hackspaces

For this online talk we welcome Julia Bell. Julia is a novelist, essayist and Professor of New Writing at Birkbeck, University of London. Julia brings a unique and inspiring understanding of creative writing and the value of writing together, even more so in the times we are living. She will give a 30-minute talk and then answer questions. Please see below about how to join this free, online event. Her talk is entitled: **Writing and Thinking Together** The context for her talk is: *At a moment when technology has created collective ADD (smartphones reducing attention by 39%), when adult education funding has dropped 45%, and when evening courses are disappearing, what happens when we lose the spaces where people sit together and practice thinking collectively? Julia has taught creative writing for 25 years to working adults - refugees processing war trauma, Brexit casualties navigating displacement, incels, students confronting structural racism, among many others. She argues that the writing workshop is one of the last spaces where we practice collective attention, empathy and democratic thinking in an age of algorithmic isolation.* And a note about some of Julia's published work: *Her new book, 'Between the Lines - a live-action classroom on the page' - is published by Simon & Schuster in May 2026. Her essay 'Radical Attention' is being reissued this summer with a new introduction by Grace Blakeley.* **How do I join this online event?** Simply write to me, Caprice Jackson, Queer Write's convenor, on this platform and I will send you the link. CJ

El planazo de los lunes: una reunión entre amigos, hablando español

A Rabble session is 1 hour of fun and social team games. Each game disguises high-intensity intervals within the rules, giving you an effective, all-body workout without even realising it. We play a bunch of different games at each session (like British Bulldog, Capture the Flag, Dodgeball, Frisbee and many more), and every class is different. Sessions are open to all, no matter your sporting ability. Each game is explained before we start, so there's no need to have played any of the games before. Come solo or bring friends! And stay at the end for the social part! Who knew getting fit could be this fun? **HOW TO BOOK**: **It's essential that you book onto sessions via our website, using the link below**; due to restrictions on games and preparation times we cannot accept walk-ins, or late arrivals. [https://joinrabble.com/locations/london/](https://joinrabble.com/locations/london/) Use the code **FREEPLAY** to get your first game free! *** We play every: * Monday in Finsbury Park (19:00 - 20:00) * Tuesday in Shoreditch Park (19:00 - 20:00) * Wednesdays in Elephant & Castle (19:00-20:00) * Saturday in Southwark Park (10:30 - 11:30) * Saturday in Finsbury Park (11:00 - 12:00) * Sunday in Clapham Common (12:00 - 13:00) We hope to see you playing soon! PS. We have a group of dedicated regulars, so numbers are usually much higher than meetup might suggest. Sign up at: [https://joinrabble.com/locations/london/](https://joinrabble.com/locations/london/) **Love Rabble**

An easy way to take time out: a **30-minute guided meditation** to pause, let go of your day, unwind your mind and create a space for calm and peace. **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.

**PLEASE VISIT THE WEBSITE TO CONFIRM SESSION DETAILS AND LET US KNOW YOU PLAN TO ATTEND. THIS IS MANDATORY.** **Want to do something useful with your exercise? GoodGym is no ordinary gym. We're a group of people who get fit by doing good - helping out local charities and community groups with physical jobs like shifting compost and planting trees.** **📍 We meet at** **Wanstead House Community Association, 21 The Green, London, E11 2NT** **at 6:45pm.** **🏃‍♂️ At 7:00pm we'll run, walk or cycle to do a 30-40 minute task.** **🏃‍♂️ Then we'll head back to where we started by 8:45pm, do some stretches and maybe grab a beverage?** It's FREE. It's fun. It's fulfilling. And we're a very friendly bunch. 🍇 — **BOOK ONTO THE SESSION** **To come to the session click here:** https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions **You will need to confirm your attendance on the GoodGym website** (this includes creating an account with us if you haven’t already - it only takes a few mins). The link above takes you to the session listings in your area - if this session doesn’t fit your schedule, you may find something that does so check it out. p.s. GoodGym is a charity and you will be asked whether you’d like to donate when first creating an account. The choice is yours and does not affect your ability to attend a session. — **FAQ** Not sure you'll keep up? GoodGym is for everyone (18+). Whether you've never run before, or are chasing a marathon PB, you are 100% welcome. We always have a back-marker so no one gets left behind. 70% of GoodGym members start as non-runners so if you're new to this kind of thing you will be supported by people who are all on the same journey. 👍 What do I need to wear? Most of us wear gym/running gear. Make sure you're prepared for the weather. Don't feel like you're fit enough? Our tasks are simple and fun. There are easy jobs as well as more challenging things for those who want a workout! The choice is always yours. Do I need to bring anything? Gardening gloves are really useful for a lot of GoodGym tasks. And a head torch too if it’s likely to get dark. Please bring some if you can but there’s no requirement 🧤💡🧤 What is GoodGym? We're a (really lovely) group of people who use our energy to make a difference in our local community (and in communities across the UK!). We often meet on a weeknight, at least once a week, for a session to do good and get fit. We'd love you to come and join us. Any questions, just pop a comment below or send me a message. Find out everything you need to know at goodgym.org

