Always on
This project successfully funded on 1st June 2025, you can still support them with a donation.
Damsel Collective: Women's Space, London
London, Greater London, United Kingdom
Aim: Space made BY women+, FOR women+. Help us in bringing Damsel to London. Opening summer 2025. Get your REWARDS now! 💗👇🏽
WHO ARE WE AND WHY WE'RE HERE:
Hello! We’re May and Leyla - founders of Damsel Collective, as well as part of our already growing team - and we exist, because spaces like this don’t.
What started as a late-night idea - half wishful thinking, half the beginnings of a plan - quickly became something we knew had to exist.
Built by women+, for women+. Not just a bar. Not just a venue. Not just a network. But a home - where women claim agency over their lives, in every way, under one roof.
Damsel was inevitably going to be more than just a business to us. We truly believe in how much a platform like this could have changed things for us, and now, we’re making it a reality because honestly, we all deserve a bit of respite and a lot more joy.
In saying that, we built Damsel Collective for all women - all backgrounds, generations and stages of life, all races, religions and cultural identities. We are for queer women and lesbians; we will always be a safe and welcoming environment for trans women - And most importantly, we are for anyone that is completely onboard with all the above.
Damsel Collective is a first-of-its-kind community hub - designed by women, for women. A work-café space by day with a range of dynamic workshops; covering professional development, creative skills, activism, well-being and community. And at night, a beautiful bar and social space, with themed nights and events!
We had LOTS of fun to put together some gifts and perks that you can buy ahead of our launch (Early Summer 2025), to claim when we open in just a few months - Every purchase will guarantee you a good time! Check out the Reward section. We hope you like them ;)
Whilst women are at our core we will always welcome anyone, regardless of gender, who wholeheartedly believe in and take part in creating a world more safe and accessible for everyone. We recognise the invaluable and massively intwined relationship women have with the wider queer community. The world, including our's personally, would look very different without it <3
This is just a brief overview of what we are about, but we have so much more to say! Bellow you can find our detailed plans for Damsel Collective and why we need funding. We want you to be included from the start in building something that will serve us all. Please follow our instagram @damsel.collective for regular updates and join us in bringing Damsel to life, we're so excited to have you with us early this summer! x
The Damsel Collective Manifesto can be downloaded HERE, if you want a bitesized overview on our global vision.
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Why does this matter?
Because women have spent a lifetime adapting to spaces that weren’t built for us. From professional settings to public spaces, we’ve been expected to fit in, adjust, or shrink ourselves in environments that rarely prioritise us. Damsel is committed to changing the landscape.
More than a venue, this is action. It’s about ownership, visibility, and access. The ability to shape our own spaces, define our own narratives, and operate on our own terms. A place where women are not just included, but completely centred.
Damsel is built on the belief that we shouldn’t have to ask for space - we should claim it. This is not an invitation. It’s already yours.
We need your help to make it happen. Your donation is more than just funding - it’s a commitment to change. A statement that spaces like this should exist, that women deserve places designed with them at the centre.
Big or small, each contribution moves us closer to opening our doors. Every bit counts, and we are endlessly grateful for your support.
The 'rewards' for this campaign are a little taste of what’s to come - fun to enjoy on your own or with friends - we can't wait to see you enjoying them all this summer ;)
To get into it all a bit more:
THE PROBLEM - WHY DAMSEL COLLECTIVE NEEDS TO EXIST.
Women’s spaces are all-too-often overlooked, underfunded, or temporary - The places we gather, work, create, and celebrate often fail to centre our needs and our voices.
Damsel Collective is here to change that.
There are spaces for business.
Spaces for nightlife.
Spaces for networking.
But where are the spaces that bring all of this together - made by women, for women?
The numbers paint a clear picture:
- Women receive only 1% of global venture capital funding, yet women-led startups generate 2.5x more revenue per £1 invested.
- Art by women sells for 30% more when buyers don’t know the artist’s gender - a stark reminder of the barriers women face in visibility and value.
- A study by the London LGBTQ+ Community Centre revealed that 9 in 10 LGBTQ+ individuals in London feel there isn't a welcoming space for them.
Every woman has felt it.
The exhaustion of fighting for space, safety, or recognition - over and over again.
