Jelly for home workers

Jelly

was invented in 2006 by two IT freelancers in New York who were chatting one day about the drawbacks of working from home – mainly getting sick of the same old four walls and missing the company of other people.

Wouldn’t it be a great idea, they mused, to get a group of home workers together in one place where they could have free wi-fi access for work, access to refreshments and plenty of creative people to share gossip, knowledge and experience with. So that’s what they did in their apartment – oh, and called it Jelly because they were eating jelly beans when they were struck by inspiration. (Thank goodness it wasn’t cabbage).

In the short video below you can hear what John Scott, creative content coder, thought of his first coworking experience in Frome, Somerset:

Jelly

was soon happening in apartments, coffee shops and offices across the US. Then it spread to Europe including the UK, where Jelly takes place in a number of towns and cities. To find out if it’s happening near you or to start your own, visit the Jelly Wiki, where you can see videos about the Jelly concept.

Jelly is free and democratic

Anyone can hold Jelly anywhere, you just need to find a suitable space with free wi-fi access, desks or tables (and chairs, obviously!) and facilities to buy or make drinks and snacks.

Bath Jelly

first took place in October 2009 at the JikaJika coffee shop in George Street where Jellyers were given sole use of a large table and two small tables at the back. It’s good for the coffee shop as the home workers, freelancers and digital nomads who frequent Jelly tend to be enthusiastic coffee imbibers and of course we all need to eat.

More thoughts on Jelly in Frome, Somerset, from Tim Osmond:

Frome Jelly

started in November 2009, appropriately during Global Entrepreneurship Week, at The Old Church School, Frome, Somerset, where desks and office space are available to rent by the hour, week or month at astonishingly reasonable rates. Gavin Eddy, the owner, has an interest in Mozzo, an ethical coffee company that supplies the coffee machine in the kitchen, so good coffee was available at the bargain price of 50p per cup, and Jellyers whose stomachs rumble as lunchtime approaches brought their own sandwiches.

This type of coworking is spontaneous and viral

which means you tend to get a different bunch of people turning up each time. It’s usually only publicised a week or so before the event, often only through Twitter and the brilliant website Eventbrite, where you can advertise events and reserve places at no charge.

The beauty of Jelly

is that no two occasions are alike – it all depends on who turns up and what their skills and personalities are. The Bath event was an extremely sociable affair, loads of chat and connecting with new people, maybe because we were in a social environment. Frome Jellyers started out by being very industrious and the chat didn’t start until lunchtime. But both times expertise was exchanged and opinions aired, all very good for the skills and mental health of those attending!

Enjoyed this and want to know more? Try –

Coworking for home workers and freelancers

Jelly for workhubs