Ladies and gents, there will be a commscampnorth and it will be in the glorious West Yorkshire city of Bradford.

It will take place on 23.10.19 at Kala Sangam in the city centre.

The event will be an unconference.

This means the event will be free, not for profit and will be run and organised by volunteers.

But it will be fired with the graft, spice, tea and bright ideas of Bradford and people from across the North. You want Northern Powerhouse? You can have it.

Why Bradford?

This will be the third commscampnorth and as with the others we are rotating it across the region. We’ve been to Manchester and to Sheffield and really, they were just a warm-up for the big one.

I was chatting to Albert Freeman about the requirements for an unconference. A big space with some smaller spaces off them. Tell people about it and then trust the process.

Why Kala Sangam?

Talking to Albert about he need for a city centre venue he had a moment of clarity. The arts centre in a converted Post Office sorting depot right on the edge of the city centre. So, together with Josephine Graham we looked and were impressed.

Who can come?

We want comms, PR, marketing, digital or frontline people from the public sector – or third sector – who are doers, tryers, makers, experimenters or who know there’s a better way of doing things.

We want people who would like to learn and would like to contribute who can bake a cake and can encourage new ideas. It doesn’t matter if you’ve ever been to an unconference before. We leave our job titles at the door and what you think is just as valid as someone who has been doing the job 20 years longer than you have.

When do tickets get released?

The FIRST public ticket release for public sector and third sector people will be at 1pm on 17.7.19.

A SECOND release is at 9pm on 25.7.19.

A THIRD release will be at noon on 6.9.19.

After this a wait list will operate and tickets will be released directly.

The link to eventbrite is HERE and will be password protected until they go live.

How can I beat the ticket stampede and become a volunteer?

In return for a pledge of some of your time you can register as a volunteer and we’ll send you a ticket before the public release. We’d love to see you and we’d love the extra pair of hands. Warning: there will be cake and a feeling of inner warmth.

Who can support or sponsor?

Anyone. Chat to Dan by email dan@danslee.co.uk.

What is an unconference?

This video explains it.

 

Who is behind it all?

There’s a range of volunteers who are part of the wider team and are helping on the day. The include Dan Slee (freelance comms person and commscamp co-founder), Albert Freeman (Bradford City Council), Josephine Graham (Bradford City Council on secondment to NHS Digital), Bridget Aherne (Keolis Amey Metrolink), Kate Bentham (Shropshire Council), Eddie Coates-Madden (Sheffield City Council).

I’m sure we’ll see Emma Rodgers on the tea urn on the day even though she’s taking a sabbatical from organising events this year.

On the day, everyone who turns up makes it.