The Quest

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
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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, 2014-08-05 18:30 - 22:00, 2014-07-01 18:30 - 22:00, 2014-06-03 18:30 - 22:00, 2014-05-06 18:30 - 22:00 and 4 more dates | 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, 2014-06-06 - 2014-06-08, 2014-04-04 - 2014-04-06, 2014-02-07 - 2014-02-09 | The School of Social Entrepreneurs, The Fire Station, 139 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2HZ, United Kingdom
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Make Room for Love
2014-08-30 09:30 - 17:30 | 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

Yearly Retreat
2014-07-04 - 2014-07-06
For information and booking details, click here.

Pride in London
2014-06-28 11:15 - 16:30
For the first time, The Quest has ‘participant status’ in the London Pride parade on 28 June 2014. That being the case, it would be wonderful if a large contingent of Questers and their friends were to join in the march, which has its theme this year as “Freedom to ….”
Why not exercise your freedom to celebrate yourself and your fellow journeymen by walking under The Quest banner through the streets of London? As ever, the day promises to be a lot of fun, whilst making a serious statement of our intent!
The Quest Parade Timetable:
11.15
Meet at The Prince Regent Pub, 71 Marylebone High Street, London W1U 5JN.
11.45
Leave the pub for the 5-10 minute walk to the Parade checkpoint at the junction of Baker Street and Marylebone Road.
12 noon
Arrival at the Parade checkpoint.
13.00
The Parade commences.
13.30
Our section of the Parade starts walking.
16.00 (approx)
Finish of Parade for our section.
WE WILL ONLY BE ADMITTED THROUGH THE PARADE CHECKPOINT AS A GROUP, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GAIN ACCESS INDIVIDUALLY
Notes:
The Quest t-shirts
T-shirts will be available for sale on the day.
Health and Safety
Check the weather on the day as we will be walking for a long time. If it’s going to be sunny make sure you bring, and use, sunscreen.
Please moderate the consumption of alcohol before the parade.
There may be protesters on the route and they have, of course, the right to protest. Please do not engage with them and just leave the management of their activities to the Metropolitan Police. The protesters may attempt to goad but we do not want us to be the ones “crossing the line”.
Our group arrives at the Parade assembly point at the junction of Marylebone Road and Baker Street (12 noon). Questers unable to meet us at The Prince Regent Pub can join us here (with the assistance of mobile phones, et al).
If you are planning to join us on the parade drop us an email at – register@thequestawaitsyou.com, so that we know to expect you and to give us an idea of numbers

You can check our pictures from the 2013 London Pride here.

SIX-WEEK YOGA COURSE - FOR BEGINNERS
2014-06-25 19:00 - 20:00 | West Hampstead Community Centre, 17 Dornfell Street , London, NW6 1QN, United Kingdom
…. CREATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE QUEST
The Quest is excited to offer a six-week yoga beginner’s programme, designed exclusively for Quest graduates (and their friends). If you’ve ever felt too self-conscious or lacked the confidence to try out yoga in a public class, this intimate course with a gay yoga practitioner and a small intimate group of like-minded Quest brothers is perfect for you.
When: every Wednesday 7-8pm, starting 25th June 2014
Where: West Hampstead Community Centre

Do you want to start a practice that can help? Improve sleep? Lessen stress? Release tension? Increase flexibility? Strengthen your core? Improve your balance? Concentration? Build self-awareness? Relaxation? As well as learning to meditate, bringing your body, mind and spirit into balance?
This is an ideal way to begin your discovery of yoga in a safe and friendly environment.
This course includes an introduction to yoga postures (asanas), breathing techniques and meditation. Each week we will explore a different focus i.e standing postures, backbends, forward bends, twists, gentle inversions and every class will include an opportunity for deep relaxation.
By the end of the course you should feel confident enough to start a home practice and/or attend an open level or Level 1 class at any yoga studio/gym as well as starting to reap the benefits of such a practice.
Detailed notes on key postures will be shared with you by email to support this.
Mats and equipment will be provided. Comfortable clothing is recommended, i.e. shorts, t shirts/sweatshirts/sweatpants, tracksuits are ideal. Yoga is practiced in bare feet (so that you can grip the mat and create a strong foundation) but socks can be worn at the end of the class in the relaxation posture.
Teacher Simon Hoten:
“I have been practicing and studying yoga since 2003 and teaching since 2010 and I am British Wheel of Yoga Accredited”.
When: beginner’s yoga course starting Wednesday 25th June, 7pm -8pm and every Wednesday for 6 weeks.
Where: West Hampstead Community Centre, 17 Dornfell Street (just off Mill Lane), London NW6 1QN
(WHCC is a 13-minute comfortable walk from West Hampstead tube, overground and Thameslink stations. C11 bus stops right outside)
Cost: £45/£40 concessions payable in advance to book your place
Booking contact: Naven Puri (nkp_1978@yahoo.com), places are limited so booking early is recommended

