Report transcript in: ICR Conference - Emma

Please Report the Errrors?

So,

um,

now that we're recording,

So the main thing I really wanted to

ask was obviously you attended the whole conference.

Um,

sort of. How did you find it in general? Was the

Was it useful? Were there any bits? Not so useful. Um,

anything you've taken back into your own work

that you do with It's the equality trust,

isn't it?

Yeah,

that's right. Yeah. Yeah.

And anything. Really?

Yeah. Um,

yeah. I mean, I I found it. Um,

I really like the format. I thought the format was really good. Um,

so there was bits, um, of, you know, where everybody got a opportunity to talk.

And then there was, um

uh from what I can remember that there was, um

uh, you then got films and, um and then,

um workshops. So I I I Because it was quite a long

day, but I thought the breaking down and the breaks worked really well,

because I've been to quite a few things, and they can be quite exhausting, but,

um, so I thought that was really good.

Um and I

really,

uh yeah, I really liked

the

just the tone of it. Really. The feel of it. I like the speakers. Um,

the speakers were very, um,

energising, and it felt very comfortable and

quite,

you know, although kind of the topic can be quite intense. It felt quite fun as well.

So, um,

and it it felt quite inclusive.

Um, So and there was a real, um, diverse

group of people as well, which I really liked. Um,

and, um, yeah, and and and really kind of being sensitive to,

yeah, uh uh. Being accessible for people, but also being mindful around

people giving their stories.

Um,

one of the things I think that I remembered, um, because, um,

I've I've

worked a lot around,

I've worked for mine and worked a lot around

people giving their lived experience, and,

um and I've done it myself. Um,

and I really liked, um,

one of the feedback from from

11 woman around kind of what makes a good space. And what makes her,

um, and she talked about

just being comfortable and and kind of. So I've taken away the word comfortable.

Um, because we talk about I mean,

there's all the kind of the jargon around safe spaces and stuff like that.

But I just thought that really

kind of encapsulates kind of, You know, it's quite you know,

everyone knows what comfortable means.

Um,

and I thought so. That was really,

I found her feedback. Really? You know, memorable.

And she was saying, Oh, you know, it's just like you just wanna, you know,

uh,

yeah. Feel like

you know, you you can talk to people and stuff. So,

um,

so that was, um

Yeah, that that was memorable. And And just hearing people's,

yeah, just just kind of being in a room

with, um

with other people who felt very comfortable sharing their stories. And,

um, it's quite validating, really. And just kind of, uh, appreciate the, um,

how important

storytelling is in terms of making an impact and

also how empowering it can be for for all of us. So,

um,

so yeah,

so? So that that was kind of the main sense.

And I just thought it was very well organised as well.

So it's very clear what was happening.

Um, it was, um

yeah, and and And there was a There was enough facilitators around.

If people you know, because there was I can't remember how many were present,

but it just felt quite safe as well.

So if people you know,

there was a lot of people who were around to be able

to answer questions or or or deal with any tech stuff.

So, um

so, yeah.

Oh,

that's interesting here because I think one of the things

we tried to do with having to do it online was

basically do as much as you have done if it was in person,

and then have those people on hand where I

think the temptation someone online is to go.

You don't need as many people because you're

there, but I'm I'm quite pleased to hear that. That was something that got no

noticed that there were people around. We had the full team in

it.

Um,

so one thing is that if so, hopefully next year's conference next June

will be some kind of in person events,

assuming

that's allowable and possible within whatever is happening then

and you don't like to assume now that it'll just be all over

assuming that periodically

every few months for the past year and a half now,

Um,

but we've sort of talked about the idea of because we

found that doing things online has increased that inclusivity there.

People who've been able to attend our events that just wouldn't normally have

been able to get involved if it wasn't for online.

So we're we're looking at ways we can

make it kind of a hybrid event where it will be in person.

But there will be the option to join in online. And,

you know, not just watch it online, but actually be part of the conference. So,

um, and with that is also the day of action,

which I think you attended one of the workshops you

attend for sort of ideas for a day of action.

Yes,

that's right. Yes.

Yes,

I suppose. Would

that be something you'd potentially be interested in

being involved in whether as an attendee or

as some part of the events we organise next year?

So what I'm asking,

really is was your experience of the conference

something that you would like to repeat?

Was it a

Yeah? No, Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. Um, yes. And and and? And that was of interest.

Definitely. Um

uh,

yeah. Um, so I mean, I suppose the only thing just

you know that

it would be around

kind of expenses and travelling and stuff like that, depending where it was.

So that would be the only, um, but apart from that, and that's why I think, you know,

like you say, it is so accessible for people.

Um, but, um, online.

Um,

but, you know, I would I would definitely like to, um

uh,

sorry. Pop ups keep coming on on the

so,

um, a bit distracting, but, um, yeah, no, I I I would like to I mean, you you kind of

see that people are are are coming from the same,

uh, you know, values.

And, you know, and and I'm always for if, if you know,

it's it's like kind of when you meet with your tribe kind of thing.

