaginable, we sold out in under three minutes and streamed to 139 countries. It was epic, a genuine community effort in every sense.
“Not all things grow loud. Some grow steady, wide, deep, and full of meaning.”
Finding Our Ground
When Earthy tried to sell their business, and our lease with it, without telling us, we knew we needed more security. Thankfully, our landlord, a local who believes in good things happening in Portobello, gave us the chance to take over the whole building in 2018.
It needed everything: new doors, windows, central heating, kitchen, toilets. We took out a loan with Social Investment Scotland to make it possible. We’re proud to say we’ve finally paid it all off. We were also 3 years in and had a healthy and growing community so expanding was very welcome.
A Decade in the Making
Eleven years ago, Tribe was just an idea, born while setting up Trade School Edinburgh with Johanna Holtan and working with SENSCOT, the Social Entrepreneurs Network Scotland. Ten years ago, it was an empty, chaotic building needing skips and imagination. By 2018, we were still recovering from the aftermath of Earthy’s collapse.
With no funds to begin, we built Tribe piece by piece from donated and reclaimed materials. Every table, wall, and floorboard tells a story. Every inch of Tribe has been shaped, and reshaped by hand.
Built by Many Hands and Big Hearts
For a decade, I’ve had the joy of working with the same team of joiners, painters, electricians, plasterers, and plumbers. They’ve poured so much care into Tribe that it feels like theirs too, and I love that.
Every inch of Tribe has been shaped by community. Just as the building has been built by its people, so too has its spirit. Tribe has always been about belonging, a place where you can walk through the door and feel at home, whether it’s for a day, a week, or a decade.
This milestone marks ten years of something that’s never been flashy or headline-grabbing, but deeply meaningful. It also marks a personal one for me: I’ve now lived exactly half my life in America and half here in Scotland. Being an immigrant is complicated, but it’s also a gift.
I arrived in Scotland on a work permit to help establish a company delivering applied behaviour analysis, something new here but well known at UCLA. Later, I gained an HSMP visa and eventually indefinite leave to remain. Half my life has been lived here, and Tribe Porty has been a big part of why it feels like home.
Finding Home & Community
Growing up, I was quiet, one or two close friends, shy until my twenties. When I moved to Edinburgh, someone introduced me to her circle and suddenly I was surrounded by people. For the first time, I felt adopted into a community and it changed me.
That feeling of connection has been at the heart of Tribe since day one. When we launched TEDxPortobello in 2015, I was again surrounded by extraordinary volunteers and speakers. Tribe and TEDx have brought countless generous, kind, and creative people into my life.
“To know you matter to others, and that they matter to you, that’s everything.”
Standing on Its Own And Doing Small Things With Love
Today, Tribe is fully self-sustaining. We receive no government funding, we proudly pay corporation tax, and we employ a small, brilliant team. Tribe stands as proof of what can happen when people show up with purpose and care.
Members may come and go, but once you’ve been part of Tribe, you’re always part of its story. Old faces and new ones together weave the fabric of who we are. We often underestimate how powerful it is to feel part of something positive; to know you belong and that your presence matters.
Tribe has always been more than the sum of its parts. Every person adds something essential, and in doing so, becomes essential.
My very first Tribe business cards read: Do small things with love. I still believe in that. Tribe Porty isn’t a multimillion-pound enterprise, but it’s rich in meaning.
Tribe was never about me, it’s about everyone. Every person who has passed through our doors has left a mark. The one who recommended Tribe to a friend. The one who organised a dinner. The one who quietly invited others in. Together, we’ve built something lasting.
Looking Ahead
As we enter winter and the close of our tenth year, Tribe begins a new chapter. It’s an uncertain time for small businesses, and yet, the need for community and genuine, in-person connection has never been greater.
For ten years, Tribe has been a place to pull up a chair, share ideas, break bread, and build connections that last far beyond these walls. Around our tables, friendships have formed, collaborations have taken root, and a community has flourished.
Beyond One Person
It feels good, and deeply right, to know Tribe is strong without me. That’s always been the point: to create something that could stand, grow, and evolve on its own.
Tribe is now its own living thing. Each new person changes it, strengthens it, and carries it forward.
So, thank you. To everyone who has helped build Tribe into what it is today, and what it is still becoming. Not all things grow loud. Some grow steady, wide, deep, and full of meaning.
