Zine 13 is here!
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ZINE CONTENT -PLAIN TEXT VERSION
CAMERADOS MUG-A-ZINE
It doesn’t pay for the leccy… but these are the things that really matter!
PUT THE KETTLE ON!
WRITTEN BY THE MOVEMENT – FOR THE MOVEMENT
ANOTHER PUBLIC LIVING ROOM?
GO ON THEN!
Totally fuelled by tea, good company, and whatever the heck this is!
READ BY CAMERADOS ALL OVER THE WORLD
PROBABLY THE COMFIEST REVOLUTION YOU’LL EVER JOIN!
CHIPPING IN IN CHIPPENHAM
NEWS • STORIES • PUBLIC LIVING ROOM SPOTLIGHT
OUR MOST COLLABORATIVE ISSUE YET!
As we keep saying (and with good reason), the best stories about Camerados come from the people who are making it happen. This Zine is practically bursting at the seams with content written by the movement – for the movement. We’ve got shenanigans in Swindon, Snoozing in Cinderfood, cushion fluffing in Canada and chipping in in Chippenham!
So read on for all the juicy details; it may be short, it may be long, it may have questionable grammar, it may have more waffle than the Birdseye Aisle at Iceland, but you know what? Who cares? We didn’t write it…
TAKING CAMERADOS TO NEW HEIGHTS
The “Chatty cabins” on the cable cars in Greenwich were one of 12,000 events for Loneliness Awareness Week. Organised by our friends at the Marmalade Trust. Hats off to them!
They asked us to pop up a Camerados’ Public Living Room down below!! And we had a steady stream of lovely strangers sit awhile, meet each other and discuss everything from Sikhism to Learning to reading in your Sixties (!!) to the Young British Artists of the 90s and more!!
NEWS
Just in case you haven’t heard, Camerados have just celebrated the launch of a very exciting new partnership with some of the biggest housing associations across the UK.
Together with SNG (Sovereign Network Group), Clarion Futures, Peabody Community Foundation and other member housing associations of Fusion21, who have funded the project, we are creating 100 Public Living Rooms in housing association neighbourhoods over the next two years.
We’re so excited to see where this takes the movement, and it’s hugely inspiring to meet the teams from these organisations and see the incredible grassroots community work they already do. We hope to learn from them as much as possible and add value to their work, which involves hundreds of thousands of homes across the country.
A GRUB AND A GRIPE – CUMNOCK
On a rather warm night during the last heatwave, the Public Living Room in Cumnock held a Grub and a Gripe. The weather may have been heated but the atmosphere in the room definitely wasn’t, as attendees respectfully discussed whether ‘labels’ are needed for people to feel part of their community. Many people from the community came along, agreed to disagree, ate pizza and met new folk in their community….. some of whom came back the next day for the community breakfast!
We have a little challenge for all of you eagle-eyed tea drinkers out there. How many pigeons can you spot in this Zine?
(It’s like Where’s Wally, but on a budget).
OH CRUMBS
WHO’S EATEN ALL THE BISCUITS?
If you’ve ever received a Public Living Room in a box, chances are it was packed by Vikki, who has packed and sent hundreds of Public Living Room Boxes over the years. We thought it was about time we asked the person behind the parcels a few important questions.
Have you ever looked at a pile of box contents and thought, “There’s no way that’s all fitting in there”?
Yes, with the newest cosy wool throws that were kindly donated to us… but they are huge!
What’s the worst thing to wrap or pack?
Mugs are definitely the worst thing to pack. They are fine in the boxes, but getting them wrapped up cosy & safe if sending out individually is a bit of a palaver!
What’s been your funniest box-packing moment?
Realising you’ve forgotten to add something once it’s all taped up, and you have to undo and go back in!
Which Public Living Room item feels the most “Camerados” to you?
Connect 4, gets folk playing & having fun together… regardless, it’s always competitive…
What’s your favourite thing about knowing where these boxes end up?
It’s usually where they are needed the most, bringing a little light & connection to those who need it.
You’ve packed boxes for so many Public Living Rooms. What has been your most memorable moment?
The total panic when you’ve just sent out the last one you had packed up, and Emily or Beav say, ‘box to go please’ and you have to start from scratch with the glue gun.
VIKKI’S FAVE BISCUIT IS AN OATFLIP*
*Is that one pack… or three, Vikki?
If you were a Public Living Room box item, what would you be and why?
A cushion!
Because I like making people feel cosy.
CAMERADOGS
(It’s not a real dog, is it?)
Meet ‘Dogstool’, our feature mutt for this Zine. Not only is he super cute, but he’s also a piece of Public Living Room furniture. He’s also perfect for putting your feet up with zero chance of him chewing your shoes. We’re still debating whether he’s an Irish ‘sitter’ or a ‘chair’ pei, but he’s perfectly happy being part of the furniture!
