Concentration

🎤 **Join Our Free Public Speaking Class in Central London** * 🌟 Are you struggling with public speaking or experiencing anxiety about it? * 👉 Attend our in-person public speaking class, suitable for beginners to advanced speakers, absolutely FREE as a guest! *You don't need to speak - just observe and learn, or participate if you feel ready.* **Why Attend Our Public Speaking Class?** * 💪 **Overcome Public Speaking Fear** Central London Toastmasters is the premier weekly public speaking club, offering a relaxed and supportive environment. Practice in a safe space where no one judges you, and start your journey to becoming a confident speaker. * ✨ **Become a Charismatic Speaker** Enhance your public speaking skills and develop the charisma you've always wanted. Impress your colleagues with smooth, polished presentations and wow your friends with newfound confidence and storytelling abilities. * 💼 **Improve Business Speaking Skills** Our meetings are friendly and informal, making them the perfect starting point for building confidence in public speaking. Many of our members began with anxiety, but now speak with total confidence. As a guest, you’ll see firsthand how warm and welcoming our club is, and you can chat with members about their experiences. * 🏆 **Develop Leadership Skills** Public speaking is not just about presenting; it's also about leading. Our club provides opportunities to take on leadership roles, helping you to develop crucial skills like team management, decision-making, and strategic thinking that can benefit your personal and professional life. 📅 **Location and Time** * 📍 Location: Cittie of Yorke pub, Holborn * ⏰ Time: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM (Feel free to arrive late and quietly take a seat) 🔄 **What to Expect at Our Meetings** * The meeting is divided into two halves, each lasting approximately 50 minutes, with a 10-minute break. * 🎯 First Half: Members participate in impromptu speeches, and guests are invited to introduce themselves by name. * 📈 Second Half: Members deliver prepared speeches followed by evaluations. * After the meeting, we enjoy drinks and informal chats, providing a great opportunity to network and learn more about the club. 🎟️ **Interested in Becoming a Member?** Membership includes access to our online course, Pathways, guiding you step-by-step through your public speaking journey. A full year’s membership, covering 50 weekly meetings, is just £168, plus a one-time £30 registration fee. **💬 Testimonials from Our Members** * **“Toastmasters transformed my life!”** "I went from fearing public speaking to leading meetings at work. This newfound confidence even earned me a promotion!" – **Alexander** * **"A warm and supportive club!"** "From the first meeting, I felt welcomed. The constructive feedback boosted my confidence both in public speaking and daily life." – **Sarah** * **"Overcoming my fear was easier than I thought."** "The support here made my sales presentations more impactful and less stressful. It's been a game-changer for me professionally." – **David** * **"A fun and rewarding experience."** "I look forward to every meeting. The sessions are engaging, and I love the socializing afterward." – **Lucy** * **"I've grown as a speaker and leader."** "Taking on roles in the club has sharpened my leadership skills, making me more effective at work." – **James**

Take a pause from your busy day and join us for a 20-minute guided meditation to breathe your stress away, decompress your body and mind, centre yourself and restore your wellbeing. Leave feeling refreshed, recharged and refocused, ready to tackle the rest of your day. No experience is necessary – this free in-person meditation is open to everyone. **This is a free in-person meditation.** **If you would like to make a voluntary donation, please click** [here.](https://www.innerspace.org.uk/donations/ "https://www.innerspace.org.uk/donations/") \* I consent to my submitted data being collected and stored. We will process your personal data in line with the GDPR requirements and always store it securely and use it only for the purpose for which it has been collected. We will not pass on your details to any third parties without your consent.

18:00 - 18:30: Grab a drink and introductions 18:30 - 19:30: Shut Up and Write (timer starts and ends) 19:30 - 20:00: Chat and reflect Come along for a fun and productive hour of solid writing without any pressure to share what you are doing. If you're writing a screen play, script, novel, poem, etc, or just journaling or catching up with some work... you are welcome. See you there!!! ✍ Bring headphones as sometimes it can be a little loud due to the central location. 🎶 Contact Joe & Héléna for details: joewhitehead03@gmail.com helenabloch2@gmail.com

Free English lessons in London taught by our trainee teachers! **[Register Here](https://www.dcteachertraining.com/london-free-english-lessons)** Location: St Giles London Central, 154 Southampton Row, WC1B 5JX (Nearest Tube: Russell Square) Evening classes * Tuesdays and Thursdays (each weekday) * 6:30pm to 8:30pm Levels available: Pre-Intermediate (A2) / Intermediate (B1) / Upper Intermediate (B2) (Lessons for adults only - 18 years+) We can't wait to welcome you to the English lessons!