With love and gratitude,
Dani
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. To find out more about joining Tribe Porty click here.
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Be Well & Connect
Can you feel it? The whisper of a chill upon the breeze, the soft crunch of leaves beneath your feet, the early dimming of the afternoon sky? Autumn is upon us, offering a quiet invitation to slow our pace, to soften into stillness, and to prepare for the ancient turning of the season.
In this ever-rushing, hyper-digital world, many of us (myself included) have forgotten how to yield to the seasons. How to ease ourselves gently into the deepening days of autumn and the quiet hush of winter. But autumn is a threshold, a passage from the outward to the inward, from doing to being.
This October at Tribe Porty, we invite you to embrace a slower rhythm through Be Well & Connect. A programme for living well. Through gatherings crafted with care and woven with movement, mindfulness, and creativity, we’ll rekindle our connection to self, to community, and to the present moment.
Be Well & Connect is a space to tend to both body and spirit, to root into shared experience, and to remember what it means to move through the seasons with cultivated softness.
The curation of events for Be Well & Connect includes:
Sauna Chats with Kirsty from Soul Water Sauna
Friday, October 10th, 6pm-7:30
A relaxed conversation with Kirsty, founder of Soul Water Sauna, and me as we chat about all things sauna culture, community, and the healing power of intentional connection.
This session is open to all.
Mindfulness & Visionboarding
Monday, 20th October, 6pm-7:30 pm
A Mindfulness & Vision Boarding session, where we’ll begin with a guided meditation to help you explore what you truly want and where you’re heading as we enter this new season. Using the creative practice of vision boarding, we’ll bring those intentions to life in a visual way, giving you a clear roadmap for the months ahead.
This session is open to all.
Tribe Porty Sea Dip
Wednesday, October 15th at 5:30 pm
Release the tension of the day and recharge with the healing power of cold water therapy. Join us for an invigorating after-work sea dip at Porty Beach, where the cold waters will help boost circulation, reduce stress, and leave you feeling deeply refreshed. Whether you’re new to cold water therapy or a seasoned pro, this session is a great opportunity to experience the benefits of cold immersion in a supportive community setting.
This session is for Tribe Porty Members only.
Moment of Stillness Massage with Jo Craven from Portobello Natural Health
Friday, October 3rd & 31st
Come to stillness for a moment during your workday and soothe your nervous system. This treatment combines amma fusion compression massage of the whole body with head massage, foot massage or both (your choice). Lying down, fully clothed, no oil – pure bliss.
This session is for Tribe Porty Members only.
Morning Cuppa & Meditation
Every Friday morning in October from 9:30am
Begin your day with stillness and presence. Each Friday morning our, join us for a gentle guided meditation over a warm cup of tea or coffee. In just 10-15 minutes, we’ll create a space to quiet the mind, reconnect with the body, and set a calm tone for the day ahead.
This session is for Tribe Porty Members only.
A Gentle Breathing Practice to Soothe
Box Breathing is a simple and effective breathwork practice that can be done anywhere, at any time. It is used to soothe the nervous system, calm the mind, and ease your natural rhythm of breath.
Practice Box Breath with me:
Close your eyes or hold a heavy gaze towards the floor, and take a few slow, full, deep breaths.
Inhale through your nose for 4-3-2-1
Hold the breath at the top of your inhale for 4-3-2-1
Release the breath slowly through your nose for 4-3-2-1
Retain (hold the breath) empty at the bottom of your exhale for 4-3-2-1
Repeat 3 times or as many times as you would like.
Why cold water swimming?
Cold water swimming might sound a little wild at first, especially somewhere like Scotland, but it’s really a delightful combination of nature, resilience, and pure joy. The icy plunge sends a rush of endorphins and dopamine dancing through your body, leaving you fizzing with a natural high that can rival your morning coffee. Your circulation kicks into overdrive, your immune system gets a playful nudge, and that nagging stress you might be carrying seems to wash away with the ripples of the water.
Beyond the science, though, there’s something wonderfully human about braving the chill with others. From laughter echoing across the loch or sea, friendships and companionship are strengthened by shared squeals and shivers. And let’s not forget the poetry of it: the sting of water against skin, the breathless awe of open skies, the rhythm of waves flowing all around you. Cold water swimming is equal parts challenge and celebration, a chance to remind yourself that you’re alive, tough, and maybe just a little wild yourself.