This is a monthly group for fathers — a space to listen and be heard. While fatherhood is something we all share, the group is not limited to talking about our children — it’s a space to talk about whatever is on your mind, with the understanding that we are all experiencing life through the lens of being a father. \-\-\-\-\- **When:** 7pm – 9pm · Last Monday of each month **Where:** 10-mins walk from Old Street or Barbican stations. Full address to be shared to attendees via WhatsApp **Price:** First session free · £25/month thereafter \-\-\-\-\- **What to expect** * No need to bring anything — come as you are * A non-judgemental space — you're free to speak openly, with no pressure to share anything you’re not comfortable sharing * Small group of 7 dads (including me, Mem, your facilitator) to keep the space comfortable and focused \-\-\-\-\- Attendance is dependent on reading and agreeing to the [Ground Rules](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1K_jGrvkGZ0_8xnrd4yZ7lw4YlX0DlXL9). This is an ongoing monthly group, and new members are welcomed when space allows. With more interest, another date will be added to allow more dads to take part. If you're interested, and in order to confirm your place, please message Mem via WhatsApp on 07707 507 957 to arrange a quick call. \-\-\-\-\- *This event is advertised across multiple platforms, and so attendance displayed on Meetup does not reflect number of attendees confirmed*

**PLEASE VISIT THE WEBSITE TO CONFIRM SESSION DETAILS AND LET US KNOW YOU PLAN TO ATTEND. THIS IS MANDATORY.** **Want to do something useful with your exercise? GoodGym is no ordinary gym. We're a group of people who get fit by doing good - helping out local charities and community groups with physical jobs like shifting compost and planting trees.** **📍 We meet at** **Crook Log Leisure Centre, Brampton Rd, Bexleyheath, DA7 4HH** **at 6:45pm.** **🏃‍♂️ At 7:00pm we'll run, walk or cycle to do a 30-40 minute task.** **🏃‍♂️ Then we'll head back to where we started by 8:45pm, do some stretches and maybe grab a beverage?** It's FREE. It's fun. It's fulfilling. And we're a very friendly bunch. 🍇 — **BOOK ONTO THE SESSION** **To come to the session click here:** https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions **You will need to confirm your attendance on the GoodGym website** (this includes creating an account with us if you haven’t already - it only takes a few mins). The link above takes you to the session listings in your area - if this session doesn’t fit your schedule, you may find something that does so check it out. p.s. GoodGym is a charity and you will be asked whether you’d like to donate when first creating an account. The choice is yours and does not affect your ability to attend a session. — **FAQ** Not sure you'll keep up? GoodGym is for everyone (18+). Whether you've never run before, or are chasing a marathon PB, you are 100% welcome. We always have a back-marker so no one gets left behind. 70% of GoodGym members start as non-runners so if you're new to this kind of thing you will be supported by people who are all on the same journey. 👍 What do I need to wear? Most of us wear gym/running gear. Make sure you're prepared for the weather. Don't feel like you're fit enough? Our tasks are simple and fun. There are easy jobs as well as more challenging things for those who want a workout! The choice is always yours. Do I need to bring anything? Gardening gloves are really useful for a lot of GoodGym tasks. And a head torch too if it’s likely to get dark. Please bring some if you can but there’s no requirement 🧤💡🧤 What is GoodGym? We're a (really lovely) group of people who use our energy to make a difference in our local community (and in communities across the UK!). We often meet on a weeknight, at least once a week, for a session to do good and get fit. We'd love you to come and join us. Any questions, just pop a comment below or send me a message. Find out everything you need to know at goodgym.org

Even though we communicate so much, and even with so many communication platforms, expressing ourselves clearly and listening actively is still a challenge for most of us. But if you want to deepen your relationships, make meaningful connections and increase your impact, with friends, loved ones, and those we live and work with, join us for strategies on how to: * speak well and listen better * be a confident and an effective communicator **This is a free 60-minute in-person 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.

