Sheffield 2019
The Spring Gathering 2019 of CoTech
The Spring Gathering 2019 of CoTech is set for Thursday 25th and Friday 26th April 2019, 10am-5pm, (Thursday night : social/bar in the venue) at DINA, 32 Cambridge Street, Sheffield, S1 4HP.
PLEASE BOOK YOUR PLACE NOW - HERE !!
For questions about the event, please contact jonathan@webarchitects.coop
Agenda
| Thursday
(working groups) |
Thursday
(discussions) |
Friday
(working groups) |
Friday
(discussions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10-11 | Intro session (Chris Lowis to present CoTech story to date plus FACTTIC and the tech co-ops in Argentina) | Intro session | Intro session | Climate and tech (Naomi, Dot, Nathan) |
| 11-12 |
How can CoTech make a difference? Collectively we have an impressive common pool of resources - how can we best lever this to effect change? Are we even interested? (initiated by Graham - MC3, Platform 6, Digital Life Collective) |
Not sure what goes in this field? | Work | |
| 12-1 | Work | Work | ||
| 1-2 | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch |
| 2-3 | Work | Work | ||
| 3-4 | Work | Work | ||
| 4-5 | Work | Work | ||
| 5-6 | Decision Making | Decision Making | Decision Making | Decision Making |
| 6-late | Party | Party | Home | Home (or pub!) |
The opening intro session on Day 1 is to bring everyone up to date on where we are so far. At the end of each day there will be a session for work groups to update the wider group on what they've worked on, and where necessary this will include a sociocratic decision-making round with work groups running proposals.
Working groups
Working groups planned so far are Comms and Branding, Governance and Membership, Skills Sharing, Website improvements.
In addition to the work groups there will also be discussions that participants can chose to run and also attend. People can attend these as they wish. Please fill in your discussion on the timetable above if you would like to host one, and/or post on the forum (see link below):
- Climate and tech: climate forum thread
- FACTTIC and the tech co-ops in Argentina, see the forum thread
- CoTech Website, working through the issues
- How can CoTech make a difference? Collectively we have an impressive common pool of resources - how can we best lever this to effect change?
- Ola Bini’s freedom Campaign
Venue
The gathering will be at DINA, 32 Cambridge Street, Sheffield S1 4HP (city centre). It has disabled access, and a vegetarian/vegan cafe (10am-4pm). Parking nearby is expensive, but it is only a few minutes walk from train and bus stations.
DINA is an independent venue, a not-for-profit social enterprise. The building, originally the city's first Free School, was disused and renovated by volunteers in 2016. It is now a huge two floor performance and event venue with 5 discreet spaces.
Lunch
If you would like to eat in the DINA cafe downstairs please order your food in advance so they have some time to get all the orders ready.
WiFi
SSID: CoTech Passphrase: sheffield2019
Socialising and Networking
Wednesday 24th April Arriving the night before? Want to meet up for an evening drink? Meet at a nearby pub, The Devonshire Cat on Wellington Street S1 4HG, from 7.30/8pm. Look out for a CoTech sign on the table if you don't recognise anyone. Or post a message on the forum thread.
Thursday 25th April Big Party! 8pm till late, downstairs at DINA with beats from Serious Sounds.
Friday 26th April After the gathering, if anyone's staying around for further time to chat, you're free to make your own arrangements. (Sheffield CoTech people will be in a pub somewhere!)
Accommodation
Stay at a Housing Co-op
Booking for the gathering does not include accommodation, but there are many options available. (Further suggestions welcome).
We are delighted to say that Fireside Housing Co-op is willing to offer 4 double rooms on the night of Thur 25th April, and possibly Friday by arrangement. Rooms are: 2 double beds, 1 double sofa bed and 1 double air bed. First come first served in terms of bed-comfort! They will also provide basic breakfast on Friday morning (& Saturday if required). Cost: offered on a Pay-As-You-Feel basis, with a £7.50 minimum per night to cover costs.
If you're interested please contact Helen with names, email addresses and phone numbers of people who'd like to stay. Helen will liaise with people over arrival – she’s willing to stay up past midnight and let people in. Note it's 4.5km from DINA, north of the city centre.
We also very pleased to pass on an offer from Brambles Housing Co-op. They can offer: one room with a double bed, another large attic room with two double beds (up a ladder) and potentially another room with a double bed OR a sofa bed in a big multi-use room (could be off limits to others in the evening, and even curtained across to make it a bit more separate/cosy). Basic breakfast is also available too.
In terms of the price, they are happy to put out a donations/honesty tin to go towards developing the (to be) community workshop and multiuse/community space. OR If anyone was interested - in the nature of exchange - some help with getting started using Debian, and also installing a Linux OS on an Android phone [LG G5]. No expectations here, just in case one of the attendees fancies it! If you're interested please contact Roscoe at Brambles to discuss.
Corporate chain hotels
Easy Hotel
Easy Hotel, 800m from DINA.
Premier Inn, St Mary's Gate
Premier Inn St Mary's Gate 900m from DINA.
Premier Inn, Angel Street
Premier Inn Angel Street, 900m from DINA.
Ibis Sheffield
Ibis Sheffield, 1.1km from DINA.
Travelodge Sheffield Central
Travelodge Sheffield Central, 1.1km from DINA.
Less corporate accommodation
Wilson Carlile Centre
Wilson Carlile 800m from DINA. A Christian training centre Standard good accommodation £48 single, £58 double rooms; note this is price for B&B.
Harley Hotel
Harley Hotel 1.8km from DINA. Pub/venue and hotel near to university sites; prices from £34 single, £49 double rooms NOT B&B.
Heavenly Nights Guest House
Heavenly Nights Guest House, 5km from DINA, partly uphill. Modest small family run guest house in the Burngreave/Pitsmoor area, outside the city centre. "Passionate for the ever shrinking climate that we are living .. to reduce our carbon footprint we grow our own exotic plants & vegetables that are aquaponically fed many without soil by our Koi, Rainbow Trouts and Tilapia fish, without having to use & buy soil & wasting precious commodities such as water. Shared bathroom with bath and shower, choice of English Meals or Bangladeshi Street Cooking served in the comforts of your room."
House Boat Hotels
House Boat Hotels 1.3km from DINA. Canal basin apartment-style accommodation permanently moored in Sheffield's unique waterfront location, Victoria Quays, in fully heated static houseboats. 5 minute walk from Sheffield city centre, 15 mins to DINA. Sounds like fun, but about 3x price of a room.