You're invited to our next Women in Product London event! As product managers grow in their careers, one skill becomes increasingly important: **strategy**. For this event, we’re bringing together product leaders from a range of industries and company stages to share how they approach product vision and strategy in practice: what it really means to be strategic, how you develop strategic thinking over time, and why it often becomes the defining skill that separates good PMs from great product leaders. Some of the topics will include how to develop stronger strategic thinking as you progress in your career, how to influence organisations through vision and direction, and real-world examples of turning high-level strategy into meaningful product outcomes. The evening will give you the opportunity to network with your peers over drinks and canapés before and after our speakers take the stage. Join us for a mix of insightful presentations where you'll take away practical insights from experienced product leaders and have the chance to ask questions throughout the event. **\-\-\-\-MEET THE SPEAKERS** **\>\> Pooja Naidu – Exec Coach/Advisor \(former VP of Product @ Mews\)** *With over 19 years experience in Product she has worked in Sportstech, Retail, Hospitality, Media, Publishing, E-commerce and Banking. She has developed category defining products across B2C and B2B for SMB/Mid market/Enterprise customers; including M&S Website/Christmas food ordering/In store apps, Tesco clubcard app, Sports analytics solutions for Premier League, NBA and beyond!* **\>\> Laura Dyer – Senior Product Manager @ Wolf&Badger** *Laura Dyer is a Senior Product Manager specialising in marketplace and platform products. At Wolf & Badger, she owns product strategy across supplier tools and platform infrastructure and has led the shift toward a more experimentation-driven & product-led way of working across her org. Before that, she cut her teeth at Ocado Technology in ecommerce and logistics, giving her experience that spans enterprise tech platforms through to early-stage scale-ups. She's passionate about mentoring others in product and tech and you'll usually find her geeking out about UX research, building with AI tools or just finding ways to make work more fun.* **\>\> Christina Cassar – Product Lead @ Just Eat** *Christina Cassar is a Product Lead at Just Eat, driving product strategy to transform the experience for millions of customers across one of Europe’s leading food delivery platforms. With a decade of experience across consumer brands including Sky, Virgin Media O2, and Liberty Global, she has shaped product strategies for diverse markets, turning high-level vision into impactful roadmaps.* We're looking forward to seeing you there! \-\-\- Venue, food and drinks proudly sponsored by [Just Eat](https://www.just-eat.co.uk/). **Special note:** please note the small attendance fee is to cover administrative costs of running Women in Product London. We can only accept payment via PayPal and refunds are not available if you're unable to attend the event. #wiplondon #alwayslearning

Free English lessons in London taught by our trainee teachers! **[Register Here](https://www.dcteachertraining.com/london-free-english-lessons)** Location: St Giles London Central, 154 Southampton Row, WC1B 5JX (Nearest Tube: Russell Square) Monday 1st June to Friday 5th June - A2 / Pre-intermediate Monday 8th June to Friday 12th June - A2 / Pre-intermediate Monday 15th June to Friday 19th June - B2 / Upper Intermediate Monday 22nd June to Friday 26th June - B2 / Upper Intermediate All lessons 13:50 - 16:00 (Lessons for adults only - 18 years+) We can't wait to welcome you to the English lessons!

You can journal your thoughts, emotions, experiences… You can write a sentence, a paragraph, a page… But journaling doesn’t have to be a chore, it can be enjoyable and enlightening. It can deepen your self-awareness, help you gain clarity and add a sense of calm. Whether you’ve never tried it or you’ve done a spot of journaling in the past and fallen out of practice, join us to: * explore the why, the how and the art of journaling * get inspired to pick up your pen and start journaling **This is a free in-person 60-minute seminar.** **If you would like to make a voluntary donation, please click** [here.](https://www.innerspace.org.uk/donations/ "https://www.innerspace.org.uk/donations/") \* I consent to my submitted data being collected and stored. We will process your personal data in line with the GDPR requirements and always store it securely and use it only for the purpose for which it has been collected. We will not pass on your details to any third parties without your consent.

