Hackney, London: New social centre coming soon & statement from 195 Mare Street collective

By: dolph-l - December 22nd, 2013  Filed under: News, Press release

We are delighted to announce that there is a new home for the social centre.  The new location is conveniently close to the previous building, and will be revealed when we are ready to launch.

There is scope to continue many of the activities that occurred at Mare St, such as free shop, social/info evenings, language classes, reading groups, meetings, art classes, people’s kitchen, queer events, screenings and much more.   Confirmed opening times and the timetabling of activities will follow shortly. [Read More]

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London: Solidarity demo with 195 Mare Street squatter and Russian LGBTQ activist facing deportation

By: dolph-l - December 9th, 2013  Filed under: News

Update: Ira has been released! Release party at 195 Mare Street, Hackney, 10pm tonight! @IrinaMustStay

From Irina Must Stay:

A crowd of more than 150 people assembled around the UKBA offices in London Bridge. We spoke to Ira to show her how much support there is for her and others in Yarl’s Wood. Almost £100 was raised to be passed on to other detainees for phone credit as a lot of them are completely isolated. If you would like to donate online for detainees in Yarl’s Wood or to the campaign please send a message via the Irina Must Stay facebook. We are thinking of holding another demo on Saturday 14th Dec at the Home Office or Yarl’s Wood – please follow the twitter @irinamuststay to keep updated. Thanks for your support! [Read More]

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Hackney, London: Free School next week at Mare Street

By: dolph-l - November 16th, 2013  Filed under: News

50+ events over 7 days now organised!

195 Mare Street, Hackney, London.

The week has been split as follows:

  • Mon 18th  Resistance / Awareness
  • Tue 19th  DIY / Cooking
  • Wed 20th  Technology / Ecology
  • Thu 21st  Housing / Benefits / Practical Squatting
  • Fri 22nd  Queer and Feminist
  • Sat 23rd  Arts / Music / Creative
  • Sun 24th  Arts / Music / Creative

For list of events (and updates) see: 195 Mare Street @ radar.squat.net [Read More]

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Hackney, London: Art School starting up at 195 Mare Street Social Centre next week

By: dolph-l - October 26th, 2013  Filed under: News

Hello everybody. Your social center at Mare Street is back with an art school open for all!

Born from the creative needs of our residents and our friends, we are building an art studio, a darkroom and a series of workshops where you can come, learn and share your skills with everybody.

Our art studio and darkroom are being built from scrap and every help is welcome. Today we are starting to clear the space on our basement that will give place to these. If you want to help us out just show up today with good working mood and let’s all make this happen! Also we will need some materials to start working, so if you have something around that can help it would be great. [Read More]

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Hackney, London: Builders force entry to damage 195 Mare Street – help needed

By: dolph-l - October 7th, 2013  Filed under: News

Today at approximately 10:05 a.m. as two of us were returning from scavenging fruit and vegetables a group of about a dozen builders forced entry into the social center.  They then proceeded to affix a notice board to the wall declaring that the building was a construction site. We notified them that the property was legally occupied in accordance with the 1977 Criminal Law Act and that they had committed an offence by breaking into the building while it so occupied. Apparently unconcerned that their conduct was illegal, they proceeded to begin gutting the building while we were inside it. They also proceeded to disconnect the buildings water, by cutting the pipe connecting to the water main.

The builders were employed by CS Solutions and their supervisor was Jim Casey, the same man who had similarly threatened us weeks ago.  No planning permission has been granted for any work to be done on the building; despite this and despite the building’s listed status they proceeded in doing significant damage to the downstairs. [Read More]

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Hackney, London: 195 Mare Street first open day!

By: dolph-l - September 20th, 2013  Filed under: News

Well yesterday went really well. We finally had the front gate and door open to allow people into 195 Mare Street. Visitors were treated to our free shop (some local fashionistas probably had a bit too much fun), all day long food (salad, veggies, curry, barley…yum yum!), a Chilean film and then later live performances on kazoo and guitar.

Dozens came in – mostly just off of the street – and it was lovely having people stop as walking by, taking a look at our boards by the gate and then coming in for more. Plenty of folks came in with their children and this including a beautiful moment when one of our all-in-one baby outfits from the free shop found a new home. We attracted friends, of course, but also a lot of people we had never met before. People gave us gifts, told us about what they wanted from the social centre, how the could contribute and a good few told us about housing struggles. Others sat in our pretty cafe area, eating and enjoying the surroundings and watching those exploring the free shop or sneaking a quick peak at other parts of the building. [Read More]

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Hackney, London: Check out 195 Mare Street

By: dolph-l - September 13th, 2013  Filed under: News

Everyone woke up super enthusiastic this morning ready to start the day. Downstairs free shop area looks almost unrecognisable – its suddenly viable again how much space there really is. We’ve going to have a great area to do some workshops while we continue to work on the rest of the building. [Read More]

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