Born or Made

Losing International House means weakening support systems for our local Brixton businesses. Elle Moss from @bornormade explains how lonely owning a businesses can be, and the challenges that people can encounter. Her organisation works on providing a community-led, peer support group that allows local businesses to develop & combat loneliness. International House has been providing affordable communal workspaces for local Brixton-based businesses to expand, and fight the loneliness that comes with running an organisation. Literally breaking down the walls and doors that separate us, International House has fostered floor-wide collaboration and community-building. Let's fight for our local Brixton businesses - we cannot let them be pushed out. Sign up to our mailing list (link in bio) to stay updated on calls to action - we have a few actions coming up and we need your help! Please share and comment to get International House back in people's feeds! #Brixton #Lambeth #saveinternationalhouse #Gentrification #localelections

@bornormade , an International House tenant organisation, has been residing in the building since 2024. Experiencing the heightened pressures put on local businesses over the pandemic, this organisation was specifically launched to support our Brixton businesses. Through fortnightly meetings, socials, development & community opportunities, they have been providing holistic support to our communities and strengthening our local economy. International House has created a space for community-led, supportive initiatives like Born or Made* that we absolutely cannot risk losing. It's time to put Brixton & our community first! With a NOC Lambeth, we need to ensure that the International House tenants remain as visible as possible. Share @bornormade 's work and sign up to our mailing list - link in bio. #brixton #lambeth #localelections #Gentrification #saveinternationalhouse

“I learnt sooooo much!” This week, our member Sophie Scott gave one of those talks you keep thinking about on the way home. Sophie works with people on voice and communication, and she made a strong case for something most of us overlook: we’ve been communicating on autopilot since we were born. The habits are deep, and we rarely question them. The thing that landed most for me was the idea of regulate, relate, and reason. In a difficult conversation, you cannot access clear thinking if your nervous system is already dysregulated. You have to calm yourself first, find some genuine connection with the other person, and only then can the actual conversation happen properly. Most of us skip straight to the reasoning and wonder why nothing lands. She also walked us through some small language shifts that make a real difference. Phrases like “I wonder if we could...” or “I notice something’s shifted...” or “Would you be willing to...” create space rather than pressure. And swapping “but” for “and” or “yet” changes whether someone feels heard or dismissed. Simple things. Easy to forget in the moment. Worth practising. Thanks, Sophie, and to everyone who came along today. If you would like to give a talk, or visit a meeting - hit up the link in our bio! #Communication #Leadership #BornOrMade #ProfessionalDevelopment

We are (in the process of testing) Hybrid 🙌 This Wednesday, I am trialling Hybrid for Born or Made in Brixton. We’ve had many requests to join the meetup virtually. So, let’s give it a go. 👆Sign up on the website, and I’ll send you a link before Wednesday, 15th, 8:30 BST

💥🚀 Most people aren’t taught how to actually show up, but it makes all the difference. Next Wednesday (15th), Sophie Scott is joining Born or Made to break it down. She’ll share practical ways to help communicate with more authority, use your voice and body language more effectively, and the one I’m particularly looking forward to: navigate tricky conversations with confidence If you want to show up better in your work and relationships, this one’s worth it. 🙏👆Please do secure your space, link in bio!

Today we gathered outside Lambeth Town Hall to demand that @lambeth_council ’s planning committee #PostponeTheVote on the fate of International House. @londonsquaredevelopments went as far as measuring the busyness of International House over the holiday period to justify selling it! This can NOT the evidence that the committee is using to make a decision on International House. Tenants deserve to be heard. This decision cannot be made fairly on the evidence presented. We need more time! Thank you to everyone who showed up tonight. Your energy was POWERFUL! ✊🏾💚 Make sure to sign up to our mailing list for updates on the hearing and next actions! #saveinternationalhouse #brixton #Gentrification #sudan