Meet from 6pm, to start writing at 6.30, for 1 hour. We will be sitting on the side away from the river (turn left when you enter), on the side near the main road. The venue has a bar (but not food) and kindly asks that everyone buys a drink in return for using the space. It has free wifi and there are a few plug sockets but they're limited so best to come fully charged. There are a number of station within 10 minutes walk: Mansion House, Blackfriars, St. Pauls, Bank, Cannon St. Join us for some focused writing time. All writers and all experience levels are welcome and don’t worry, no one will see what you've written. This session is about getting your writing done and meeting other writers in your area. When you show up, say hello to everyone, grab a drink, and get your writing tools ready. Once you’re all settled, take some time to chat with your fellow writers. Once everyone’s arrived, I will lead quick introductions and then set the timer for our quiet and focused writing session. Afterward, we’ll have time to chat and get to know each other. We often talk about our successes and challenges as writers. If you don’t have time to stick around, no worries! **A note about the format** We don’t host critiques or readings. These events are a safe space for writers of all skill levels and genres to work on their craft, so no one will read or critique your writing. For our full event schedule, visit [https://shutupwrite.com](https://shutupwrite.com/)

**Bookable via our website ➡️** [https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/carpentry-for-beginners-step-up-low-wood-stool-2-sundays-12/](https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/carpentry-for-beginners-step-up-low-wood-stool-2-sundays-12/) ⋆⋆⋆ **Course:** Make a Step Up Stool **About:** Learn how to measure and mark timber accurately, use a chisel and a vintage ‘Granny’s tooth’ hand router to cut out grooves to house the legs into the sides of the stool. This course is another charming project from our a cherished Edwardian instructional woodwork manual, ‘Carpentry for Beginners’. The projects in the book are perfect for learning basic woodwork skills and we have refined the instructions to incorporate a modern craft construction. This classic ‘child’s stool’ is a handy ‘hop up’ you can use if you have shelves you can’t reach at home and small ones can reach the sink by standing on it. It measures 40cm x 22cm x 26cm high. We use a redwood pine wood that releases a heady and uplifting scent when cut, chiseled and planed. Even if you have never used any tools, a professional cabinet maker will teach you the processes you will need to take home a future heirloom along with a very special sense of satisfaction that comes with crafting by hand. You will learn how to measure and mark timber accurately, use a chisel and a vintage ‘Granny’s tooth’ hand router to cut out grooves to house the legs into the sides of the stool. By the time you have finished your useful step up stool, you will have become familiar with many of the basic woodworking hand tools and increased your confidence to go on and do more general woodwork at home.

**Early arrivals** 11am, this gives you the time to settle in and chat with the other writers **Start of the session** 11.30am the timer will start of no-talking and focused witing time. **End of the session** 12.30pm the no-talking time is over and you are welcome to stay and keep writing or stay and chat. For our full event schedule, visit [https://shutupwrite.com](https://shutupwrite.com).

**Looking for a business networking event in London with a focus on web3, blockchain and decentralised systems?** Join us in **Covent Garden** for a quality business networking hosted by digital business card startup GMax Card, **What to Expect** * **Connect with Web3 founders, blockchain professionals, startup builders**, and business decision-makers in a relaxed, yet purposeful setting. * **Build valuable business relationships, exchange ideas, spot emerging trends,** and uncover new opportunities across Web3, blockchain, and decentralised systems. * **A lightly structured event** \- not a formal conference\, nor a random pub mingle\. * An **atmosphere that feels high-quality yet relaxed**, with space for real business conversations. * Hosts are there from the start to **help with introductions**. **Who You'll Meet** * Web3 founders and startup operators * Blockchain professionals and builders working across decentralised systems * Business owners and decision makers exploring Web3 opportunities * B2B companies, service providers, and businesses building partnerships in the Web3 ecosystem * Investors and professionals interested in blockchain, crypto, digital assets, and emerging technologies * Business professionals visiting London for business and commercial connections **How the Evening Flows** 18:30 - Arrival 19:00 - Short introductions 19:30 - Open networking 21:30 - Close Hosts are there from the start to **help with introductions.** **Venue - Sycamore Bar at Middle Eight Hotel** A stylish, design-led bar inside the 5-star Middle Eight Hotel in central London. Located in the Covent Garden/Holborn area, just a short walk from Holborn, Covent Garden and Tottenham Court Road stations, it offers a relaxed and refined setting for business networking. **Entry & GMax Cards** * Free RSVP: Event access only * Paid ticket (when available): Includes a contactless GMax Card (ask host to claim; not distributed automatically) **Dress Code** Business / smart casual **Hosted by:** [GMax Card - a digital business card](http://www.gmaxcard.com/) platform designed for modern networking and professional connections beyond LinkedIn. Share **all** your contact details through one simple link. **Important Info** * 18+ (ID may be required) * Photos/video by [CineEye Audiovisual Production Studio](http://www.cineeye.co.uk/) (inform us if you prefer not to appear) * Attendance is at your own risk. Organisers and the venue are not liable for any injury, loss, or damage. **Limited spots - register early!** Join our [WA Business Community](https://chat.whatsapp.com/FJdEP809H5U8WQ4y4BLLS5?mode=hqctcli) to stay connected between events, and follow us on [LinkedIn](http://linkedin.com/company/gmax-card) for upcoming dates.