Damsel was born from that frustration. From the deep, relentless demand for more. More than just ‘a seat at the table.’ More than being expected to adapt, endure, or work twice as hard for half as much.
THE SOLUTION - WHAT DAMSEL COLLECTIVE WILL BE:
So what actually is damsel collective?
We are a Space, and a Platform - Built by Women, for Women.
Whether you join us to work, unwind, learn, or lead, Damsel has something for you.
Within our rich vertical community, every woman brings unique expertise, perspectives, and drive. Our five distinct profiles reflect the diverse paths women lead, without ever being limited to one.
Here’s a little breakdown of what we will be bringing to you on the day-to-day (we separate DAY from NIGHT to keep everything streamlined, since we are a small team with big dreams).
Damsel DAY:
- Cafe and Community Hub (Relaxing, working or collaborating - Use our space however you need!)
- Tea, Coffee & Light bites
- A range of Workshops (covering professional development, creative skills, activism, well-being and community)
- Varied Networking Events
- Day Events
Damsel NIGHT:
- Bar & Social Space
- Cocktails & Drinks
- Live Music & Events
- DJ’s & Entertainment
- Evening Networking Events
- Community Gatherings
But that’s not all we’re bringing to the table! If you can believe it, that’s just the beginning.
Alongside Damsel DAY & Damsel NIGHT we’ll be offering a range of in-house services along with two incredible initiatives:
- A fully-equipped photography studio, available for bookings with add-on services.
- Private hire & bespoke events, giving you the space to create, celebrate, and connect.
- A growing network of Damsel Women—we’re building an incredible team of women offering consultations, mentorship, and expert advice across industries, designed to support women in achieving their ambitions.
- THE DAMSEL RESIDENCY - Every quarter, three women will be selected to join our residency programme; designed to provide a platform, activation, and direct support to champion their work and impact.
- THE DAMSEL FUND - An annual fund dedicated to supporting women-led initiatives, businesses, and projects. Small to start, but built to grow; because investment in women is investment in lasting change.
Finally, to bring it all together, our membership scheme will launch in late 2025.
If you’d like to be part of this - whether as a mentor, collaborator, or resource - we’re building our collective now and we’d love to hear from you.
For more information on our global vision and future expansion plans - The Damsel Collective Manifesto can be downloaded HERE - We are shooting for no less than the stars.
Support Now, Enjoy Later
We’re so close to making Damsel Collective a reality! We’re on the verge of moving into our new space in Shoreditch, and with your early contribution, we can transform it into the thriving community hub we are committed to creating.
With your support, Damsel can open its doors ahead of summer - so we don’t have to wait any longer for a place that’s ours. Every early purchase brings us closer, and in return, you’ll be the first to experience what we’re building. Don’t wait - secure your place now and be part of Damsel from the start.
Where the money is going:
- Accessibility & Inclusive Design - Ensuring our home for Damsel Collective is accessible and welcoming for all. This includes wheelchair access, step-free entry, accessible restrooms, and a thoughtfully designed layout that accommodates different needs. We also commit to disability awareness training for our team, ensuring that everyone is supported and included, always.
- Fair Wages - We are committed to paying women fairly for their work. This funding will ensure that the women involved in building and running Damsel Collective are compensated properly for their time, skills, and dedication, creating a necessary, ethical and sustainable foundation for our community.
- Setting Up Our Offerings - Bringing everything together to create a fully functional space, ensuring that Damsel Collective is ready to welcome and serve our community from day one. This includes structuring our programming, streamlining scheduling, and making it easy for people to take part—whether attending, booking, or getting involved.
Every donation, every share, and every word of support brings us closer to opening our doors. This is about changing the way women exist in the world. And we couldn’t do it without you.
We’ll keep you updated every step of the way! From securing our venue to the moment we open, we’ll be sharing our progress, behind-the-scenes updates, and the milestones your support is making possible.
We’re aiming to open our doors by the end of May and as we put the final touches on the space, we’d love to bring the community together for some hands-on, interactive events. Stay tuned for ways to get involved and be part of making Damsel Collective truly feel like home!
Stay connected and help spread the word! Follow our journey, share our story, and invite others to be part of Damsel Collective. Every post, conversation, and contribution helps shape what’s coming.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for believing in Damsel Collective - We can't wait to meet everyone!