What is the name of your red tent? Brighton Red Tent

Where in the country is it? Brighton, East Sussex

Where do you meet? Our Red Tent is nomadic so it moves around the homes of women in the Red Tent community (the location for the next month’s tent is announced via email 3 weeks prior). Most gatherings are in the Brighton/Hove area and in places with access to public transport. 

When do you meet? We currently have three regular Brighton Red Tents each month. Our Saturday Red Tent meets on the Saturday nearest to the New Moon and usually runs from about 1:30-6pm with a shared meal at the end. Our Weekday Red Tent meets near or on the new moon in the day during the week. Our Evening Red Tent meets on an evening in the week from 6.30pm – 9pm. We also have a Mamababy Red Tent for women with children but this depends on enough hands on deck to support those that need replenishing while being held.

What do you do in your red tents? Our Red Tents tend to take place in one of the women’s homes, so there is usually plenty of tea on the go for starters! Once the women have all arrived and we have had a moment to gather ourselves, we begin with a checking in circle, so all women have a chance to speak and to introduce themselves and how they are feeling. Thereafter the women are asked to share what they feel they need from the Red Tent for that day and to present anything that may have brought as an offering to the day, for example a song, poem, a story. Although we usually have two women who have offered to lead the circle, this is merely to facilitate and allow things to evolve from the group itself. Sometimes we might have a topic for the afternoon from which discussions and sharing arise. Sometimes a woman may offer to lead a craft activity, but mostly we simply allow the day to unfold spontaneously. Once the afternoon has run its course we end with a closing circle and a shared potluck dinner.

Do you ask the women to bring anything, wear red or make a donation? We invite women to wear something red if they wish, and to bring anything they would like to share with the group, for example materials for a craft activity, or some chocolate brownies! 

Contact details – brightonredtent@gmail.com