The Quest

"Straight Jacket" Book Brunch sessions
2016-07-10 10:00 - 13:00 (Europe/London) | The School of Social Entrepreneurs, The Fire Station, 139 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2HZ, United Kingdom
Conversation for curious minds
Curious minds come together to explore the personal implications of the new book “Straight Jacket – How to be Gay and Happy” by Matthew Todd.
Written by Matthew Todd, editor of Attitude, the UK’s best- selling gay magazine, Straight Jacket is a revolutionary clarion call for gay men, the wider LGBT community, their friends and family. Part memoir, part ground-breaking polemic, it looks beneath the shiny facade of contemporary gay culture and asks if gay people are as happy as they could be – and if not, why not?
Meticulously researched, courageous and life-affirming, Straight Jacket offers invaluable practical advice on how to overcome a range of difficult issues. It also recognises that this is a watershed moment, a piercing wake-up-call-to-arms for the gay and wider community to acknowledge the importance of supporting all young people – and helping older people to transform their experience and finally get the lives they really want.

There are 3 “Straight Jacket” Book Brunch sessions:   Shame, Escape, Recovery
You can attend all or just one of the sessions:
Learn from the book, the book brunch leader Darren Brady (Co-founder The Quest) and the other participants.
Each session will explore the content of the book, allow for personal stories be aired and for croissants to be shared. Its all about community, conversation, connection.
It promises to be an insightful, entertaining and connecting way to spend a late Sunday morning.
Brunch: (Optional) Coffee, Tea, Croissants from 10am
Book: Conversation from 11am – 1pm
Dates
Shame: Sunday 10th July
Escape: Sunday 17th July
Recovery: Sunday 24th July
Registration:
To secure your place email darren@darrenbrady.com
£15 per Book Brunch Session. Cash only. Pay on the door.
Venue: SSE, The Fire Station 139 Tooley St, London Bridge, London.
Participants will need to purchase their own copy of the book and are requested to bring breakfast items to share

First Tuesday Socials: Pleasure
2016-07-05 19:30 - 21:30 UTC | Konditor & Cook, The Gherkin, 30 St Mary Axe , London, London, EC3A 8BF, United Kingdom
Our monthly INTRODUCTION socials events are a great way to stay connected with other programme participants, as well as meet a diverse range of gay men – away from the barriers and criticism of the generic London scene.
Held on the first Tuesday of every month, at Konditor & Cook (The Gherkin), the INTRODUCTION socials are also an ideal night out for those who are ‘curious’ about The Quest and who want to mix and mingle with an emerging community of gay men who are beginning to ask themselves some fundamental questions and long for a community environment.
Its all about catching up, swapping stories and having a laugh without preconceived ideas, presumptions or expectations.
Join the conversation by signing up to the online group – Meetup
“An ideal way to find out more about the Quest, meet the facilitators and socialise with a friendly and open group of gay / bi men. Usually 40-60 participants”

First Tuesday Socials
2016-07-05 19:30 - 21:30, 2016-06-05 19:30 - 21:30, 2016-05-05 19:30 - 21:30, 2016-04-05 19:30 - 21:30, 2016-03-05 19:30 - 21:30, 2016-02-05 19:30 - 21:30, 2016-01-05 19:30 - 21:30 UTC | Konditor & Cook, The Gherkin, 30 St Mary Axe , London, London, EC3A 8BF, United Kingdom
Our monthly INTRODUCTION socials events are a great way to stay connected with other programme participants, as well as meet a diverse range of gay men – away from the barriers and criticism of the generic London scene.
Held on the first Tuesday of every month, at Konditor & Cook (The Gherkin), the INTRODUCTION socials are also an ideal night out for those who are ‘curious’ about The Quest and who want to mix and mingle with an emerging community of gay men who are beginning to ask themselves some fundamental questions and long for a community environment.
Its all about catching up, swapping stories and having a laugh without preconceived ideas, presumptions or expectations.
Join the conversation by signing up to the online group – Meetup

Quest Program
2016-06-19 10:00 - 17:30, 2016-06-18 10:00 - 18:00 UTC | The School of Social Entrepreneurs, The Fire Station, 139 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2HZ, United Kingdom
(doors open at 9.30am)

Quest Program
2016-06-17 19:00 - 22:00 UTC | The School of Social Entrepreneurs, The Fire Station, 139 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2HZ, United Kingdom
(doors open at 6.30pm)

Rising Strong Workshop for Gay Men
2015-12-12 - 2015-12-13 | The School of Social Entrepreneurs, The Fire Station, 139 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2HZ, United Kingdom
Powered by Eventbrite

The Quest Program
2015-11-06 - 2015-11-08 | The School of Social Entrepreneurs, The Fire Station, 139 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2HZ, United Kingdom

The Quest Program
2015-09-18 - 2015-09-20 | The School of Social Entrepreneurs, The Fire Station, 139 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2HZ, United Kingdom
Event management for The Quest Workshop (2015) powered by Eventbrite

