Good For Nothing, Leeds

GFN_Bird

A Good Thing is coming to Leeds. Tim Frenneaux (@timineaux) wants to tell you a little about that Good Thing and about why it’s coming …

The Thing in question is a local chapter of the Good For Nothing crew, an informal network of talented folk who get together to fashion design led, creative and digital solutions for good causes. If you want to be all on trend about it, it is basically a popup creative agency.

Good For Nothing have a distinctive approach to problem solving. They co-create during weekend long gigs. You read that right: “weekend long”. If you’re quick on the draw you’ve already worked out that for many of the crew this will mean working a 12 day stretch.

So how do they manage this feat? The first clue is in the word “gig”. A more prosaic term would be Hack, or Sprint, as creation is very much rooted in the Agile methodology. However, by mixing a hefty dose of fun into the mix in the form of food, drink and live music, the Good For Nothing folk mark themselves out. This is no po-faced gathering of worthies or pale-faced cluster of geekery. This is a bunch of people eager to do good things, and have a lot of fun at the same time.

For many, it’s the people that are the main draw. We swirl around in virtual gangs, where talented folk are ten a penny. But how often do you have an excuse to sit down with them and wrestle with a pressing issue? Or share a beer and reflect on the achievements of the day? Good for Nothing is that excuse you’ve been looking for.

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Plus of course, there is the motivation of doing good by providing access to the sort of talent that normally commands hefty fees, to good causes that are tackling important issues. There are 3 basic rules for the causes that can be supported. They need to be:

A disruptive idea – that is tackling a social and/or environmental issue
Up for the party – willing to open up and let the Good for Nothing crew work freely on their brief
Up and running – concept is proven with an owner/team

Have a look at the type of things that have been supported elsewhere. If you are already racing ahead imagining all manner of possibiilities that could stem from such a beginning, such as this, then you definitely need to join the crew. Come along to our first Social at 8pm on Wednesday 30th October at the Belgrave Music Hall and Kitchen meet other crew members, chew the fat ( not to mention some tasty treats from our supporters Fish&) and have a laugh.

That’s the Thing covered. Now, why Leeds? On one level, it’s a case of keeping up with the Joneses. London have been doing Good for a couple of years, Manchester have been doing for a year, and of course Bristol, Edinburgh and many other cities also have their own Chapters. So what of Leeds? The city has been beavering away with it’s own creative solutions, from the digitally enabled like CultureVultures and Leeds Inspired to more tangible happenings like Bettakultcha, Elsie and Playful Leeds. These have showcased an amazing pool of talented folk, all working in their own way on their own things. The addition of Good for Nothing to the mix complements these well, weaving further practical connections between the good folk involved.

The Leeds Chapter is brought to you by Mark Shayler, (aka @greenape, co-founder of the Do Lectures author of Do Disrupt) and Tim Frenneaux (aka @timineaux video artist, sub-comandante of the Projector Liberation Front, joiner of dots and maker of tea)

If you want to get involved, get in touch via twitter @GFNLeeds or sign up to the Chapter email list