See here for details of the programme, etc.
Please register and pay here.
We welcome all-comers: ex-boarders who have started to question if their life has been impaired by their boarding experience; family and friends of ex-boarders who wonder the same; parents wrestling with the decision to send their children away; care professionals with an interest in ex-boarder clients; and anyone who is curious about the lasting effects of boarding school. It can be especially useful for partners of ex-boarders, helping them learn about the impact of boarding on their relationship.
We believe that for the majority of people the conference is a stimulating, positive and affirming experience where we can tell our stories, be heard and understood. However, the conference can be challenging, and even distressing, as we face, perhaps for the first time, the full implications of our boarding school experiences. The conference organisers will do their utmost to support attendees who feel overwhelmed or distressed during the day, and colleagues with a background in therapy will be on hand to offer support should you need it. Look out for our brightly coloured badges.
Having outgrown Friends House opposite Euston Station (yes, even the largest space and number of break-out rooms it has), we are off to pastures new. We are delighted to have secured a booking at 20 Cavendish Square, the headquarters of the Royal College of Nursing, just behind John Lewis on Oxford Street at the South West corner of Cavendish Square, the junction with Henrietta Street (nearest tube is Oxford Circus).
It is a superb venue, with a large meeting room and beautiful council chamber for catering. It has a reception area for early birds (no more waiting in the cold for the doors to open) and dedicated staff. The lunch will be an informal hot buffet and there will be plenty of room to circulate and find a seat to eat. We will have eight breakout rooms for group work in the afternoon (up from six last year), which will be used for workshops in addition to the usual discussion groups. We are honoured that Nick Duffell, the founder of Boarding School Survivors, will be giving a keynote talk on the Strategic Survival Personality – the concept that he devised to describe the demeanour of the former boarder.
Naturally, this represents a step up, and the extra space and facilities come at a cost. We have limited the increase to £115 from £105 last year, and we hope that this will continue to seen as affordable and good value. However, this does not cover the full cost, and we will be asking those able to support us with a donation to ‘Bridge the Gap’ by making a contribution – as they have generously done in the past.
Last year, we offered the opportunity to ‘Pay it Forward’ by making a donation specifically to help those who, often as a result of their boarding experience, find themselves struggling financially. This was taken up so generously that we were able to support one eighth of the attendees who would not otherwise have been able to come. This was very gratifying, and we extend our warmest thanks to those who helped. Moreover, there was a small surplus that we have been able to carry forward to this year. For those who would welcome the chance to help others receive the benefit they have had from past conferences, the opportunity will be available again.
Details of how to ‘Bridge the Gap’ and/or ‘Pay if Forward’ will be on the registration form. ‘Bridge the Gap’ donations can be used for the conference at our discretion (and this includes adding to the ‘Pay it Forward’ fund) – so they are flexible. However, if you specifically want to earmark a donation to help others, ‘Pay it Forward ‘donations will do just that.
See here for details of the programme, etc.
Please register and pay here.
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