Want to learn more about the joy of cold water swimming? Check out Edinburgh’s own Anna Deacon & Vicky Allan’s book Taking the Plunge: The Healing Power of Wild Swimming for the Mind, Body & Soul.
Podcast Recommendation
‘As the Season Turns’ was created by Ffern and narrated by nature writer Lia Leendertz
One of my absolute favourites that I listen to at the beginning of every month, but I find it even more special to listen to at the turn of the season. A new episode is released on the first of each month and is a guide of what to look out for for the month ahead. Whether it be sounds or sights of nature or important aspects of the lunar cycle, this podcast takes you on a sensorial journey you are bound to enjoy.
Check out the podcast by clicking here
Poem for Contemplation
How I go to the woods
Ordinarily, I go to the woods alone, with not a single
friend, for they are all smilers and talkers and therefore
unsuitable.I don’t really want to be witnessed talking to the catbirds
or hugging the old black oak tree. I have my way of
praying, as you no doubt have yours.Besides, when I am alone I can become invisible. I can sit
on the top of a dune as motionless as an uprise of weeds,
until the foxes run by unconcerned. I can hear the almost
unhearable sound of the roses singing.If you have ever gone to the woods with me, I must love
you very much.Mary Oliver
How to get involved
If you are a member of Tribe Porty check your inbox for our latest issue of Inside Tribe. This provides you with all of the booking links and details. Alternatively, nip by reception and ask our team. You can view our public events by clicking here.
You’re warmly welcome to take part in our members-only events by either booking a one-day pass or signing up for a monthly membership during October.
To book a one day pass, click here and complete the booking form. By registering for the relevant day you will be more than welcome to join in with the morning meditation sessions, massages with Portobello Natural Health or sea dip.
If you are only interested in the morning meditation sessions you are more than welcome to book our off peak pass which gives access 9AM-1PM on Friday’s. Click here to book. Spaces are limited so book ahead to avoid disappointment.
Planning to attend more than one Be-Well & Connect session? You may want to consider one of our membership options. You are more than welcome to join us for just the month of October. Click here for more details.
Thank you ever so much for reading,
Sonny
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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Compassionate Neighbours
We recently had the pleasure of connecting with Dariusz Wedge. Dariusz helps to coordinate the Compassionate Neighbours Service at St Columba’s Hospice Care in Edinburgh. As well as Compassionate Neighbours, they also run Compassionate Gardeners, where volunteers help with light gardening duties while offering companionship. Both are community-based services that support people living with a terminal diagnosis. This is done by offering them regular emotional and social support through in person connections with volunteers.
Compassionate Neighbours
Both Tribe and the work Dariusz contributes to at St Columba’s Hospice Care hold the value of community at its core. We both believe passionately that we are all stronger, more resilient and better connected when we come together. Compassionate Neighbours changes lives, yours and the people you connect with.
Becoming a Compassionate Neighbour can be hugely rewarding during which time you can build genuine friendships with local people. The service matches you with socially isolated, lonely and who may have a life limiting condition.
Meet Carol and Iain
Carol, a regular visitor to Iain through the Compassionate Neighbours programme, knew how much he missed attending live performances. Since mobility challenges had made concerts and theatre outings difficult, she decided to bring the music to him.
With her characteristic warmth and energy, Carol enlisted her friend, musician Madeleine Sjöstrand, to organise a private concert tailored to Iain’s tastes. The event took place at Portobello and Joppa Church, complete with a specially printed programme in German—reflecting Iain’s fluency in the language. The afternoon was rounded off with coffee and cake, making it a truly memorable experience.
Deeply moved, Iain later wrote about how much the gesture meant to him. He recalled early visits with Carol, where they often discussed their love of music and the arts. Recognising how much he missed live performance, Carol and Madeleine came together to make the impossible possible. You can read more here.
How does it work?
Once you have registered your interest, the team takes the time to match you based on common interests, lifestyles and experiences. Where possible they keep matches in local communities.
Once you’ve applied, they arrange a very informal interview where you can find out more about the service and they can get to know you better. The onboarding process is straightforward – they ask for two references (these don’t need to be professional/work ones) and they will carry out a PVG (Protection of Vulnerable Adults) Scotland check, the costs of which are covered.