The Quest 3rd Anniversary Celebration
2014-06-15 15:00 - 19:00 | The Proud Archvist, 2-10 Hertford Road, London , N1 5ET, United Kingdom
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Storytelling Performance
2014-05-12 19:00 - 21:30 | The School of Social Entrepreneurs, The Fire Station, 139 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2HZ, United Kingdom
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5 Steps to Authentic Self-Expression
2014-05-10 10:00 - 17:30 | The School of Social Entrepreneurs, The Fire Station, 139 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2HZ, United Kingdom
This interactive, fun and engaging one-day workshop for Gay Men is all about (re)connecting and (re)aligning with your Unconditional/True Self, and allowing that aspect of You to come forth – without Shame or Judgement; but with Love, Joy, Integrity and Passion.
This step-by-step WorkOUT will equip you to –

Reconnect with the powerful You
Understand what Authenticity means to you
Investigate what gets in the way of you authentically expressing yourself
Rediscover what is important to you and practice how to express your needs and wants
Navigate the gap between ‘walking the talk’ and talking the talk’
Clarify and celebrate your unique forms of self-expression

The objective of the day is to help you to cultivate, practice and integrate all that is necessary to live a Life of moment-to-moment Authentic Self-Expression!

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The Quest Mastery
2014-03-07 - 2014-03-09 | The School of Social Entrepreneurs, The Fire Station, 139 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2HZ, United Kingdom
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Does it really get better? – An intergenerational dialogue
2014-02-21 18:30 - 21:30 | King College, The Anatomy Lecture Theatre (K6.29), King's Building, Strand Campus,, London, WC2R, United Kingdom
As part of 2014 LGBT History Month,
The Rainbow Intersection
presents,
Does it really get better? – An intergenerational dialogue
In 2010, US columnist and author Dan Savage created a YouTube video with his partner in a bid to reach out to young LGBT people who were being bullied and harassed. The video kick-started the “It Gets Better Project” which aims to let young people know that life will get better for them, and that bullying, like many other challenges they face in life, will surely come and pass. The project has become a ‘worldwide movement’ and to-date more than 50,000 user created videos have been viewed more than 50 million times.
Here in the UK, there are two types of reality facing young (and older) people who are LGBT. The first reality covers the narrative that ‘things are pretty good now’. In this domain we have, the establishment of civil partnerships and more recently the legalization of marriage for same-sex couples, more visibility of LGBT people in politics, business and media, equal age of consent and a range of organisations working to tackle homophobic bullying in schools and the workplace.
The second reality was echoed by the charity, Crisis in its 2005 report “Sexuality and Homelessness”. The report highlighted that “There is a long-standing association between homelessness and the everyday lives of young men and women who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender (GLBT)”. That same reality was reflected in research carried out by Stonewall Scotland in partnership with Cambridge University’s centre for Family Research (The experiences of gay young people in Britain’s schools in 2012). The research noted that, “more than half (55%) of lesbian, gay and bisexual young people experience homophobic bullying in Britain’s schools”. This reality was again brought to light in the 2014 findings from the Youth Chances project, who conducted the biggest social research study into 16 – 25 year olds LGBT people in England, and found that “more than half of young gay people have suffered mental health issues, and 40 per cent have considered suicide” and “that 50 per cent have self-harmed and 42 per cent had sought medical help for anxiety or depression”.
Between these two realities, there is an increasing gap in the experiences of the younger and older generation. Whilst there is plenty to be happy about in terms of how things have improved, there is also plenty to talk about regarding what is still less than ideal – individually and collectively. These are not conversations that take place on the scene and there are hardly any forums for different LGBT generations to come together to reflect, discuss and debate the issue of ‘how things are’, how things were’ and ‘how things could be’.
Therefore, to celebrate LGBT History Month, the award winning The Rainbow Intersection is back with:
Does it really get better? – Intergenerational Dialogue
Author and comedian, Vg Lee will host the panel discussion and debate. Topics to be explored include:

What are the priority issues facing the young and older people who are LGBT?
Is LGBT political activism still important?
Ageism within the LGBT community
Are role models necessary?
What impact does music and popular culture have on the experiences of people who are LGBT?
Are younger people more inclusive when it comes to the intersection of race and sexuality
What are the things that get better as we grow older? And, is there anything that does not get better?

