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Build A Better Future: Book Club

‘Build a Better Future’ is Girl Gang Manchester’s space for facilitated discussion surrounding socially engaged literature in a non-judgemental, friendly environment. Beginning in 2020 as an Anti-Racist Media Club, in response to the UK’s wave of Black Lives Matter protests, BABF expands to discuss a variety of identities and issues which are interlinked through a critical, intersectional lens. We feel this approach is important to highlight shared struggles within our communities, and whilst anti-racism still takes an important spotlight, this space is our way of engaging in a sustainable and non-reactive manner which builds a community of inspired readers.

Both our books and session facilitators are selected to allow for lived experience as much as possible, and many of our books foreground global majority and/or queer women. We hope this group will provide a space for, and build a community founded on, mutual respect, collaborative learning, and a willingness to accept everyone’s individual reflections, knowledge, and lived experience. We recognise that many of our members belong to marginalised communities – be it queer, disabled, or Black and global majority – so we aim for this group to be a safe space to explore issues relating to these experiences. Our inviting a facilitator to co-moderate discussions with our team aims to share the dynamics of power and responsibility in the space.

We intend to maintain a long term, consistent space for people to take personal responsibility and communal accountability for their allyship and coalition learning, creating a space for reflection, discussion and to hear from other voices. The group is always open to new members, or returning ones, so we’d love for you to join us!

Where & when?

The group meets on the last Thursday of every other month, and sessions are 2 hours long to allow for lengthier discussions, as well as action point check-ins at the start and end of each session. Our sessions are intended to be hybrid, to maintain measures of accessibility instigated by the Covid lockdown. It is our hope that you can feel a part of this vibrant community no matter how you join, though we encourage people to come down where they can!

How the group works:

We’ll be meeting in person and online. Both digital and IRL spaces will be open 10 minutes in advance to arrive for a prompt kick off.

Links to online meeting will be sent in advance of the session. Our sessions will involve specific prompts and small group discussions (as well as online in virtual break-out rooms) Digital attendees will be in groups together and in person attendees will be in groups together.

The space will be facilitated. Though some of our facilitators may have lived experience, this is a space for communal learning and structured discussion rather than a teaching space- the ‘teacher” will always be the author of the material.

To pay our facilitators for their preparation and leading time, we are making paid for tickets compulsory at check out to help us cover the cost of their fees. We feel this is important, particularly when we are asking people with lived experience to contribute. If you are currently unwaged or the £3.50 is a barrier to your attendance, please book the free ticket, but we encourage payment where possible.

There is also an optional donation to a relevant charity which changes each month and is selected by our facilitators, should you wish to donate.

Please book your place in advance for each session.

Who is the group for?

The sessions are open to people of all genders/races/sexualities/classes/disability inclusive – if you have any specific accessibility needs regarding the sessions, please let us know and we’ll do our very best to accommodate. For parents, single Mums, and those with a legitimate reason to be late, don’t worry we will still let you in the room! For everyone else, please try to be on time if you can so we can all be a part of the full conversation where possible.

This is a space for everyone – though we would like attendees to be aware that participants may be at different stages of their personal educational journeys. We must be prepared to push one another and address our own shortfalls to get the most out of the sessions, valuing the voices with experience, if they wish to attend.