The Compassion Salon
Welcome to the Compassion Salon
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**Website under construction - please watch this space!**
This is a gathering place for stories, poems, and voices that honour both joy and absence.
Here, compassion is not an abstract idea but a living practice — woven through words, art, and community.
The Salon is both archive and event:
a literary salon where people come together to reflect, to listen, and to discuss compassion in all its forms.
It is a living archive of resilience and tenderness, where history meets imagination,
and where each contribution becomes part of a shared legacy.
You are invited to explore, to reflect, to join our conversations, and to add your voice.
Together, we shape a future rooted in compassion.
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"Little by little, one walks far."
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Upcoming Events
The Compassion Salon: Charlie Guy and Susan Morrison
Sunday 30th November 7pm-9pm
Steel Coulson Southside
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FREE EVENT in person at 114 Causewayside, Edinburgh EH9 1PU (map) click here to book your ticket)
or join us online click to book access here
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Come join us for an evening of thought-provoking discussions and heartfelt conversations at Steel Coulson Southside. Charlie Guy and Susan Morrison will share their insights on compassion in their work and daily lives. The salon offers a unique opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and explore the power of compassion. Don't miss out on this chance to delve into the world of compassion!
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Charlie Guy
is Patient Partner Volunteer Coordinator and Public & Patient Involvement (PPI) Coordinator at the University of St Andrews School of Medicine. Her work focuses on creative, arts-based approaches to medical communication and engagement, bringing patients and the public into the heart of research and education. Charlie’s first book, The Art of Medical Communication: Bringing the Humanities into Clinical Practice (Routledge, 2024), explores how literature, film, and the arts can deepen empathy and understanding in healthcare.
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Susan Morrison
is a writer, comedian, broadcaster and amateur historian. She's had some fairly exciting interactions with the NHS recently and that's given her a patient's-eye view of the world of medicine. That's why she's delighted to sit and chat with Charlie at the Compassion Salon.
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The Compassion Salon
was founded by Dr Marti Balaam in 2019. Marti is a social entrepreneur, healthcare educationalist, social scientist and author who has worked in health, and social care education for many years. She is currently a Senior Lecturer in Medical Education and a Senior Lecturer in Nursing Studies at the University of Edinburgh and is Director of Professionalism within the undergraduate medical programme. She is passionate about the power of compassion and how we can integrate it into our lives and work to transform society. Marti works with Global partners to develop programmes of work, share new strategies on compassionate engagement and learn from global and local experiences of how other communities practice compassion.
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It brings together authors, poets, comedians, musicians and other creatives to share their work and reflect on compassion in contemporary life. Recent salons at Steel Coulson Southside have featured conversations between, novelist Karen Campbell and musician Karine Polwart, as well as appearances by Hannah Lavery and Deborah Ritchie, offering audiences a unique blend of narrative and performance.
The Salon, Marti states, is 'a place for people to connect, inspire, and support using books and prose to reflect on human existence in a fragmented, challenging but wonderful world'.
Steel Coulson Southside
is a vibrant community focused real ale pub in Edinburgh that hosts The Compassion Salon.
Located at 114 Causewayside in Newington, Steel Coulson Southside is more than just a bar—it's a welcoming space where creativity and community meet. Known for its warm ambiance and eclectic programming, the venue has become a hub for thoughtful gatherings, including The Compassion Salon.
Whether you're drawn by the promise of soulful dialogue or simply looking for a meaningful night out with craft beer, Steel Coulson Southside provides the perfect setting for reflection, inspiration, and connection.