This month we have a fantastic session hosted by James Birnie, Director of Strategic Consultancy at **[Forrow](https://forrow.uk/)** where he will talk about how to get post quantum ready. In this talk James will discuss why all the world's encryption will break, why a lot of your data is leaking right now, what you need to do now and what you will need to do in the near future. **About James Birnie** James Birnie has worked in software delivery since the 1990s, when TDD was something you studied but never did, "agile" and "lean" were words used to describe athletes, and Pipelines were for carrying oil. James worked in a successful startup for 10 years before he became a consultant (and an ex software engineer) at, first, Thoughtworks and then Codurance. After time as Head of Platform at Currencycloud and VP of Engineering at IMMO Capital, James returned to consultancy and is currently Director of Strategic Consultancy at Forrow. He mainly spends his time trying to keep organisations secure against current and future threats, including the immediate threat of Harvest Now Decrypt Later attacks. **Food and Drinks** Pizza and drinks will be provided upon arrival sponsored by **[Codurance](https://www.codurance.com/),** with vegetarian and vegan options available.

Please read the full description! **Spanish Conversational Club** **Club de conversación en ESPAÑOL** **How does it work?** The Spanglish club is for all people wanting to improve their Spanish outside of a class room. Depending on numbers, there are going to be groups of max 6 people, the groups will be Beginners (A2), Intermediate and Advance. Each group will have a Spanish native speaker who can help you with your Spanish :) We will first meet our table amig@s and socialise, then we will make a fun and interesting activity for you to have a better Spanish speaking experience. Please book only if you are 100% sure to attend as there will be other Spanglishers waiting for you. **Where? Time?** Royal Festival Hall Riverside Bar Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, London SE1 8XX 19:30 to 21:00 **Google Maps:** **[https://maps.app.goo.gl/8ZY6zDymAM7M6Lju5](https://maps.app.goo.gl/8ZY6zDymAM7M6Lju5)** **Note:** We will be at the front of the Riverside Bar. Although, this might change depending on tables’ availability. Please look for Spanglish Flag/t-shirt or simply call us +447870776718. We don’t have a private area, we’ll be at a public space. There will be public noise. You can join the **Whatsapp [https://chat.whatsapp.com/LSUpj7m1tCZ2Vj86dmJR76](https://chat.whatsapp.com/LSUpj7m1tCZ2Vj86dmJR76)** for the latest updates. **How much does it cost?** £10 Your attendance is confirmed once you have booked in this website and paid in our online store. Store: **[https://www.spanglish-lc.com/page/events](https://www.spanglish-lc.com/page/events)** FREE for Native Spanish Speakers. Únete! No pagas por el evento :D **Why should I come?** You should come if you want to be immersed in a Spanish conversation with native speakers for 90 mins and more! You should also come if you want to make new friends and learn about different cultures at the same time. **Can we have a drink during the session?** Of course, it is all about feeling comfortable and we all know that a drink help us with fluency, there is a coffee shop and a bar at the center. **Can I suggest topics or just make an open suggestion?** Of course, just bring your suggestions to the session or send us an email. Your event planner will ensure your suggestion has the right execution. We are here to help and provide you guys with the best environment possible for you to have fun and improve your Spanish speaking. **Note:** This event is not suggested for beginners A1 Zero Spanish learners. Please get in touch if you need some lessons. **Suggestions or Qs** Just drop me a WhatsApp, message or email. Our events are advertised on different platforms. For this event we expect around 20 people. **[Whatsapp](https://wa.me/message/VHD2GRUCYYBDP1),** Calls or MSNs **[+447870776718](https://wa.me/message/VHD2GRUCYYBDP1)** **Instagram** and **Facebook** as **[@spanglishlc](https://www.instagram.com/spanglishlc/)** We have more events and great teachers to enhance your learning, check all our **[events](https://www.spanglish-lc.com/events), [courses](https://www.spanglish-lc.com/learning)**[ ](https://www.spanglish-lc.com/learning)and **[teachers.](https://www.spanglish-lc.com/learning)**

