This month we are having workshops themed around skills used in and around the Sumac Centre. From getting serious about talking about beer, to learning to cook a three course meal for 50, here is how to learn skills to get involved in our amazing community centre.

For those who want a little more back ground to the Sumac Centre, go to the end of this article.

Programme:
9am – 9.45am: Sumac Breakfast - Old School! – the famous Sumac vegan breakfast, potato cakes and all, is back for one hour only– turn up on time or miss out! Suggested donation: £2.50

10am: What's a Sumac?
What makes the Sumac different from everywhere else in town? A candid look at organising without leaders, and the future of the Sumac. Come with ideas: your views are needed!
12.30: Volunteering: try your hand at some real volunteering around the Sumac: simple practical tasks to get stuck into.

1pm: Lunch: a delicious nutritious vegan meal for donations.

2 – 3.30: For the love of beer: the Sumac Bar collective have a wealth of experience of pouring pints in the Sumac and running bars at festivals and squat parties. Come and pick their brains, from how to pour a pint in the Sumac, to managing real ale in a field.

3.30 – 5pm: Entertain the masses: the secrets behind well attended, smooth running, fabulously entertaining events: from club nights to community parties. Will include planning and staging of an actual event.

2pm: Direct action: Are the issues of today are so important that signing petitions and going on marches is not enough? Come to this workshop to discuss issues around taking direct action, as well as practising simple techniques to make your action a success.

2- 6pm: Three course meal for 50: Have you ever wanted to cook glorious, tasty healthy food on a budget? Come along and exchange ideas about how to knock up a three course dinner for many guests, Sumac-style. You will be cooking food for the People's Kitchen in the evening.

6.30pm: People's kitchen: A delicious vegan meal, cooked up in this afternoons workshop. Suggested donations £3.

The Sumac Centre:
The Sumac Centre has been running in some guise or other for since 1989. It is a pretty unusual place, as it is run entirely by volunteers, and as far as possible without hierarchy. It provides a social centre and resources for the Forest Fields Community. It also provides invaluable support for grassroots campaigns for social & environmental justice and animal rights. It always needs more volunteers, and is a great way to meet people and do worthwhile stuff with your time off. Get involved!

Thanks everyone - next month you have a day of workshops around alternative technologies to look forward to - put 28th March in your diaries!