The first rule of WRITE CLUB is that you do not talk ***during*** WRITE CLUB. This very simple meetup is based on the premise that public and peer accountability enables more productive writing than sitting at home and getting distracted by the fridge. We will write/read for an hour in silence. (I will be writing thought experiments for my other meetup group: [THOUGHT EXPERIMENTS IN PUBS](https://www.meetup.com/thought-experiments-in-pubs)) If you'd like to hang out afterwards, or if you prefer just to hang out, I have another event immediately afterwards in the same place :-) You can find that here: [HANGING OUT AT THE SOUTHBANK](https://www.meetup.com/experimentsin/events/314649073) And if you'd like to finish the evening with a dance, there is a free social salsa meetup just outside The Southbank Centre just afterwards. More info [here](https://www.instagram.com/salserosfriends/). **This event will take place in the foyer of The Southbank Centre.** You can find us by looking out for: * A tote bag with WRITE CLUB sewn onto it * My T-Shirt, which will have HANGING OUT embroidered on the back of it * A big red flag with THE SUNRISE CLUB emblazoned on it (though this clearly isn't THE SUNRISE CLUB! If you want to find out about that, you can do so [here](https://www.meetup.com/the-sunrise-club/).) * Other writers - who may be spread out across the centre. They will have white pieces of paper with the WRITE CLUB stamp at the top of the page. There are plenty of places to buy refreshments, but you can also bring your own if you prefer. [WHATSAPP GROUP](https://chat.whatsapp.com/BpMwnRev0H237KMx4uPnek) [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/experimentsingroupwisdom) [SUBSTACK](https://experimentsingroupwisdom.substack.com/) Looking forward to meeting and writing with you :-) Bonny

Join us for some focused writing time. All writers and all experience levels are welcome and don’t worry, no one will see what you've written. This session is about getting your writing done and meeting other writers in your area. When you show up, say hello to everyone, grab a drink, and get your writing tools ready. Once you’re all settled, take some time to chat with your fellow writers. Once everyone’s arrived, I will lead quick introductions and then set the timer for our quiet and focused writing session. Afterward, we’ll have time to chat and get to know each other. We often talk about our successes and challenges as writers. If you don’t have time to stick around, no worries! **A note about the format** We don’t host critiques or readings. These events are a safe space for writers of all skill levels and genres to work on their craft, so no one will read or critique your writing. For our full event schedule, visit [https://shutupwrite.com](https://shutupwrite.com/) **Other Important Details:** WiFi name/password: [PLEASE INCLUDE DETAILS] Travel / Parking info: [PLEASE INCLUDE DETAILS] Venue Guidelines: Please thank our hosts by purchasing something.

We'll meet at The Capital One Café, 167 Easton Town Center, Space A-103. This is in the main mall where the Microsoft store used to be, on your left if you're standing at the bottom of the AMC Theater escalator. Join us on Saturday for an hour of uninterrupted wordmaking! • What we'll do Join us for an hour of writing! We’ve discovered that it’s strikingly helpful to write with other writers. See if it’s true for you at 10AM on Saturday mornings. Be it a book, blog, script, essay, dissertation, resume, melody, poem or just plain work stuff, you are invited to write it with us. No one will see what you've written or give you unsolicited advice. Instead of just thinking about writing, come and get some real writing done. SCHEDULE: 10:00 - SESSION 1: quick intros. 10:10 - timer starts: write for 1 hour. 11:10 - chat / take off / keep writing. OPTIONAL SOCIALIZING happens at 11A-11:30ish. Writing is very solitary. Connecting (and sometimes even commiserating) with other writers is a cool thing. BEING LATE IS OKAY: just show up and get settled, then check-in with me after the session. (I’ll be the person with the Shut Up & Write! sign.) If you were on time, please be willing to make room for the friendly latecomer. Happy writing and I look forward to seeing you! • What to bring Whatever you need to be able to write! Bring earbuds/earplugs if you want to block noise or the occasional conversation by other patrons. Electrical outlets are limited, so charge your devices before whenever possible. See you at The Café on Saturday!

