London FreeSchool building is now Non Commercial House

The freeschool weekender on housing, squatting and gentrification has been and gone. It was a great success and it has left a beautiful building just waiting for another project to begin. So we call on all those interested in starting up a space to come and get involved…

On Sunday 21st June, as an ending to the freeschool event a discussion was had on what should happen to the building. People expressed an interest incontinuing occupying in order to create a space that complemented the pre-existing projects in East London. With LARC, rampART, freedom, ASS and Belgrade Road all within close proximity we felt a giant free shop would be a nice idea. The building suits it with huge shop windows. Within such close proximity to the centre of finance a daytime space that promotes community without consumerism seems like a pleasant idea. A strong focus could be on attracting a crowd that wouldn’t generally go into squats and social centres by possibly making a space drug free (including alcohol and smoke) and having more family friendly activities. A free bicycle workshop will bring in peddlers by off the street and into the space (or the yard at least….) Regular workshops, infonights, cafes and a food coop were amongst other things discussed.

Bring items you no longer require that are clogging up your home. Take stuff you need that someone else has abandoned. Come along to get help fixing your bicycle or just for the food / film…

We live in a society of over consumption and waste. Non Commercial House aims to offer an alternative based upon cooperation, mutual respect and sustainable living. It is not only about objects but about sharing! We hope to have various workshops and discussions taking place over the coming weeks.

Children are very welcome within the space.. we are hoping to have a kids section of the free shop with free toys / clothes and hold family friendly events.

The ground floor is wheelchair accessible. However, the only toilet in the building is on the top floor and not.

Items can be dropped off anytime; knock on the door or leave them out front.

This is a non-profit, non-hierarchical space open to all and your input is valued so drop by some time to get involved and let us know what your ideas / thoughts are.

We hope to see you soon!

Non Commercial House
165 Commercial Street

Location of London FreeSchool Announced

The building can be found at 161 Commercial Street, E1 2DA, near the Shoreditch High Street junction. Nearest tube station Liverpool Street. Buses 8, 26, 35, 42, 47, 48, 67, 78, 135, 149, 242, 344, 388.

Come by anytime from 10am Friday 19th June.. see below for more info…

Free School Weekender Schedule so far

Check it out regularly, very likely to be modified and also some new stuff will be added! Work on the building (e.g. plumbing, electricity, building stuff…) will run as a continuous skillshare throughout the weekend. so drop by whenever you can and get involved

FREE SCHOOL SLEEP OVER — participants in the free school can crash at the space. Visit the space and speak to organisers to make arrangements.

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Friday 19th June

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• 10am  onwards working on the building; cleaning/fixing/decorating
• 10am – 4pm the beginnings of plumbing; getting water to the bathroom, fitting a toilet and a sink
• 10am – 4pm electricity; assessing the current situation, making a plan and sorting out lighting
• 4-6pm Welcoming tour
• 6-7.30pm Claiming Housing Benefits
• 6-7.30pm Tenant’s rights
• 7:30-8:30 dinner
• 8.30-10pm The law is an ASS (squatting laws)

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Saturday 20th June

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• 10am onwards working on the building; cleaning/fixing /decorating…
• 10am – 1pm work on the electricity around the space, fitting lights and sockets
• 1-3:30pm work on the basement; tidying, decorating, building tables and generally making it nice
• 12:30-1pm Art and Activism
• 1-2pm Candle Making from candle leftovers
• 1-2.30pm Rant session on the property bubble
• 2-3.30pm Housing Coop
• 3-4.30pm DCH Council Flat Occupation
• 3:30-7pm continue plumbing / electricity and sorting out a cinema space
• 4:30-6pm dealing with the police / bailiffs / owners / electricity company
• 5-6.30pm Tenants Rights
• 7-8pm Dinner
• 8pm onwards: Movies!!

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Sunday 21st June

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• 10am onwards working on the building; cleaning/fixing up/decorating
• 1-2:30pm Anarchy, Gender and Living Space
• 2-3:30pm Squatting in Amsterdam, renters struggle & housing market
• 3-4.30pm Save Queens Market campaign
• 5-6.30pm Squats stories
• 6pm onwards Cafe with Belgrade Road Social Centre
• 8-9pm Planning session for squats + autonomous days of actions

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Other workshops to be confirmed…

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• the history of squatting
• dealing with police/bailiffs/owner/electricity company etc.
• mobile sound systems

June FreeSchool WeekEnder! 19-21 June

Special theme on housing, squatting and gentrification

A weekend of workshops, discussions and skillsharing to promote free, community organised learning

The London FreeSchool is planning another event for late June which will be completely free and open to all willing to respect the ideals of the freeschool and each other. In order for this to be successful we need a timetable and for that we need you! So, if there’s something you always wanted to learn, a skill you are willing to share or a topic for discussion you think is important we would love to hear from you.. drop us a line:
deschooling_society [at] lists [dot] riseup [dot] net.

