Join us for a community wellness day to wash away the winter blues!
We’re hosting a community wellness day for members of the LGBTQ+ community who may be struggling with the cost of living crisis and winter blues.
We will be offering free self care activities such as massage, haircuts and nails, as well as workshops and activities such as yoga, meditation and crafts, with music and food in the evening.
The event will take place at Ironworks in Brighton on Monday 16th January from 2-8pm.
What's On
Stalls:
Massage by The Real Massage
Haircuts by Cleo Pringle
Barbering by Wild Side Barbers
Nails by Beth Milli
Community clothes swap
Workshops:
Accessible chair yoga by Body Bits Yoga
Self Massage for the LGBTQ+ Community by The Real Massage
Self Care by Body Bits Yoga
Meditation by Michael Hydes
Craft Workshop by Queer Crafts Brighton
Plus:
Book Nook by Afrori Books
Craft corner
Food by Lunch Positive
Sign-ups to workshops, as well as haircuts, nails, massages etc. will be available on a first come first serve basis. We will have a sign-up sheet available on the day where you can write your name down under timed slots.
The first hour of the day from 2-3pm will be a ‘quiet hour’ specifically for people with disabilities which will enable those with disabilities to have priority access to these services.
Workshops
Empowering ourselves - discovering our inner safe-spaces, and how to work within them by Michael Hydes: 2.15 - 2.50pm
In this workshop and led-meditation Michael Hydes will share simple techniques that we can use to create an inner safe-space for ourselves, and an example of how to utilise that space in clearing negative emotions.
Self Care by Body Bits Yoga: 3 – 3.45pm
In this session you with try out some different guided practices to build your self-care toolkit and feel more grounded. This will include breathing exercises, gentle movement, self-massage and soothing self-touch and journaling.
Self-Massage for the LGBTQ+ Community by The Real Massage: 4 – 4.45pm
Studies have shown that those from marginalised communities, such as the LGBTQ+ community, experience higher than average levels of chronic pain and mental health issues.
Join Ana from The Real Massage for a workshop exploring how experiences of marginalisation and stigma effect our wellbeing and learn 3 key self-massage techniques to support bringing the body's stress and pain levels down.
Accessible Chair Yoga by Body Bits Yoga: 5 – 5.45pm
A relaxing yoga session suitable for all bodies. We will practice some meditation and breathing exercises, as well as gentle movements and stretches. This session is a chance to feel more connected and grounded in body and mind.
Queer Crafts Club: 6 - 7pm
Join us at Queer Crafts for a fun relaxed workshop to make some crafts with fellow queer creatives. We will provide a variety of materials for knitting, embroidery, drawing, jewellery making, pom pom making and more!
Accessibility
Ironworks is wheelchair accessible with step-free access and accessible toilets. The studio is flat and the flooring is a mixture between polished concrete and laminate wood.
There will be a quiet room available which will be staffed by a member of our team. This is a space to relax, take a sensory break or take medication if required.
The first hour of the event from 2-3pm will be a quiet hour for people with disabilities and to give disabled people priority access to sign-ups for workshops and services.
This event is catered with a hot meal available to everyone who attends. The menu is entirely vegetarian and there will be vegan and gluten free options available. Please get in touch if you have any other dietary requirements or allergies. You are also welcome to bring your own food if you prefer. There will be refreshments available throughout the day.
As there will be beauty treatments taking place such as nails and hair there will likely be strong smells in the space where the stalls/vendors will be. The workshops, book nook, craft corner and chill out area will take place in different rooms.
Please contact raf.galdeano@switchboard.org.uk if you have any further questions re. access, or if there is anything we can do to make the event more accessible for you.
Covid safety
We ask that you please take a lateral flow test before entering the space. We will have a box outside the venue with free LFTs if you need one, however you will need to go away and do the test before entering the venue. Alternatively, you can pick one up in advance from our office, please email us at raf.galdeano@switchboard.org.uk to organise this.
Ironworks have a state of the art ventilation system and we will ensure the space is as well ventilated as possible.
Travel
Ironworks is located on 30 Cheapside Brighton, BN1 4GD and is accessible by car, bus and train.
Ironworks is a 10-minute walk from Brighton train station, however, this does involve a few hills.
If you have any questions about the event please contact scarlett.langdon@switchboard.org.uk