What we've been UP to

Homework Club

Following the successful pilot of our Homework Club with Eurostar last term, we're delighted to annouce that we have expanded the initiative to coincide with the newly started school year.

As well as Eurostar hosting the Club on Thursday evenings, Grant Thornton will now be hosting the Club on Wednesdays and combined we are now offering spaces for 30 young people from the local area.

Initially set up to simply provide a quiet space for young people to study who didn't have it at home, over the last few months the Club has evolved to include one-on-one tutition sessions for those young people who ask for it. From Maths and Physics to History and French, volunteers from Grant Thornton and Eurostar have been helping the young people with their studies. We are in talks with other member businesses to see if they can host on other evenings but we are always looking for any individuals who would like to volunteer to help. If you are interested in taking part please email us by following this link for more informattion.

Nordic City Network

On the 12th September we hosted 45 representatives from The Nordic City Network, a think tank for urban and regional planners in the Nordics. We gave them a tour of the area, introduced them to the Wellbeing Walk and they were given an introduction to the King's Cross Estate by Maxine from the Visitors Centre. They were all very positive about the activity we have been undertaking and are keen to take some of the learnings back with them. Our hope is to continue to welcome international networks to the area moving forward.

Urban Partners Annual Report Event

As mentioned in the last UPdate, on the evening of the 10th November 2016 we will be holding an event to mark the release of our Annual Report for the last year. We will be sending out the formal invites next week, but if you would like to attend, do let us know by emailing us here. We've secured a very exclusive venue and will be annoucing details in the invite when it is sent out. We hope to see you there!

UP Employee Perks

Connect with other UP Employees

We're always looking for ways to make it easier for employees of our member businesses to meet, which led to a conversation with newly launched app, Causr, a location-based app that introduces its users to others within the local area. It aims to make finding nearby professionals with similar jobs, interests and ambitons easy and encourage chance encounters and make missed opportunities a thing of the past. 

To help our employees connect, share knowledge and collaborate we have set up a group for Urban Partners on Causr, giving early access to the platform. To give it a go click here. We'd love to hear how you get on and whether you find it a useful tool. It is only available on i-phones at the moment but the android version is on the way.

Try Doddle for free

Doddle is the easy way to collect or return your online shopping and send a parcel. Consolidated deliveries to Doddle lower CO2 emissions, improve air quality and reduce the carbon footprint of an area.

These are an improtant issue for us and, with a Doddle store located at the front of King's Cross station, we've teamed up with them to offer all UP employees the opportunity to trial their Doddle Unlimited package for free. To be able to pick up your online shopping for free, and recieve 10% of sending parcels, for two months, simply visit their website and enter the code: URBANPARTNERS.

Move your FRAME for free

If you are looking to improve your fitness, then FRAME at King's Cross could well be the answer. "Put on earth to make sure keeping fit and healthy never feels like a chore", the team at Frame are offering all UP employees a complimentary class in their King's Cross studio. All you need to do to redeem the offer is create an account on their website, chose a class and enter the code URBANPARTNERSFRAME. The offer is available until the last day of October.

Meet Marcus Waering

On the 4th October, Marcus Waering will be at the Gilbert Scott, signing copies of his new book, Marcus at Home, for guests dining for lunch. The signing will take place between 12pm and 3pm and will only be available to those who have made a reservation. To do so, visit their website or call 0207 278 3888 and make sure to quote 'Meet Marcus' at the time of booking.

Celebrate National Champagne Week

National Champagne Week runs from the 1st October to the 7th October, and to help you celebrate the Searcys Champagne Bar at St Pancras International will be hosting a series of fizz inspired events throughout the week. Whether it's Quizz and Fizz or Tattinger Tasting or simply attending the Kick Off party, there's plenty of ways to celebrate the most bubbly week of the year. Find out more here.

Have a free drink at the Fellow

Ever been to The Fellow on York Way? It may well be worth giving it a go. Sign up on their website and your first drink will be on them. Full information available here.

Say Farewell to the King's Cross Pond

The fantastic King's Cross Bathing Pond is set to close in October, so take the opportunity to swim in the UK's first man-made fresh water public bathing pond before it is too late. Book tickets here.

Explore rest, noise, activity and stillness at Kings Place

On the 7th of October, International collective Hubbub, supported by the Wellcome Trust, will be coming to Kings Place to present an evening of new artistic explorations of rest, noise, activity and stillness in music, poetry, performance and film from some of the most exciting practitioners in the field .The programme features a new work for string quartet by Antonia Barnett-McIntosh, a new performance by Emma Bennett, new collaborative compositions for voice and electronics by James Weeks, Bill Thompson, James Wilkes and EXAUDI, improvisation by SJ Fowler and Phil Minton and a video work by Tamarin Norwood. To book tickets, visit their website. 

Make your own Terrarium

Throughout October, The St Pancras Renaissance Hotel will be holding 'Make Your Own Terrarium' masterclasses in partnership with Lavender Green Flowers. Running every Tuesday, the classes will offer the chance to learn about the art of terrarium planting, a fortunate accident invented in London almost 200 years ago by Nathaniel Ward. You will learn how to pot a terrarium filled with ferns, moss, stones, pebbles and succulents that you can then take home. The classes are free and include a complimentary glass of wine on arrival but spaces must be reserved by visiting their website.