They ask new volunteers to attend two “Shared Learning” sessions (it is called it this because they recognise that everyone brings their own valuable knowledge and life experience):
- First session: In-person, around 3 hours. The session covers the modern hospice movement, how and why Compassionate Neighbours started, who they support, safeguarding, boundaries, lone working, and their matching process.
- Second session: Online, 1.5 hours. Here they look at communication, self-care, and conversations around the concept of a good death.
After training and checks, volunteers are asked to be patient while the right match is found. Sometimes this happens quickly; other times it can take longer. They take into consideration shared interests, values, distance, and any specific requests (such as gender or faith). Sometimes, due to illness, people’s circumstances change before a match can happen, which can add to the wait.
Once matched, visits are usually around one hour a week, either at the person’s home or somewhere outside, depending on preference. Some pairs prefer to meet less often but for longer.
Matches are not time-limited – they last as long as they’re wanted and needed. The first ever match lasted 3 years and 8 months. Unlike many clinical settings where friendships are discouraged, it is actively encouraged if they happen naturally – and they often do, which is wonderful to see.
You can become a compassionate neighbour by committing just one hour of volunteering a week. Alongside the time you spend with your neighbour you will be guided by experts through mentorship and training. As well as connecting with someone in your community, you have the opportunity to meet other Compassionate Neighbours through our regular get-togethers and peer support. You’ll be invited to regular drop-in sessions, hospice training and information sessions and access to counselling and chaplaincy if needed.
Compassionate Gardeners
Compassionate Gardeners runs alongside the neighbours campaign and seeks folk that can offer both companionship and light gardening duties. The programme seeks folk who can offer a little TLC to the gardens of people living at home with an end-of-life diagnosis and help restore them to what they once were. Sharing the joy of the garden through the seasons, Compassionate gardeners add so much to the wellbeing of the garden owners in the most precious of times.
Here’s what some of our current volunteers have said about their experience:
“I thought the idea was that I would visit and offer some good cheer and conversation each week—but it’s me who leaves on a high every time. It’s a tonic for both of us.”
“As I was leaving, Neville said, ‘what a great morning this has been with you visiting’—and I knew he really meant it.”
How to get involved
The Compassionate Neighbours Team are committed to building strong and resilient communities, where local people feel confident to offer social and emotional support in their communities. This is never more important than during times of isolation, deteriorating health, grief, loss or bereavement.
You can apply by clicking this link: Compassionate Neighbours Volunteer – St Columba’s Hospice Palliative Care, Edinburgh or by emailing Dariusz Wedge at DWedge@stcolumbashospice.org.uk or Maggie Young at myoung@stcolumbashospice.org.uk.
Join us for Coffee Morning
On Tuesday 2nd September we will be hosting an extra special Coffee Morning to support St Columba’s work and the Compassionate Neighbours programme. Join us for a warm and meaningful coffee morning as we welcome Dariusz Wedge from St Columba’s Hospice Care to Tribe Porty.
Tribe Members can join us between 10-11AM for extra special croissants and sweet treats. We will have QR codes for you to make direct donations to St Columba’s and you will have the opportunity to connect with Dariusz and ask any questions you may have.
We will then open up to the general public between 11AM-12PM where you can drop in to meet Dariusz and find out more about the programme.
Whether someone has years, months, weeks, or even days left, knowing that someone cares enough to show up can be deeply comforting. And for volunteers, the friendships they form are just as meaningful.
Come along, enjoy a cuppa, meet your fellow Tribe members, and discover how small acts of kindness are helping people live more fully, right up to the end.
The Dead Curious Cafe
If reading the above has stirred unfamiliar emotions, fears, or grief, and you feel the need for open conversation, you’re warmly invited to join Loretta Dunn at The Dead Curious Café.
Open conversations around death and dying are often confined to the realms of bad news, frequently in a medical environment, when the conversation becomes unavoidable. There is merit in normalising the subject of death to open up a wider perspective on the important aspects of living our best life. Many people avoid thinking about death, which can create fear and discomfort. Open discussions help normalise death, making it less of a taboo and allowing people to approach it with more acceptance and peace.
This is a safe and nurturing environment, where participation is encouraged, and mutual respect is a given.
Your facilitator is Loretta Dunn, a Life Celebrant and retired nurse, with many years of experience working with bereaved families and people at the end of life.
- Thursday 4th September
- Thursday 2nd October
- Thursday 6th November
- Thursday 4th December
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? Sign up to our newsletter to keep up to date with all things Tribe.
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