Doors will open at 6.30pm, with the event starting at 7.00pm. The evening will be followed by a reception between 8:30pm – 9:30pm (Room K4U.12)
For more information and booking details click here.

The Quest Bitesize - 7 Golden Nuggets from my Adventures
2014-02-12 18:30 - 22:00 | The School of Social Entrepreneurs, The Fire Station, 139 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2HZ, United Kingdom
Many of you probably have met Ernesto. Apart from being a Quest Graduate, Ernesto is also one of the key players of The Quest and now facilitator of The Weekend Workshop. Ernesto had a successful career working as a Management Consultant for PwC until the end of 2012, when he decided to quit his job with the intention to pursue what he thought would be a more authentic and fulfilling path. After a few projects here and there at the beginning of 2013, Ernesto decided that he needed to take some time out to do some self-inquiry and really explore what he was all about.
On 24th September last year, Ernesto took a flight to Thailand unsure of when he would return. Ernesto’s intention was to spend sometime thinking and delving into some of the questions that for years he had been trying to answer about his personal life and career. Ernesto took with him a bunch of books, a journal, his laptop and a camera. During his travels, he did a 10-day meditation retreat in Northern Thailand, visited psychics and healers in Bali, started to write a book in Koh Samui, spoke at a conference in Malaysia and met a cartographer in Indonesia. Ernesto spent two and half months away, and when he felt ready, he decided to come back last to London last December.
Many of you have been asking Ernesto questions like: What did you enjoy the most? What did you learn? Who did you meet? Amongst other things. Putting two months of stories in a short conversation is challenging and some curious Questors suggested to Ernesto to run a Bitesize to share with his insights, discoveries and stories. In this Bitesize Ernesto will be taking us thought what he refers to as the “7 golden nuggets” he brought back with him from his adventures.
When: Wednesday 12 February 2014
Time: 6.30pm (arrival), to start 7.00pm – 10.00pm
Where: The School of Social Entreprenuers, London Bridge
Entry: £5 towards refreshments, and venue hire

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The Quest Bitesize is an evening designed exclusively for The Quest graduates to come together and explore issues relevant to our journey of authenticity, and to learn and discover new things that can facilitate our Quest journey. The Quest is a quarterly event in which we will have speakers, discussion forums, guided activities and film screenings as a way of reconnecting with what brought us together and developing a sense of community amongst The Quest Graduates.

Love, Sex and Connection
2014-01-11 10:00 - 17:30 | The School of Social Entrepreneurs, The Fire Station, 139 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2HZ, United Kingdom
Building on the theme of our popular ‘Getting clear on Sex and Intimacy’ one-day workshop, this interactive, fun and engaging WorkOUT is all about delving beneath the surface of our needs and wants when it comes to Love, Sex and Connection.
As part of our one-day exploration, we will be using some of the guideposts within three insightful books: Loveability: Knowing how to love and be Loved (Robert Holden), How to be an Adult in Love (David Richo) and Cruise Control: Understanding Sex Addiction in Gay Men (Robert Weiss).
Do you…….

find yourself repeating certain patterns when it comes to seeking love
find that you make certain sacrifices when it comes to love and connection
find that you still mistaken your longing for connection as a longing for sex
want to cultivate emotionally healtier relationships
want to be able to express your authentic needs when it comes to connection

…….. then this WorkOUT is for you!!
We will be delving DEEP into whether your thoughts, feelings, limiting beliefs and actions are moving you towards or away from Love and Connection, and exploring what you need to do to reset and course correct.
The objective of the day is to help you to cultivate and practice the insights and tools to sustain living a life of passion, connection and love.

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The Quest 2013 Xmas Party
2013-12-13 19:30 - 2013-12-14 01:00 | Unnamed Venue, 73 Princes Street, London, W2 NY, United Kingdom
The Quest cordially invites you to come and reconnect
with your fellow Questors
for an evening of fun, food and drinks at the annual
Christmas Party!
To be held downstairs at:
The Prince Edward
73 Princes Square
London W2 4NY
Nearest Tubes: Bayswater, Queensway or Notting Hill Gate
Time: 7.30pm – 1.00am
Guests are invited!
Book your tickets quickly, as space is limited!
Buffet and a welcome drink included at a cost of £20 per head
Tickets can be purchased at the next First Tuesday Social on 3rd December 2013
or please contact Daniel, Edward, James, John or Rob at:
engage@thequestawaitsyou.com
for payment details.
The event is held in a space with no cloak room facility,
we unfortunately cannot accept any liability for loss or stolen items,
therefore please be vigilant with your belongings!
You can see some memories from our 2013 Xmas Party here