This session will have a special theme: housing, squatting and gentrification.

We already have some confirmed workshops:

- a talk from someone involved in “Save Queens Market” campaign on Saturday 20th afternoon. http://www.friendsofqueensmarket.org.uk/index2.html
- Claiming housing benefit –  Friday evening
- DCH occupying council flats –  Saturday afternoon
- Housing co-ops
- Planning session for squats and autonomous days of action
- practical skill sharing on electricity, plumbing…
- open discussion on resisting eviction

And some other workshops that we hope will be confirmed. Plenty more coming!

- law and history of squatting
- mobile sound system/DJ Freeze – Cat and James to contact Mike
- Feminism and housing
- setting up a PA

London FreeSchool aims to confront the hierarchy and inequality that dominates learning. It stems from a belief that the control and institutionalisation of education is wrong and as communities we need to reclaim knowledge in order to develop self reliance. It is a collectively run project open to all, in fact we are actively seeking new bodies who want to get involved and help organise similar events to this. If you are up for this then please get in contact (deschooling_society [at] lists [dot] riseup [dot] net).

Check the website http://londonfreeschool.wordpress.com from now onwards for more information on what is planned for the weekend. We hope to have all the descriptions for workshops up as soon as possible and the full timetable will be posted later.

Sign up to our newsletter at https://lists.riseup.net/www/subscribe/londonfreeschool for irregular updates on upcoming events in London.

TIMETABLE for the last FreeSchool Weekender!

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Friday 20th February 2009 at rampART, 15-17 rampart street, E1 2LA

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4-6pm Clothes Making

4-6pm Drumming Workshop

4:30-6pm Getting rid of ‘Education’

6pm Radical Theory Reading Group

9-10pm Dissident Island Broadcast

10pm-2am Benefit Party for rampART

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Saturday 21st Febraury 2009 at the Culture Centre, 2a Belgrade Road, Dalston, Hackney, N16 8DJ

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Ground Floor

14:00–15:30 Theory and Practise 1

16:00–17:30 Theory and Practise 2

18:00-19:00 Samba Dancing

19:00-20:00 Music Workshop

20:00-late Jam Session/Open Mike

First Floor

16:00-18:00 1st Round-Table-Samosa-Making Discussion on Rethinking Ecology
(see http://www.londoncriticalecologyforum.wordpress.com)

18:00-19:00 Here We Are! A Map for Autonomous Spaces

19:00-late Café

Second Floor

13:00-15:00 Life Drawing

15:00-16:00 English as Foreign Language and French (separate classes)

16:00-17:00 Portugese and Arabic (Separate classes)

17:00-18:00 Bellydancing

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Sunday 22nd February 2009 at the Library House, 52 Knatchbull Road, Camberwell, SE5

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1-3pm Basic Internet Security & Encryption for Beginners

1-3pm Pinhole Photography

3-5pm Flour and Water

3-5pm Knitting

3-5pm Spanish

FreeSchool Weekender!

20th – 22nd February!

A weekend of free workshops and discussions to promote community organised skill-sharing.

The London FreeSchool is planning an event for mid February which will be completely free and open to all willing to respect the ideals of the freeschool and of each other. Topics for workshops already planned are as follows;

Theory & Practice 1 and 2

Very Basic Internet Security & Encryption for Beginners

Flour & Water

Clothes Making (please get in contact if you can get hold of any spare sewing machines for this!)

The Radical Theory Reading Group

Pinhole Photography

Deschooling Society

Drumming

Knitting

Here we are! A map for autonomous spaces

Capoeira

Languages – Palestinian, Lebanese, Syrian and Portuguese

Food & Environmentalism

And there’s still room for more so if there is something you always wanted to learn, a skill you are willing to share or a topic for discussion you think is important we would love to hear from you.. drop us a line: deschooling_society [at] lists [dot] riseup [dot] net. The deadline for the weekender is 11^th February to allow enough time to finalise and publicise the timetable.

If you would like to get involved in organising or helping out at this or similar events, please get in contact via the email above. Alternatively you could come along to our next meeting which will be held from 7pm on Tuesday 10^th February at rampART Social Centre in Whitechapel. See http://www.rampart.co.nr for directions.

