The Factory, Bristol

"The Factory Social Centre, Anarchist Squatted Self-managed Space.

We welcome community group use for meetings, workshops, activities and events. There is no charge for use of the space but in order to maintain the building we rely on donations and your participation in care taking. The ground floor and first floor are public social centre space, the above floors are residential only.

We aim to create a non-hierarchical, safer space for everyone. You are responsible for yourself and your friends’. Respect the space, please clean up after yourself and respect others using the space. Don’t let your substance use/misuse affect those around you. Please leave your prejudices outside the door. If you see something that needs to be done for the space – you can do it! If you need help, just ask, we’re all in this together."

Warzone Collective, Belfast

"Warzone Collective began in 1984 when a few local musicians decided to pool their efforts, seize the time and get their own venue, practice rooms and social space. By 1986 the Collective opened its first premises in Belfast which provided a vegetarian cafe/drop in centre (Giros), practice and office space, venue and screen printing workshop. It developed organically along DiY lines and soon became a focal point for anarchists, punks, radicals, bohemians and other n’er-do-wells. In 1991 the Collective moved to a larger and more ambitious venue. Over the years thousands of people passed through the doors and were exposed to new ideas such as anarchism and DiY politics and the Centre became the counter-cultural hub for the greater Belfast area and beyond. Towards the end of 2003 the Centre closed for a number of different reasons but it left a gap in radical Belfast culture. In 2007 discussions began and eventually in 2009 the Collective has reformed and is going through the process of trying to establish a new venue.

Warzine is a DiY newsheet produced by the Warzone Collective periodically since the mid-1980′s. The newsheet is free and uncensored and offers news of what the collective are up to, reports on local struggle and international issues as well as personal opinion. Articles, rants and opinions as well as graphics are always welcome. Send contributions to warzonecollective@riseup.net and mark the subject box ‘warzine’.

Annual festivities were recently resumed this year and hopefully Warzone Fest will be an ongoing event in the future. Warzone Gig Collective is now putting on regular gigs. To get in touch contact warzonegigcollective@gmail.com or visit the fb page."

Next to Nowhere, Liverpool

"Next To Nowhere/Liverpool Social Centre is a volunteer-run, radical, do-it-yourself social centre.
We run a vegan cafe every Saturday afternoon, hold regular film nights and occasional other events, and offer space for groups to hold meetings & events.
We have computers & wi-fi internet access that you're welcome to use, and a library of radical books."

Star and Shadow Cinema, Newcastle

"At the Star and Shadow Cinema, we programme films, gigs, live art and exhibitions. Anything that we believe that is new, different, underground, original, and, we hope, good."

Freedom Press, London

"Freedom Press, which comprises Freedom Newspaper, Freedom Bookshop and Freedom Publishing, is a longstanding anarchist publisher based in Whitechapel, East London. Founded in 1886 it offered a much needed outlet for radical ideas and a meeting place for the anarchist thinkers of the day, and we seek to continue that tradition today along with promoting and supporting current social and political struggles. We are the largest anarchist publishing house in the nation and the oldest of its kind in the English speaking world.

We publish a range of radical literature including classics from such anarchist heavyweights as Kropotkin, Malatesta, Rudolph Rocker, Alexander Berkman and Colin Ward, to the history of the Spanish revolution and the Makhnovist movement, as well as biographies on Zapata, Bakunin and Nechaev, George Orwell, Willliam Godwin and William Blake, and is home of the ever popular Anarchist Quiz Book. Alongside books, we also publish a fortnightly newspaper which remains the oldest and only regular anarchist newspaper in circulation in the UK. It covers all aspects of the anarchist movement as well as news and issues, from a radical perspective, relevant to people’s everyday lives."

The Cowley Club, Brighton

"The Cowley Club is a social centre on London Road in Brighton. It houses a cafe and bookshop during the day, a members bar during the evenings. It also has a library and is a base for a variety of other projects.
The club is collectively owned and run as a base for those involved in grassroots social change and those sympathetic to such activities, giving us control over our social space and resources. It is run entirely by volunteers - no one gets paid, and no one is making any profit. Instead, we are trying to provide a much needed alternative to everything else around us."

Kebele, Bristol

"Kebele is based in Easton, Bristol, and since 1995 has provided space for the development of radical ideas and activities, community campaigns, and international solidarity.

Kebele means “community place” in Amharic, an Ethiopian language. The term refers to community institutions, which dealt with their own needs & concerns, such as justice, health and community democracy. During the revolution in Grenada in 1979, Rastafarians involved in the struggle used the term “kebele” to refer to the community centres in each neighbourhood from which, in theory at least, the revolution was based. In 1983, the USA invaded the tiny island of Grenada to crush the rebellion.

The founders of Kebele were inspired by these meanings of the word, and current members are too."

The Sumac Centre, Nottingham

"The Sumac Centre provides resources and a meeting place for local groups and individuals campaigning for human and animal rights, the environment, peace and co-operation world-wide.
Established in the mid 1980s as the Rainbow Centre, Sumac works independently of, but in co-operation with, other groups both locally and nationally."

The Initiative Factory, Liverpool

"The Initiative Factory/CASA was set-up in the aftermath of the Liverpool Dockworkers Dispute to uphold the aims and objectives of the ‘Sacked Liverpool Dockworkers’ in promoting ‘Fairness and Justice’ for all.

We were established as an Industrial and Provident Society in 1998 with the objectives of relieving poverty sickness and hardship and advancing education in Merseyside. In particular, the community work we do serves unemployed and socially excluded, both working and work-less, residents of Liverpool."

The Common Place, Leeds

"Our aim is to create a place in the city centre in which together people can enjoy a sense of community, affordable entertainment and food; a non-commercial place to relax, talk, be creative, meet people and find information on political campaigns, issues and actions.

The Common Place is run horizontally and voluntarily. By this we mean without leaders and hierarchies and by everyone for everyone. Acting and thinking in a non-authoritarian and non-discriminatory way does not necessarily come naturally, and since we are educated to blindly follow rules and leaders, we believe it important to develop the principles and skills needed for non-authoritarian working practices and relationships. The Common Place is committed to radical social change and equality.

Nobody gets paid, and nobody is making any profit. There is no 'executive': the fortnightly members' meetings on Thursdays are the main decision making body. This reflects the kind of society we want to live in – it’s all about self-organisation and mutual aid.

The Common Place attempts to be flexible, pragmatic, open to creativity, experimentation and new/different ideas; people are involved for different reasons with different expectations and so it's constantly changing and evolving.

An atmosphere of tolerance and respect is of the utmost importance here. Any kind of discriminatory, aggressive or violent behaviour is not welcome. The Common Place is open to all individuals to use, but representational political parties, profit-focused or repressive organisations may not use the space.

This is an inclusive place where we ask members and guests to respect diversity. We want everyone to feel comfortable here."

1 in 12 Club, Bradford

1 in 12 Club