Celebrant Conference 2018

 Registration is closed for this event
October 27th, 2018 11:30   --   October 28th, 2018 13:30
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Celebrant Conference 2018 is an opportunity for our 400-strong network of Humanist Ceremonies celebrants to come together; to learn from each other, and to strengthen the bonds of our community. It takes place 27–28 October, at Conference Aston.

Tickets
Residential tickets
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The full Conference experience, including one night’s en-suite accommodation with a gala dinner, tea and coffee throughout the weekend, and lunch on Saturday and Sunday. The residential ticket price has been frozen once again for 2018. Book your ticket
Non-residential tickets
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Those wishing to experience Celebrant Conference 2018 without the Gala Dinner and accommodation may wish to purchase a non-residential ticket.

This provides full access to the Conference, excluding dinner and accommodation. Book your ticket
Day tickets
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Day tickets for either Saturday or Sunday are available for £50. These include entry to all sessions, teas and coffees, and lunch.

Those looking to book day tickets for both Saturday and Sunday should instead purchase a Non-residential ticket. Book your ticket
Other options
I don't need accommodation, but I'd like to attend the dinner.
You should purchase a Non-residential ticket (above), You should then visit the Conference Extras page to book one dinner ticket.
 
I'd like to bring my partner to dinner and get a double room.
You should purchase a Non-residential ticket (above). You should then visit the Conference Extras page to book two dinner tickets and double occupancy accommodation.
Book your Conference Extras
Testimonials
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It was great to be among so many lovely, like minded people. Thank you for organising a great event!
Celebrant Conference 2017 attendee
I always enjoy the Celebrant Conference. With great speakers and great entertainment, I always feel re-invigorated.
Celebrant Conference 2017 attendee
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My first conference and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I met some wonderful new people and my old training cohort. I feel so pleased to be a part of Humanists UK.
Celebrant Conference 2017 attendee
Programme
Full details of the programme are still to be confirmed; watch this space!

Saturday 27 October

Start time End time Session
11:30 13:00 Registration
12:00 13:00 Lunch
13:15 13:30 Welcome, with Isabel Russo
13:30 14:00 Humanists UK today and tomorrow, with Andrew Copson
14:00 14:20 QAC: Useful learning for celebrants
14:20 14:35 Break
14:35 15:35 Workshop session 1
15:35 15:55 Break/networking
15:55 16:55 Workshop session 2
16:55 17:15 Break/networking
17:15 17:35 Marketing Committee and Humanist Archive
17:35 18:20 The Funeral Ceremonies landscape, with industry experts
18:20   Wrap-up
19:15   Meet at bar
20:00   Dinner and entertainment, with Shappi Khorsandi
Sunday 28 October
Start time End time Session
From 07:00   Breakfast
09:00 10:00 Workshop session 3
10:00 10:20 Break/check-out of accommodation
10:20 11:20 Workshop session 4
11:20 11:40 Break/networking
11:40 12:25 Humanists UK Directorate Q&A
12:25 13:10 Legal recognition for humanist weddings, with key players
13:10 13:20 Close and thanks
13:20   Lunch and depart
Book your ticket
Workshops
You will have the opportunity to select your preferred workshops after booking your ticket.

Workshop 1 (Saturday, 14:00)

Session Leader
Standing out as a celebrant Maxine Beech
Emerging LGBT issues and their consequence for celebrant practice Teddy Prout
Grieving children, grieving families; supporting children and families after the death of someone important Di Stubbs
Keeping ourselves in shape for our work Bill Stephenson & Paul Ross
Becoming a ceremonies trainer Ginny Collins
Workshop 2 (Saturday, 15:20)
Session Leader
Making namings meaningful Felicity Harvest
The story of music: tools and tips on how to think about music in ceremonies Teddy Prout
Operating successfully in today's ceremonies marketplace Ceremonies Board members
Running your own business: getting started in self-employment Catriona McLellan
Ritual identity Isabel Russo
Workshop 3 (Sunday, 09:00)
Session Leader
Giving and receiving peer feedback Teddy Prout
Keeping ourselves in shape for work Bill Stephenson & Paul Ross
Data Protection Catriona McLellan
Writing copy for your website Steve Church
Safeguarding Carole Truman
Workshop 4 (Sunday, 10:20)
Session Leader
Developing a voice you can rely on Isabel Russo
Speaking in schools Sophie Colligan
Marketing support for celebrants Ian Scott
Running your own business: getting started in self-employment Catriona McLellan
Conducting a remembrance ceremony Ruth Staton
Venue
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Aston
Celebrant Conference 2018 takes place at Conference Aston, in leafy green grounds even with its city-centre location. With the advantage of Birmingham's excellent transport links, Celebrant Conference 2018 will be the easiest to reach we've ever hosted.
Our venue
Our plenary space is a large and comfortable room that can accommodate up to 200, with three large projector screens to allow all attendees perfect vision of what's being discussed. Immediately outside our plenary room is a breakout space large enough for all our networking needs – and all our breakout rooms lead directly off from this space too, each equipped with their own screen. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the venue. For those with Residential tickets who will joining us for the Gala Dinner and staying the night, our evening restaurant and hotel are in the adjacent building, just across the grass.
Transport
Conference Aston is within 10 minutes' walk of each of Birmingham's three mainline railway stations. Additionally, on-site car-parking is available for a flat rate of £7.95 per 24 hours (08:00–08:00).
Bursary
The Celebrant Conference is such an important occasion for the Network to gather and learn from one another, which makes it so important it is accessible to as many as possible. If you would like to help others afford to attend this conference, you can make a donation to our bursary scheme when buying your ticket. Information about how to apply for a bursary will be provided soon. Book your ticket or donate to the bursary scheme now
Event policies
Cancellations
Bookings may be cancelled free of charge up to 90 days prior to the Conference start date (by 29 July 2018, inclusive). Bookings cancelled 30-89 days (by 27 September 2018, inclusive) from the start date will incur a 50% charge of the full price of the ticket. Cancellations made within 29 days of the Conference start date (from 28 September, inclusive) will not be refunded, but may, at the discretion of Humanists UK and with no less than 21 days’ notice (by 6 October, inclusive), be transferred to another eligible individual. Any refunds for ticket cancellations will be processed within two months.
Speakers
All appearances are subject to speakers' work and other commitments.
Photography, video, and audio recording
Humanists UK reserves the right to photograph and record video and audio of all public sections of the Convention and to make public the footage as it sees appropriate. Please be aware that by attending Celebrant Conference 2018, you consent to your voice, name, and/or likeness being used, without compensation, in any and all media, whether now known or hereafter devised, in perpetuity, and you release Humanists UK, its successors, assigns, and licensees from any liability whatsoever of any nature. If you would like to ensure that you are not captured in any media, please contact ceremonies@humanism.org.uk and we will do our best to accommodate you.
Ticket:
Residential ticket: £180.00
Non-residential ticket: £90.00
Saturday Day ticket: £50.00
Sunday Day ticket: £50.00

Location

Conference Aston Meeting Suites
Main Building
Aston University Campus
Birmingham, B4 7ET
United Kingdom

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