The Quest Workshop for Black and Minority Ethnic Gay & Bisexual Men
2015-09-04 19:00 - 2015-09-06 17:30, 2015-06-05 19:00 - 2015-06-07 17:30, 2015-05-01 19:00 - 2015-05-03 17:30, 2015-03-06 19:00 - 2015-03-08 17:30 UTC | The School of Social Entrepreneurs, The Fire Station, 139 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2HZ, United Kingdom
Public Health England (PHE) has commissioned The Quest to deliver its flagship “The Quest Workshop” to Black African, Black Caribbean, mixed Black and other ethnicity (BME) gay men, and men who have sex with men (MSM).
The delivery of the workshops is part of a wider PHE project evaluating different models of direct behaviour change interventions for BME gay men and MSM, aimed at reducing health risk behaviour and building resilience. The workshop also provides an opportunity for BME gay men and MSM to be come together with others in a safe and friendly space.
For more information and to register, click here.

The Quest Retreat
2015-07-03 - 2015-07-05 | London
The Quest Countryside Escape is a chance to leave the city behind to relax and reconnect with a fantastic group of gay men. Set in acres of woodland, gardens and rolling countryside, the Dunford House Estate in West Sussex will be our very own home for this long weekend escape.
We will explore in typical ‘Quest style’, where we find ourselves in our life – the trials and triumphs, the breakthroughs and breakdowns within the peace and tranquility of this wonderful countryside estate.
When: Fri 3 – Sun 5 July 2015
For more information and booking details, click here

The Quest Workshop
2015-04-24 - 2015-04-26, 2015-02-20 - 2015-02-22 | The School of Social Entrepreneurs, The Fire Station, 139 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2HZ, United Kingdom

LoveTonic: Connection and Intimacy beyond Hook-Ups (An evening for Black and Asian Men who Love Men)
2015-02-11 18:30 - 22:00 UTC | InSpire – The Crypt at St Peter’s, Liverpool Grove, London, London, SE17 2HH, United Kingdom
Online event registration for LoveTonic: Connection and Intimacy beyond Hook-Ups. An evening exploration for Black and Asian Men who Love Men. powered by Eventbrite

First Tuesday Socials
2014-12-02 18:30 - 22:00, 2014-11-04 18:30 - 22:00, 2014-10-07 18:30 - 22:00, 2014-09-02 18:30 - 22:00 UTC | Cafe Milan, 123 Shaftsbury Avenue , London , WC2H 8AH, United Kingdom
Our monthly socials events are a great way to stay connected with other workshop participants, as well as meet a diverse range of gay men – away from the barriers and criticism of the generic London scene.
Held on the first Tuesday of every month, the socials are also an ideal night out for those who are ‘curious’ about The Quest and who want to mix and mingle with an emerging community of gay men who are beginning to ask themselves some fundamental questions and long for a community environment.
Its all about catching up, swapping stories and having a laugh without preconceived ideas, presumptions or expectations.
Join the conversation by signing up to the online group – Meetup or simply confirm you are coming by registering here – Eventbrite. You can use either one to let us know you are coming.

Weekend Exploration Workshop
2014-11-28 - 2014-11-30, 2014-09-12 - 2014-09-14 | The School of Social Entrepreneurs, The Fire Station, 139 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2HZ, United Kingdom
Event registration for The Quest Workshop (2014) powered by Eventbrite

Make Room for Love
2014-08-30 09:30 - 17:30 UTC | Neal’s Yard Meeting Rooms, 14 Neal's Yard, London, WC2H 9DP, United Kingdom
What are your desires and fantasies around love and intimacy?
How can you increase your capability to trust and feel connected ?
What holds you away from your ability to love and be loved?

In this one-day workshop, the intention is to help develop your ability to cultivate healthy loving relationships whilst authentically expressing your physical and emotional needs. We explore beliefs, thoughts, feelings and behaviours that are holding us back from connection and intimacy. We will be working with both the body and the mind.
We will inquire into Love as a natural force for expansion and healing. Exploring what Love means to you and how it shows up in relationships with yourself and others. In a safe and playful environment you can explore your dynamics around trust and vulnerability and learn how to deepen intimacy and connection.
During this day together we will work individually, in pairs and the large group of men.
This is a clothed workshop that will involve respectful, physical exploration – please wear loose comfortable clothing.
This workshop brings together Andy Saich’s wide experience in bodywork and Ade Adeniji and Darren Brady’s expertise in working with gay men in the areas of shame, courage and authentic self-expression, thereby creating a rich fusion of awareness both physically and mentally.

Darren Brady and Ade Adeniji founded The Quest to help gay men better understand and transform the relationships they have with themselves, others and the world they inhabit. They are Life Coaches and Group Facilitators and are also certified to deliver The Daring Way™ (based on the research of Brené Brown).
For booking details, click here