Grooveschool x 3Space presents: WHAT’s GOING ON 🎙️ What’s Going On is a Grooveschool podcast in partnership with 3Space exploring music, identity, creativity and community through conversation. In episode one, one of 3Space’s Community Managers, Tahlee Johnson, sits down with Elle Moss, founder of @bornormade , a regular networking meet-up that brings people together to build a strong sense of belonging and helps build solid connections between freelancers, businesses, charities, and solopreneurs, all within a local community. Part one focuses on Elle’s early relationship with music, identity, and the experiences that shaped her creative path. They explore formative influences, coming-of-age moments, and the deeper questions behind her work. 
 To listen to the full episode, head to the link in our bio! 🎬 Credits Presented by: Tahlee Johnson Guest: Elle Moss (Born or Made) Recorded at: Grooveschool — The ArcHive Studio, London Edited by: Michelle Addison Produced by: Grooveschool (2026)

😍 Here’s Becky — and Becky is amazing. Becky Mursell is a brilliant portrait photographer, an OG Born or Made member, and a self-confessed cycling fanatic 🚴‍♀️ Now, she’s bringing it all together — blending photography and storytelling to reframe how cycling is perceived. And the best part? You can be part of it. There’s a Crowdfund live (link in the bio 👆), and it’s all been brought to life through what we believe in most — collaboration. This is the power of community. This is Born or Made. We couldn’t be prouder ❤️ Shoutout to the dream team behind it:
Marika Hoogenboom⁩
Andrea Maloney⁨
Riccardo De Franceschi⁨
Harriet Beaumont
Sarah Baldwin
Mary-Helen Young #cyclingcommunity #womenwhocycle #cyclinglife #urbancycling

Let’s start a wave of appreciation. 🌊 After a powerful talk from Jo Bristow at Born or Made in Brixton, I’ve been thinking about the people who shape who we become, the ones who inspire us, guide us and quietly push us to be better. When I was 14, someone put Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela in my hands. I read it cover to cover and felt more inspired than I ever had before. My teenage years were full of doubt, but here was a quietly determined man standing firm in his beliefs through extraordinary moments in history. Around that same time, my incredible grandfather, Major George Drew, and even my next-door neighbour, became my role model. He taught me about integrity, honesty and courage. About standing up for what’s right and stepping forward confidently… “even if you’re quaking in your boots.” More recently, someone else has become a powerful voice in my life: my son. As he prepares to step into the world of work, he carries so many of the values I hold dear. And he’s not afraid to hold me to account too. I’m incredibly proud of the man he’s becoming. So this post is a Joel Edwards appreciation post (photo taken this week on his 22nd birthday). 🎉 Now over to you… Who’s had a monumental impact on your life? The person who’s shaped your choices, your drive, your courage. Let’s hear your appreciation. 👇

🫶 We were so grateful to host Jo Bristow at Born or Made for a brilliant session on imposter syndrome. The biggest takeaway? Nobody is immune. Not CEOs. Not creatives. Not people with 20+ years’ experience. Jo shared a simple framework (inspired by the work of Peter Hawkins) that really stuck with me: Authority. Presence. Impact. • Authority – the experience, skills and perspective you’ve built over years • Presence – how you show up in the moment (listening, asking, connecting) • Impact – the footprint you leave: what people think, feel or do after meeting you And one line I’m keeping close for every proposal, pitch or price quote: “You’re not charging for the hours, you’re charging for the years.” Trust your value, show up with intent, and lean on your cheerleaders. What helps you quiet the imposter voic

💥 On 4th March, we’re hosting a very special CPD session with Jo Bristow, who’s returning specifically to unpack, challenge, and ultimately dispel imposter syndrome. We can’t recommend this enough. Even if you don’t struggle with it, chances are someone you know does. Booking link in the bio 👆 #MarchEvents #LiveSession #LearningTogether #ThoughtLeadership #SkillsForLife

💥 Start 2026 STRONG At Born or Made, we believe we’re stronger when we come together to share ideas, talk honestly about what we’re building, and support each other through the uncertainty that inevitably comes with it. Start the year on the right footing by joining us this Wednesday at our IRL Brixton meeting. There’s still time to sign up and come along. Link in bio 🙌