Clair from Cambridge sent us these photos and said:
“Here’s pics of Cameradog with his finished balaclava (I really don’t have the skills but just went with it). His brother Rufus got a bit over-excited and knocked him off his Public Living Room Box, but he’s still smiling.”
FOR PEOPLE WHO READ TOO FAST
Dogstool is a piece of furniture.
Please don’t attempt to pick him up with a poo bag.
CHIPPING IN IN CHIPPENHAM
12 YEAR OLD MATI FROM CHIPPENHAM TELLS US ABOUT HER CAMERADOS ADVENTURES SO FAR
“We have been doing Camerados living rooms in Chippenham for a few months now, and we recently did a crowdfunder to try and raise money for the amazing Camerados boxes. We set up a Public Living Room in a wonderful local cafe called Cousin Normans and held a quiz and a Latin jam session. People donated to Camerados to join the quiz or the Jam, and we also had a cake stall. It went incredibly well, and we think nearly £300 was raised; we did another one on the 1st of July because we all loved it. That will be more jam than quiz, as the musicians and the listeners had a lot of fun! Hopefully we can raise some money too.
We want to raise money because the Camerados box has given us so much, and has led to us connecting with others, so we wanted to try and give something back.
I am 12, and I find the public-friendly space created in these living rooms makes me feel much more hopeful about people and the community we live in. I also learnt how to juggle!
We have discussed our favourite David Bowie songs (Starman for me) and our favourite biscuits (Lemon Zest for me!).
More recently, a few other young people and I had a Camerados living room at our local Pride festival. We were holding a flag in the parade so had to leave it for a bit and were so happy to come back to find some people in the living room with a cup of tea!”
THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS JUST POPPING IN!
BY KARL FROM CLEETHORPES
OUR PUBLIC LIVING ROOM REMINDS US THAT WE DON’T NEED AN AGENDA.
VANEL have a small community hub building in Cleethorpes which was originally set up through the Big Local North Cleethorpes programme, which ran for over 11 years up to 2025. Our hub has a range of groups made up of local residents sharing their interests, but since 2024 we’ve been hosting a monthly Camerados Public Living Room to widen our participation and just let people meet and chat.
The regular session, however, is not when most of the chatting happens! Four days a week, our hub is a focus for people talking with each other about anything and everything. Problems are shared, fun is had together (alongside a drink and biscuit).
Games, quizzes, activities, crafts all take place in our hub, our activities shed and in our small garden. People come for one thing and stay for a while. Some people visit simply to see what is going on and then find themselves chatting away and returning.
There are no barriers – anyone can pop in, and there’s always the required tea and biscuits and someone to chat to. The monthly Camerados timeslot keeps us remembering that we don’t need an agenda but lets us promote what’s on offer, but anytime is chat time.
Some of our visitors join activities and form friendships (some have been on holiday together) and some go on to volunteering. But there’s never pressure and never an agenda. Everyone enjoys their time together.
TEA & SYMPATHY
THE PART OF THE ZINE WHERE YOU SHARE YOUR DILEMMAS… AND WE FIX ABSOLUTELY NOTHING
Dear Tea & Sympathy,
Everything’s gone to crumbs ‘ere at the Public Living Room in Noot Nabbit, Devon!
‘Yer never guess what! Last Thursday, someone brought in, none other than a pack of ‘Posh biscuits!’ Ooh arr, they were a bit fancier than our usual rich tea!
Well, now they’ve opened up a right can o’ worms. Coz folk are expecting it every week! One feller slipped three under his jumper ‘for later’ (we all saw, mind) and then he asked if we were getting any chocolate ones next week!
I’ve been boiling the kettle in this village hall for 30 years and enjoy the occasional extravagance, but this just takes the biscuit! Should we nip it in the bud before someone shows up with a tin o’ danish butter cookies?
Thanks, me lover!
Trevor Cottle, Noot Nabbit, Devon x
TREVOR,
I’m afraid it’s too late,
The revolution has begun…
I don’t think we’ve ever heard anyone complain about a decent biscuit before!
Don’t panic. Keep that kettle boiling and just hope nobody brings a pack of Viennese whirls…
VIVA LA REVOLUTION
TEA AND SYMPATHY
PUBLIC LIVING ROOM SPOTLIGHT
IN VIRGINIA
The New River Valley TimeBank hosted a Public Living Room alongside its twice-yearly Repair Cafe this spring. Tiffany, Lisa, Penny and Seth all enjoyed chatting, and Alastair enjoyed his chair! Alastair is our very own Cameradog who loves having our guests stroke his shiny black fur and admire his tricks!