Keep checking this website from now onwards for more information on what is planned for the weekend. We hope to have all the descriptions for workshops up as soon as possible and the full timetable will be posted around the 13^th February.

Sign up to our newsletter at https://lists.riseup.net/www/subscribe/londonfreeschool for irregular updates on upcoming events in London.

This Week in London…

A bit short notice as it has already begun, but a lovely bunch are holding a week of free workshops and the such like in mayfair starting today until the 11th January. The timetable of events can be viewed on their website (http://www.temporaryschool.org/) and will be updated throughout the week. If you want to get involved, help out, organise a workshop or something then contact them on 07532072087, persons_unknown [at] hotmail.co.uk or just head down to 39A Clarges Mews, Mayfair where it’s taking place…

Also, the London FreeSchool will be holding a meeting this Wednesday evening from 5pm at rampART Social Centre (http://www.rampart.co.nr) to discuss 2009 and future projects so if you want to get involved come along!

Timetable for London FreeSchool Weekender!

21^st – 23^rd November 2008

A weekend of free workshops promoting community learning and skill-sharing

Timetable of Events…

Friday 21^st November @ rampART Social Centre (see below for venue details)

3-5pm ReFuse: Recycled Glass Fusing

5-6pm Welcome Meal: Come along, meet each other and enjoy some free vegan food

6-8pm Clothes Making*

6-8pm Radical Theory Reading Group

9pm Crisis in the Credit System film screening

Saturday 22^nd November @ various locations

12-2pm Publicising Events @ LARC

1-3pm Computers @ rampART

2-4pm Safer Spaces Workshop @ the Library House

2-4pm DIY/Zine Publishing @ LARC

2-4pm Self Defense @ freedom

3-5pm Free Expression Art @ rampART

4-6pm Screen Printing @ rampART

4-6pm Workshop of Nothing @ LARC

5pm Theatre of the Oppressed @ the Library House

6-8pm Clothes Making*

6-8pm Self-Education meeting @ LARC

Sunday 23^rd November @ the Library House

1-3pm Nomadic Kiln Construction

1-2pm Class Politics & Climate Change

2-3pm Gender & Autonomous Spaces

3-5pm Open Discussion on Permaculture

* this workshop is dependent upon us getting hold of enough sewing machines, so if you know of where we can or are able to bring your own, please let us know!

It is possible the timetable will change so please do keep checking this website! Also, a description for each specific workshop can be found on the left hand side of this page, under ‘themes’.

VENUE DETAILS!

rampART Social Centre: http://www.rampart.co.nr 5 -17 Rampart Street, London E1 2LA, off Commercial Road

London Action and Resource Centre (LARC): http://www.londonarc.org/ 62 Fieldgate Street in Whitechapel

The Library House: http://thelibraryhouse.wordpress.com/ 52 Knatchbull Road, SE5 9QY behind Minet library in Camberwell/Brixton

Freedom Bookshop: http://www.freedompress.org.uk/ 84b Whitechapel High Street, London E1 7QX

London FreeSchool Weekender!

November 21^st – 23^rd 2008

The London FreeSchool is planning another event for November to include free workshops, skill-sharing and discussion on various topics.

Workshops that have already been suggested are as follows;

Class Politics and Climate Change

Art

Clothes Making

Workshop of Nothing continued

Gender and Autonomous Spaces continued

Fanzine / DIY publishing

Drama

Urban Permaculture

If you would like to go to or help facilitate any of the above then please email us (deschooling_society@lists.riseup.net) so we have an idea of numbers. Only the ones that people have expressed interest in will go ahead. Also, email us if you would like to organise a workshop or discussion with a brief description, how long you think you will need, if you require any special equipment/tools etc.

Keep checking the website from now onwards for more information on what is planned for the weekend and sign up to the newsletter at https://lists.riseup.net/www/info/londonfreeschool to receive updates.

Benefit Party Saturday Night @ rampART

my dear friends, after a very successful first london freeschool week, 1st – 7th september at the rampART, we are planning another weekend of nonhierarchical skillsharing, learning and practicing together with the emphasis on equality, respect and trust. since the freeschool is, as it implies, free, we need to raise some funds. so we were thinking of organising a big benefit event on the 27th of september, from 8 pm to 2 am, with live poetry and spoken word, featuring niall spooner, live music with no mas nada, 52 commercial road and paul hawkins and the awkward silencers, dj sets by fe_bac, little miss moonshine, startx and the dissident island radio crew, film screening, capoeira, juggling and clowning and many more treats, like splendid vegan food & drink…