Network for Social Change Conferences

The Network for Social Change conferences are where we carry out our main funding work and share our skills, passions and dilemmas.

We meet in February and September/October, from a Thursday evening to Sunday midday. Past venues have included Buckland Hall in Wales and Trafford Hall near Chester as well as small hotels.

The conferences are divided between meetings and presentations to do with our group funding activities, and structured sessions which address our personal development and financial strategies, or which focus on decisions about the Network's policy and direction. Decisions are made in an open and co-operative manner, and meetings are run in ways which encourage self-confidence and mutual responsibility.

Many parents attend with their children and quality childcare is provided, with, as far as possible, the same staff from conference to conference. There are some activities for both children and adults.

In between conferences a number of sub-groups meet and some smaller events are run. Annual 'Guardians' weekends act as a form of think-tank, offering opportunities for members to sound out new directions for the organisation.

"Conferences provide space and time to have a relaxing, reflective time."