IN OSWESTRY
Look what the Camerados at Oswestry Climate Action Hub have been up to in town! As well as cuddling a plushie Gorilla, they’ve been setting up their first pop-up Public Living Room outside the hub, with more planned very soon.
‘Who doesn’t need some of that?’ say the Oswestry Camerados
‘At a time when so much pushes us apart or keeps us isolated, places where people can slow down, talk and feel human together really matter.’
IN LULLINGTON
‘Our Lullington Neighbours group got together for an afternoon of cheese, wine, quizzes, games and a good old dose of Camerados company to celebrate Martin’s birthday. One of our favourite moments was when a woman called Ellie spotted the Public Living Room, wandered over to see what was going on and ended up joining in. We love it when that happens.’
IN WIGAN
This smashing bunch of Camerados were recently visited by the Daily Mirror. Ooh, get you!
The CommUnity Corner was highlighted as a place where connection already happens naturally, over brews, creative workshops, film clubs, poetry, LEGO, bike fixing and everyday chats between neighbours.
‘The Corner is a place of connection, for people to come together, being alongside each other. We have an open door policy – just pop in for a chat and a brew. We hope to give people a bit of purpose. It’s a community connector. I think it’s growing each year. We offer a bit of everything. It’s not political at all – there’s no judgement in this place.’
IN WORCESTER
The Public Living Room at Worcester Community Garden closes over winter because the garden floods, so reopening each year always feels like a special occasion.
This month, they opened the gates, put the kettle on and welcomed people back for the first Public Living Room of the season.
“Our first Public Living Room of the year was a great success yesterday morning!
If you fancy joining us, these will take place on the first and third Wednesdays of the month during the summer, during our normal opening hours of 10 and 2. Drop in for a cup of tea and a chat!”
Fancy a brew?
IN MALDON
“I honestly struggle to put into words the feeling of walking into the football club and being met by the buzz of conversation, laughter and genuine connection. There’s something really special about that energy.
This space has become a steady, welcoming place for so many people. It’s offered more than just warmth during the winter months – it’s brought comfort, companionship and a real sense of belonging. Watching it grow and flourish like this has been truly wonderful.”
IN SWINDON
Did you know that no permit is required to create a space for folks to come together?
Can you even get a ticket for parking a sofa? Who knows.
What we do know is that the Swindon Camerados popped their Public Living Room up in a car park last week, and there was enough tea and biscuits to keep them going all day. (We like to think the traffic warden might’ve stopped by for a brew.)
Here’s what the Swindon Camerados had to say about it:
“Last week, our Camerados Public Living Room was in full swing! With 17 attendees on the day, we welcomed some amazing conversations from members of the public and gave individuals the chance to slow down, have a hot drink and be themselves.
We will be hosting many more of these in different locations, so please stay tuned to find out where we will be next!”
IN EAST RENFREWSHIRE
‘Check out’ these Camerados! East Renfrewshire networks hosted their monthly Public Living Room at Morrisons in Giffnock.
Here’s what they had to say about the day:
‘It was great to see some new members as well as some familiar faces. The group learned how to play Uno thanks to one of the new Camerados showing everyone the ropes, and things quickly got very competitive!’
A BIT OF BISCUIT MAGIC IN NORWICH
If you happened to wander through Jenny Lind Park in Norwich on a random Saturday, you might have come across a Public Living Room beneath the old archway.
Rebecca, one of the local Camerados who sets up the space, shared:
‘A young man with a friend and halting English walked by with the usual mix of hesitant curiosity and the visible pleasure taken in something so eccentric as a pop-up living room in his local park. He couldn’t stay, he said, and disappeared towards the shops. Ten minutes later, he returned with biscuits. With a beaming smile, he thanked us for being there and, handing us the biscuits, expressed the need to make a contribution’
A GREAT GET TOGETHER IN ROCHDALE
A merry bunch of Camerados in Rochdale had their very first Public Living Room alongside a great get-together.
We’ll let them tell the story….
“Today was our first ever Public Living Room at River Beal Café and Community Hub, and what a hoot! People stopped off for a brew, natter and showed their competitive sides in a few rounds of Connect4! Thank you to all who joined us to share their afternoon, told a few jokes (groan) and helped us get through the biscuits. Thank you also to the Association of Camerados for supplying the box of joy and supporting us to host our first Public Living Room. It won’t be our last!”
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED
…to CLICK ON THE LINK and get involved @camerados_org Official: TikTok, Instagram, X, Facebook | Linktree
Thanks to everyone who shared stories, photos, dogs, Camerados adventures and most importantly, sofas!
This Zine only exists because amazing folk like you keep creating Public Living Rooms around the world.
If you’d like to write your own page, get in touch with
victoria@camerados.org
A read-easy version will be available on our website at camerados.org/news