## Details Welcome to the DevSecOps London Gathering April Event on Wednesday 29 April! We bring you two speakers, as well as the usual conversations, pizza and beer! 📍 **Hosted at Civo Tech Junction, 1st Floor, 32-37 Cowper Street, London, EC2A 4AW** 📅 **Wednesday, 29 April** 🕕 **6:00–8:00 PM** ## **Talk** **Abstracts:** **Talk 1** APIs are the hidden infrastructure that connects everything, like the plumbing of the modern age – though much like plumbing, **you don't realise you've got a problem until it’s too late**… This is doubly true for the AI era. It doesn't matter if you're orchestrating agents through OpenClaw, Warcraft 3 or MCP – **APIs remain the way AI escapes the bounds of the chat box into the real world**. But this new modality of APIs unfortunately didn't ship with more security. We’ve spent years lumping APIs into “web security” and calling it a day. As AI adoption accelerates, **API abuse is becoming the easiest way to escalate impact**: broken object-level auth, excessive data exposure, workflow manipulation, and agent overreach. **So what actually matters and how are attackers exploiting it?** Join **Dr Katie Paxton-Fear** as we explore API hacking as its own discipline, in the AI era. No generic web security theory. Instead, you’ll walk away understanding: * What makes **APIs uniquely vulnerable** * The bugs attackers **actually look for** * How **AI-driven workflows** expand impact * How to **test your own APIs effectively** **Katie's bio** Dr Katie Paxton-Fear is a hacker and security advocate at Semgrep – she used to make applications, and now she breaks them. A former developer, she sees security vulnerabilities as small mistakes by overstressed developers, and wants to find ways to make their life easier while making sure that we are all secure. She's found vulnerabilities in everything from the military to AI, in her own words 'without really knowing what I was doing'. She is passionate about giving back to the security community, delivering security training, writing and sharing her security research, and also through her YouTube channel – where she teaches almost 100,000 subscribers how to follow in her footsteps! She combines easy-to-understand explanations with key technical details, turning security into something everyone can understand and engage with. She's been featured as an expert in the Wall Street Journal, BBC News, ZDNet, The Daily Swig, Vodafone and more. **Talk 2** APIs are the hidden infrastructure powering modern cloud systems connecting services, platforms, and now increasingly, AI agents. In the AI era, APIs are no longer just consumed by users, they're being called, chained, and orchestrated by autonomous systems at scale. Whether it's agent workflows, microservices, or cloud-native platforms, APIs are the bridge between intelligent systems and real-world actions. However, while adoption has accelerated, security has not kept pace. Many organisations still treat API security as an extension of traditional web security, overlooking critical gaps introduced through architecture, identity design, and DevSecOps practices. So where are things actually going wrong? Join me to explore how modern cloud architectures unintentionally expose APIs from misconfigured gateways and over-permissioned identities to weak trust boundaries across services. The session will also examine how AI-driven workflows amplify these risks, turning small design flaws into large-scale vulnerabilities. **Sriram's Bio** Sriram Kumar is a Solution Designer with multiple years of experience in cloud and DevOps engineering, specialising in Microsoft Azure. He has a strong background in designing and securing cloud-native architectures, including API Management, identity-driven access, and enterprise-scale infrastructure. Sriram has worked across multiple organisations delivering secure, scalable solutions, with hands-on experience in Cloud networking, CI/CD pipelines, and DevSecOps practices. His work often involves solving real-world challenges around API security, cloud governance, and system resilience in complex environments. Beyond his professional work, Sriram actively contributes to the community through NGO initiatives and mentoring students, supporting them in building careers in cloud and technology. With a practical, architecture-first approach, Sriram focuses on bridging the gap between development, operations, and security, helping teams build systems that are not only functional but secure by design.

Improve your Spanish/English with a bunch of friendly people over a pint! ¡Puedes mejorar tù Español/Ingles con un grupo de personas amables con una bebida!

