Decentered Media is hosting a new weekly Community Media Café at Bishop Street Chapel Café in Leicester, starting at 10.30am on Thursday 14th May 2026.
The café will take place each Thursday from 10.30am to 12pm. It is intended as an informal meeting point for people who are interested in community media, local storytelling, civic communication and practical forms of media participation across Leicester and the East Midlands.
The aim is simple. We want to create a regular space where people can meet, talk, share ideas, ask questions and find out how to become involved in community media projects. This might include radio, local publishing, photography, podcasting, community reporting, audio production, neighbourhood newsletters, oral history, events coverage, or practical support for existing community media groups.
The café will be relevant to people who want to volunteer, learn new skills, support local media, develop a project idea, or connect with others who care about independent and community-led communication. It will also be useful for people who are already active in local projects and want to share experience, build partnerships or find collaborators.
Community media works best when people are able to take part on accessible and realistic terms. Not everyone arrives with technical confidence, formal training or a clear project plan. Sometimes the first step is simply a conversation over coffee with someone who can explain what is possible, who else is involved, and where help might be needed.
Through the café, Decentered Media will help connect people with projects such as Soar Sound, the Evington Echo and other relevant community media initiatives. These projects each offer different ways to contribute, from writing and interviewing to audio production, local research, event support, editing, governance, networking and advocacy.
The main benefit of attending is the opportunity to build connections. The café will support networking, skills development and information sharing in a practical, conversational setting. It is not a lecture, a workshop or a formal meeting. It is a place to find out what is happening, meet people with similar interests, and identify realistic next steps.
At a time when local media is under pressure, community media offers a different approach. It allows people to tell stories from their own experience, share useful information, support civic discussion and strengthen local relationships. It is not about broadcasting at people. It is about helping people communicate with one another in ways that are grounded, trusted and relevant.
The first Community Media Café takes place on Thursday 14th May 2026, from 10.30am to 12pm, at Bishop Street Chapel Café in Leicester. Anyone interested in community media, local communication, volunteering, skills development or civic storytelling is welcome to come along.
No previous media experience is needed. A willingness to listen, share and take part is enough.