Counter Social: Care & Wellbeing Edition

*Please note this event will not be live streamed*

Like chatting books and ideas, but not into book clubs?

Want to meet folk interested in exploring the same worlds as you but not sure where to find them?

Counter Socials are the not-a-book-club bookshop run social that's just the thing for you!

We'll be gathering over at the Counter cafe/bar in Native (on Queen Street) once a month to have a chat and make new pals. Each month we'll have a theme and a few words from a selection of local writers, artists, activists or performers whose work intersects with that topic.

You can rock up with friends for a lit-salon style night out, you can come solo and listen in to the 20-25mins of speakers before being introduced to others in the room or tuck yourself away to read with one of the themed texts we've brought along for you to browse.

Readings/Speakers will kick off at 7.30pm, so there is time to grab a drink or settle down before!

February's theme is CARE & WELLBEING! We'll be hearing from some writers & local folk interested in mental health, wellbeing and care, of the self and community more widely.

Speakers include:

JJ Fakada: a writer, workshop practitioner, and radical based in Edinburgh. She explores the possibility community, feminism and love give us to create change. She facilitates creative writing workshops at the Community Wellbeing Space in Edinburgh. Monday - Friday she works and writes in a police box.

LGBT Health & Wellbeing. Promoting the health, wellbeing and equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT+) adults (16+) in Scotland. We welcome the entire diversity of our LGBT+ community including non-binary, queer, intersex, asexual people and all identities under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella.

Kara Brown, CEO ofTiny Changes. Tiny Changes is Scotland’s first national youth mental health charity. We fund and support ideas that help young minds feel better. The charity was set up in memory of artist and Frightened Rabbit frontman Scott Hutchison. Through his music and art Scott made tiny changes that had a big impact on people from all walks of life.

*Please note that as this event takes place in a cafe/bar masks are (of course) welcome but expect people who are drinking or eating won't be masked.*