Join us for a new Guix Social in-person meetup. Plenty of Guix, Guile, and Free Software hacking and chit-chat. ISN'T THIS EXCITING?!?! :) Bring your own device if you fancy demoing something or for some hands-on hacking. Get in touch if there's anything you'd like to give a talk about. **Venue** Reckon Digital 20 Farringdon Street London EC4A 4AB Please RSVP by 3pm on the day, as attendees' names will have to be communicated to the building's reception by that time. **Code of conduct** We, Guix Social's organisers, intend to create an open, friendly, and safe environment where people from the most diverse backgrounds can get together, learn about, teach, and discuss Guix and related topics in a welcoming and constructive way. To this end, Guix Social adheres to the Guix project's official [Code of Conduct](https://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/guix.git/tree/CODE-OF-CONDUCT). Please make sure you're familiar with the document and that you share its principles, before attending our events. Should you - at any time before, during, or after one of our events - want to raise an issue or discuss any CoC-related topic, please do not hesitate to reach out to the organisers at the contacts below. - Arun Isaac, arunisaac@systemreboot.net - Fabio Natali, me@fabionatali.com - Steve George, steve@futurile.net **About** Guix Social has no official ties with the Guix project. We commit to promote the project and to always operate with the best intentions; any mistake that we might make is due to us, Guix Social, not the Guix project.

Join other experienced and aspiring agile coaches and professionals to: * develop and practice your coaching skills in a peer-to-peer environment * share current successes and challenges in your work environment and get support from each other * learn from each other, build better relationships and experiment with new ideas ***NOTE:*** Pre-registration is required for this event. **Please arrive 10 minutes early** to check in at the security desk.

While some are still meeting online, this is an in person event. Please note that we have attendees of all levels of speaking, including some native speakers. All are welcome! Also, as we meet at the same time and place each week, many don’t RSVP on the app, so we will likely have more attendees than noted here. Note: if you are asked to pay and upgrade the Meetup app, this is not necessary. You can ignore this and still attend our meetings. Find us on our [Facebook group](https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1EKw86WJCp/?mibextid=wwXIfr).

Want to be a speaker? submit your talk to our Call for Presenters!!! https://sessionize.com/cbus-hug-2026/

🌸 Mother’s Day deserves more than flowers 🌸 Join us for an elevated outdoor paint experience designed for creativity, connection, and unforgettable memories. ✨ Brushes & Brunch: Mother’s Day Garden Edition ✨ Beautiful garden vibes Brunch bites Signature refreshments Guided painting Soft music Luxury energy Whether you're celebrating your mother, your daughter, your friends, or simply honoring yourself — this experience is your invitation to slow down and create something beautiful. No painting experience needed — just bring your good energy. This is not your typical paint party. This is intentional. This is elevated. This is your moment. 🎟 Limited seating available to keep the experience intimate. Reserve your spot early https://www.eventbrite.com/e/brushes-brunch-a-curated-mothers-day-painting-experience-tickets-1987709930911

**Improving Office in Franklinton** Physical location: Improving Office 330 Rush Alley Suite #150 Columbus, OH 43215 Schedule: 6:00 p.m.: Socialize, eat, and drink. Improving will be providing pizza and beverages. 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Main meeting and presentation(s). Topic: This month Chris Pazsint will be talking about Agentic Coding. How does one use CLI Based Agents, and Agentic IDEs such as Cursor, Kiro, Antigravity? How to include agentic coding plugins for IDEs you already love such as Visual Studio Code. We meet on the last Monday of each Month. Presentations are given by members and friends of this group. If you would like to do a presentation (small or large) on a python topic, please contact Central OH Python at centralohpython@gmail.com

**Pickleball + coffee + community 🌱** **Let’s kick things off with pickleball at Park of Roses, then join us at Blackend Coffee to unwind and connect.** **Pickleball 🏓 10:30am-12:30pm** **Blackend Coffee ☕️ 🌯 1-3pm** **All levels welcome!** **Can’t waitt to see everyone!** **📍 Park of Roses** **3901 N High St** **Columbus, OH 43214** **📍Blackend Coffee** **2619 N High St** **Columbus, OH 43202**

It feels like we just saw each other 🤷. Join members of the local design and UX community for our monthly breakfast. For May we’re stopping in for Rooh’s popup breakfast/cafe concept. You know someone is getting the lobster yuzu croissant, and that’s not even the prettiest thing on the menu!.