The Soapbox Newsletter
September 2024 Edition: Returning to Leith Community Croft, a plethora of ace community events, and how to find laughter anywhere 🫧
Good Morning pals,
Welcome to this month’s edition of The Soapbox Newsletter! I’m excited to announce that we’re heading back to the Leith Community Croft Café for our next Blether & Gather event. Mark your calendars for Wednesday, September 25th -just one week away! - and join us anytime between 8am and 10am. We'll have free tea and coffee waiting for you so don't forget to grab your free tickets here.
Looking forward to connecting with you all!
Updates:
There's something about Autumn coming in slowly and then all at once. If you’ve been following this newsletter for a while you’ll know I’m a big fan of seasonal change. Autumn is perhaps my favourite. The slow changes of the green leaves to beautiful reds, oranges, and yellows. The air becoming cooler but fresh, the sunlight becoming more of a golden hue, and the beginning of what everyone on instagram is referring to as the ‘ber’ months. I am here for it all.
Autumn feels like the beginning, and I am such a fan of new beginnings. September always comes with a trip to London for me, usually photographing the street style at London Fashion Week. Which feels like the last of my summer adventures before, what feels like, the start of the new season.
September is the new academic year, new exhibitions, workshops, classes, conferences, markets and more. And there is a bunch of these brilliant events I’ve shared in the ‘From Our Community’ section below - check it out!
As my reflections of what the next season will bring continue to colour my day, in my ever present thinking around community, and Soapbox, I’d love to do something that celebrates our community this December. Watch this space? But also if you have any ideas I’d love to hear them!
As ever, I would love for you to join our next Blether and Gather on the 25th. Our new space at Leith Community Croft Cafe just off Leith Links is pretty magical. It's a great space to pop in for a chat with some like minded folk over a coffee. If you have any questions please feel free to reply to this email or comment below.
A Few Things From Our Community:
Parallels II - the second instalment of an exciting group exhibition at Coburg House opening on Friday 20th September from 6pm - 9pm! Featuring talented Edinburgh based artists working across jewellery, fine art & illustration: Anna Gormezano Marks, Jenni Colquhoun, Fiona (Luing Smith), Sarah Kwan & Solii. More info available here!
Check out the Samhain Fire Festival at Kafe Kweer starting on October 4th!
Polymorphics has some ace new seasonal workshops with eco-resin including painting your own eco-resin tray and making eco-resin Halloween ghost trays. Check them out here!
FACE/OFF is an Exhibition of Portrait Photography - a collective opportunity for creative fun, collaboration and community - happening at Leith Makers, 105 Leith Walk, from the 18th-22nd of September with an opening event taking place on Friday 20th September from 7pm - 10pm. Find out more info here!
Join Second Stories and Mardy Bum Active Club for a 45-minute pilates session followed by a Whitebox Spicy Margs cocktail, nibbles, and a chance to shop the latest range. Taking place on September 27th from 7pm-9pm at Maeve, Edinburgh. Grab your tickets here!
Sophia Hembeck is currently crowdfunding for her third book: A book about change. Why we don’t want to and how life will make us on Kickstarter. For more information check out this link.
This Saturday September 21st head along to the Autumn Market at Rosemains Steading. Taking place from 10am to 4pm at Rosemains Steading, Pathhead, EH37 5UQ, there will be flowers from Pyrus Botanicals, pastries from Twelve Triangles and breakfast rolls from The Tuskers amongst many other wonderful things.
Jorja Follina has a Mindful Movement workshop taking place on October 5th between 3pm and 5pm. This sessions includes gentle movement, mindfulness, sensory exploration and relaxation. More info and tickets here!
Join Briana Pegado on an eight week course which will guide you to becoming a values-led disruptor. Including theory, exercises, and practical tools, along with a community of like-minded disruptors. Taking place from 29 October 2024 - 17 December 2024 between 6pm and 8pm, online.
For more information about the course follow this link, and book here. Soapbox newsletter readers can use this discount code: SOAPBOXPAL
The Story Sessions
“The Story Sessions was such an encouraging and uplifting evening - the stories shared were funny, tender, moving and a true testimony to the place and power of friendship in our lives. It was lovely to also be given the opportunity to chat informally with others in the room and the stories gave me space to reflect on the significant people in my life. The popcorn was also top notch. Looking forward to the next one!” - Gill, The Story Sessions attendee.
Thank you to everyone who came to The Story Sessions at Tribe Porty at the end of August. It was incredible to get together to hear and share stories around friendship. I really love hosting this event and the next one is coming at the end of October! Keep an eye out on instagram for more information coming soon.
Sponsor Section
With Jack
Be a confident freelancer! With Jack protects sole traders and limited companies on the high seas of freelancing. So you're free to navigate uncharted territories and fish for amazing projects.
With Jack is all about insurance for freelance creatives. Simple. That doesn’t mean more forms or faff - it means less. It’s not about endless features and stale service - it’s about one solid policy and the personal touch.
This helpful FAQ section helps if you need to make a claim, if you’re curious about business insurance, what professional indemnity is and if you even need it!
Soul Trader vs. Limited Company: What’s best for Freelancers? Look at the advantages and disadvantages of each structure in this blog post.
The Edinburgh Minute
The Edinburgh Minute Newsletter is a free daily roundup of links to local news and happenings.
If you’re a creative with news or an event to promote, you can reach 13,500+ locals in The Edinburgh Minute. And it’s free to get your message out there. Check the full criteria and fill out the form here: https://forms.gle/nn8TZzDCRcWitTvX9
FreeAgent
FreeAgent is award-winning online accounting software designed specifically for UK small businesses - and based here in Edinburgh. The folks at FreeAgent are all about making business owners and freelancers happier and more successful by putting them in control of their finances.
Another month, another collection of top tips, tools and useful resources from FreeAgent - the accounting software built for small businesses:
Negative cashflow has spelt the end for so many small businesses - so how do you make sure yours stays positive? Here are 6 ways to improve your near-term cashflow
Starting out with payroll or brushing up on the basics? Save your spot for a free payroll webinar on Thursday 24th September, 11am
If you regularly drive for work, this handy mileage calculator will show you how much you can claim back in expenses
Everyone in our Soapbox community can give FreeAgent a go with a 30-day free trial and 50% off their first six months. Take a look for yourself!
Something wonderful to end our September Newsletter
If you’d like to stay up to date with more events, jobs and opportunities, do consider following Soapbox on Instagram!
If you have something you would like to share with the community please feel free to message us!
We hope to see you at our next event if you’re local, and in the meantime please feel free to share The Soapbox Newsletter if you enjoyed it.
Until next time,