And it it's like the the power of people together Who who who are coming from the same,

um,

you know, wavelength as you are.

And and And, uh so, yes, So it it it's definitely something I would.

It's definitely something very close to my heart and something.

Um, but I think there needs to be more collaboration, um,

in and more kind of examples.

of good practise. Um, because I think,

um,

it's very easy for people in the whole kind of sphere

around lived experience for people to feel undervalued and exploited.

Um,

and for it to be actually a disempowering, um, experience. So I think

the more, um, opportunities we can have,

um,

that are facilitated in a space where people feel empowered and feel energised

and feel that they are part of something bigger than themselves as well.

Um, I think, um, the better. Really. So, yeah,

and that I mean, you said then about, um,

sort of some people feeling disempowered and some people being exploited, I think

one of the satellite workshops that one of our, um, partners was hosting, um,

dealt with that. And I think there was some feedback on it in the final live stream.

That sort of

think of it.

It's very easy when you work with lived, lived experience for the people to give,

sharing their stories to kind of become a bit of a commodity

and a means to an end. And that's something we're very,

you know,

the con. I think hopefully we dealt with in the

we're very much trying to get away from that.

Actually, the people are at the centre in any

impact Their story has is

is not

sort of,

you know, they're not just a conduit to that. They are

part of that and

an active part of that. And,

you know, that's something that

we really

want to get away from because we, you know,

we've We've had those experiences on projects where some

people do seem to just view it as well.

We just get stories

like It's the

thing in the world. And

yes, it's interesting to hear you raise that from the

from the

attendee as well.

Yeah, I mean, I think it's really important for it to be,

you know, like you say how you know, how do you get away from that commodity thing?

Because sometimes it's not easy just because the way

kind of organisations are set up and everything,

But I think it's about

how you know the power kind of, um, balance around kind of how,

how, how people's stories are part of a whole process, they're not just

an an a an a an add on or,

um or kind of or a tick box.

You know, it's about how does that kind of link into the organisation? What?

How do they then? Kind of link in etcetera. And it very much felt that

the way the conference is structured that that you know, that the focus on the,

um lived experience was about OK, so how do we make sure,

um, that,

you know,

we kind of work towards, um a more a A better

way of working around lived experience. So yeah,

suppose

the only other thing I'd like, I suppose, ask And I mean,

it's it's perfectly fine if the answer is no or you haven't or whatever I suppose is,

Have you Is this anything from the conference that you've maybe taken back,

as I say to your own work or

your own projects, or that you

think you will?

Or is it

was it more stuff you were? Was it already stuff you were already doing? Perhaps that

I think it just reinforced stuff for me. So, um,

so one of the things, um,

yeah, I mean, it just reinforced.

And what was nice was because, you know, coming from time to change and mind,

you know, we we worked a lot around lived experience, and we had, you know, I felt it.

We we we kind of had good, good practise.

And those of us have lived experience ourselves, which I think is always,

um, really important. So, um,

but,

um,

it was really good to have somebody outside to hear outside.

Um,

some of the things that we did to reinforce that and

and so that the whole thing around kind of the debriefing,

you know, giving people space to debrief outside of it.

And also kind of just just

just little things that are really important and really vital. Um,

And, um, and just reinforcing that and knowing that other people,

um, felt felt how important that was as well.

So, um so yeah, so in that sense, it it it it it was good,

because I think it's very especially as I think the other thing is,

as somebody with lived experience working in an environment where

I'm the only one who identifies as lived experience,

it's very easy

to let those good practises drop because you you feel kind of pressurised around

around other people who haven't or who who aren't that familiar with it.

Whereas when I was in time to change, we all had lived experience,

and we all all kind of were able to support, you know,

have that kind of peer mentor relationship.

So it's like

that that conference, you know, you've got your peers there,

Um, and it kind of reinforces it. So I think that was,

you know, a really good in terms of like, yes. No, this is really important.

This is why it's really important.

And And it was empowering,

because then it made you feel stronger in your workplace to be able to,

um, you know, validate Not, um

uh,

you know, your own kind of practise. Really? If that makes sense,

it does. And thank you for sharing that. Really,

really good to hear. Um,

I suppose I don't want to keep you all day on this, So

I suppose, um, just before we go, anything else you'd like to add or

again? Perfectly fine. If not,

um,

no, just just, um

Yeah, just just Just I thought it was really,

yeah, I just really enjoyed it. I thought I think it was one of the best

online, um, events I've attended since since lockdown.

I just thought it was really,

really well thought through it had a really good balance of,

you know, being light, but also kind of tackling some

kind of quite challenging

themes. But, um

and really? Yeah. No, I I really, um

Yeah, I just really valued it.

And And you could tell that that

the facilitators and people were really passionate about

what they were doing and that that came across. So, um so, yeah, so thanks.

Thank you so much.

That's lovely to hear. I'll just stop recording.

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Author

SarahH

Post date

03/08/2021