Porridge & Knowledge is a new gathering bringing inspiring speakers, spirited musicians and locals together. Guests include founder and CEO of 38Degrees David Babbs and Craig Shaw, Core Arts.

Nestled in a quiet enclave in the Parish of Dalston, P&K welcomes thinkers, writers, discoverers and doers exploring nature, the environment, science, art, sustainability and the beauty of the world we care about. Feed your bellies, hearts and minds. 9.45-1pm.

Breakfast is included with your ticket, and the Nest Collective team will be on hand to dish up a bottomless pot of eat as much as you like porridge. With a smorgasbord of savoury and sweet toppings available, Porridge & Knowledge is the perfect way to shake off the week’s stresses. As if that’s not enough to kick-start your Saturday, we’ll also be blending up fresh Bloody Marys, and laying on complementary tea and coffee to boot. ‘Cause they’re nice like that.

Keynote speaker: Founder and CEO of 38Degrees David Babbs
David works with other groups, charities and individuals to build our people powered movement. Sometimes he talks about our campaigns on the TV and radio. David makes sure that our campaigns are led by our members and achieve real impact.

David has been obsessed with people power ever since the Iraq war in 2003. He went on the big march against the war, and hated it when the people who’d told him it wouldn’t make a difference were proved right. He’s been interested in ways of making people power count more ever since.

David grew up in Leicester, and now lives in East London. Outside work, he volunteers on a community project near where he lives and likes cycling, gardening and cooking.

Change Maker: Craig Shaw, Core Arts
Craig Spread His Musical Wings into the local community And Co-Founded And Became A Musical Director Of Fujam Ltd. An Urban Music Project Running Music Work-Shops With Socially Excluded Young People And In Young Offenders Prisons.

This was also during the time he has spent with Core Arts as a freelance music facilitator. A music & arts based charity based in East London using Music and the Arts as way and means of helping people and artists who have endured severe and on going Mental Health issues. Craig will be discussing the benefits and healing nature of music and how it helps people in their lives.

Core Arts has 25 years experience in providing best practice and best value in Mental Health Creative Day Care in London. Based in Hackney, it promotes positive mental health and wellbeing through creative learning. Providing quality education, training, employment and social enterprise initiatives that enable people who experience mental health issues to overcome barriers, fulfill their potential and participate fully in their community. Their mission is to support and promote recovery, social inclusion and mental wellbeing through the arts and enhance service user experience.