It’s time to take control of your mental health. How do you get rid of stress, anxiety and uncertainty? These emotions are buried deep in your reactive mind. Find out what the reactive mind is, and in the process find yourself. Have you ever suffered from a traumatic experience, a deep loss or been through a painful breakup? Has your ability to communicate suffered as a result? And after that, even though you "moved on" did you find that things were never quite the same? Have you ever looked at childhood photos, or reminisced your early life and wondered where that happiness and spark went? Are your emotions out of your own control? Have you ever felt, even if you aren’t aware of it, that possibly you are getting in your own way of your happiness and success? How does this affect your self-confidence? Find out what is at the root of all stress, anxiety, depression and self-doubt. Find out how and why you hold yourself back from achieving your goals and having the life you have dreamed of. As soon as you learn what is at the root of these unwanted conditions, you’ll see it is something you can DO something about. You will not be labeled or categorized at this MeetUp.

Greetings writers! Come down and join your fellow wordsmiths for one hour of uninterrupted writing time in the upper level of the Market District Supermarket in Upper Arlington. The main entrance of the shopping center opens onto stairs/elevator leading up to the 2nd floor cafe section where we will have a table displaying a sign with the Shut Up & Write logo. Writing is largely a solitary craft. Practicing with others in a community setting may be the thing you need to fire your own routine. We’ll meet on Wednesday evenings, starting the clock at 6:30, following a brief period of introductions. This is solid writing time and all inclusive. Any project is acceptable, be it fiction, non -fiction, work or homework assignment. All is welcome and will remain private to you. The market boasts a Starbucks, a full service bar and various affordable food options. Parking is plentiful, free Wifi is provided as well as outlets for charging your devices, though they are somewhat limited, so plan accordingly. Show up as early as you like, or stay late. This group tends to socialize some, both before and after the alloted time, but this is not mandatory to you. Feel free to come and go as you please and late arrivals are welcome. The cafe may be noisy on occasion so headphones/ earbuds are reccommended as you see fit. Please try to RSVP if possible so that we may grab enough seats for all—the venue can be busy at times. Feel free to message me privately wth any questions and/ or concerns you may have. Happy writing!

Come assist Van Buren Shelter (https://ymcacolumbus.org/locations/vanburen) staff in serving dinners and cleaning up on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. Dinner for the women is 5-6 pm and for the families is 6:15-7:15 pm. There is ample free parking available in the shelter's lot. The recommended area to park is in green in the image above. There will be a new entrance for the time being. We are asking all volunteers to enter through the Donation Dock door, the orange mark on the image above. This door is located between the Single Adults and Family Shelter. You will see 2 large garage doors with a large green trash compactor in the center. Please head to the closest garage door to the building wall, with a ramp leading up. There, you will see a door with a sign stating instructions on how to enter the building. Please ring the doorbell, and a staff member will come and escort you into the building. If a staff member takes longer than 5 minutes, please call the front desk at 614-689-2020. This is a new process for us, and we do not want to keep you waiting! We appreciate your patience as we navigate this temporary change. The shelter needs a volunteer count the day before the event so sign-up ends Monday at 4:50 PM. Afterwards some of us go to the Omnipresent Atheists Weekly Meetup in progress to have a bit to eat or drink (http://www.meetup.com/omnipresentatheists/). Volunteers must be 14 or older. Since we will be working around families, the YMCA does not permit volunteering by individuals with convictions for violent or sexual crimes. The YMCA reserves the right to run background checks on volunteers. For questions, comment on this page or contact: Andrew, awhit12@yahoo.com, (614)937-5802 (cell). Please let Andrew know if you volunteer anytime other than our COUNT events so that he can count your hours toward our service record.

Let’s meet and share discussion of the James Baldwin short story collection, Going to Meet The Man.

We may pick a specific topic and post in advance or may discuss current events and various ad hoc topics . We would love to spend time hanging out and getting to know one another. Atheist, agnostics, other non-theists, and atheist-friendly people are welcome to join us. Note: COUNT operates a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/groups/COUNT.discussions (http://www.facebook.com/groups/COUNT.discussions/) to promote discussions among members and visitors.