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In the latest in a series of Q&As with people who will be at commscampnorth a first time attendee.

Hello, Nick Moore, what do you do?

I’m a ‘Digital Development Officer’ and what my actual role entails is managing a social media team within customer services. I spend all day working with social media and all things digital while making sure my team deliver a first class customer services experience over Facebook and Twitter.

Is this your first time at commscampnorth?

It is indeed, hopefully first of many.

What session are you thinking of pitching about?

What’s new? There are so many tools/websites/apps out there, and many which haven’t stood the test of time. Recently I was told that something called ‘Nextdoor’ has 33,000 subscribers in Leeds. Should we be using this? What does everyone use to communicate with their communities? What don’t they use? What would they use if they had more time?

What session would you quite like if someone pitched?

Anything similar to my idea really, or something about video.

What’s the best thing about working in the public sector?

The people. We’re a lovely bunch.

What’s the worst thing?

Having to find a workaround for…everything? Forced to use substandard equipment because there’s no budget. I end up buying so much of my own stuff because it’s easier/quicker to do that than write a business case for why I need a £10 tripod for my mobile phone.

What’s your favourite cake?

Lemon drizzle

What’s your favourite digital platform?

Dare I say it? Facebook.

What’s the one thing you’d do to make the public sector better?

Work better as a team. Stop internal departments trying to charge each other for work or help.

Emma Rodgers has been to every single commscamp event and all but one as co-organiser.

She’s taking a step back this time to concentrate on matters closer to home as her husband fights cancer. This is the reason why we’re raising money for MacMillan Cancer this year.

She’ll be missed but she’ll be with us in spirit.

Name: Emma Rodgers

Will you be at commscamp north in Bradford and what’s your excuse? I’m sad to say that I won’t be. My husband was guttingly diagnosed with cancer at the beginning of this year and we’ll be at the Christie hospital while he gets his 4^th cycle of immunotherapy treatment for advanced kidney cancer.

This will be the first commscamp that I’ve missed.

Apart from the first one where I volunteered to help as a camp maker I’ve always been a co-organiser of commscamp – always with Dan Slee and then a group of others in the lovely commscamp family. It feels extremely weird and sad taking a back seat but I know people understand needs must.

Why choose Macmillan cancer relief for the commscamp charity?

My recent direct experience is that they provide an invaluable service – from research and clinical nurse specialists to signposting with clear information and guidance as well as on-line groups and forums, helping with understanding diagnosis or financial implications, the support they provide is second to none.

Cancer isn’t often spoken about and I’ve found myself that the language and tone used through the whole horrible thing is so important. Macmillan get this spot on. They are a brilliant charity and given cancer affects one in every two in the UK, I suspect they will touch most people at some point in their lives.

You do know you’ll be missed don’t you?

Everyone has been so lovely about me not being able to make it. From Dan to Bridget to Kate – otherwise know as Cake – Bentham and too many others to mention, it’s been a reminder of why commscamp is such a unique, sociable and brilliant learning experience. I feel really sad about not having it in my life this year.

Looking back at the unconferences you’ve been involved in organising, what’s your favourite memory?

There are so many to mention, it’s hard to narrow down. My favourite highlights in no particular order are having the best of laughs with people that often I only see once a year, mint choc aero tiffin made by the talented Kate Bentham, ice cream and conversation in the sunshine, pushing the lovely Sophie Davies around on a trolley in Sheffield which caused chaos and the unpredictable yet guaranteed tomfoolery that always comes from the end of day tat raffle. The collector’s Princess Diane mug and the 1980’s office in a carry case being just two of the best prizes on offer.

What advice do you have for new attendees?

Go with an open mind and be comforted that this is one of the friendlies ever communications event in the calendar. Commscamp is perfect for everyone  – whether you’re new to comms or an old face like me, no-one’s views matter more than anyone else’s and hierarchy is parked at the door. It’s also a cliché but you get out what you put in. Embrace it for the laid-back, truly inspirational event that it is and make as many new friends as you possibly can. So many relationships that I’ve build through commscamp are not only some of my greatest friends but also my go to people for communications advice when I need it. Finally, think about where you’re had a problem or a success and you’re up for sharing it with others so you can pitch it for a session. This is the most friendly environment to try something new and you’ll always be supported.

What advice would you give for the pre-social?

It’s a great way to meet new folks in advance and it’s a great laugh too. There’s a lovely sense of camaraderie as people share a few drinks, their stories and current stresses and successes. And the food is always yum. Hmmm I’m sensing a theme here.

Commscamp is always packed with the most delicious grub out.

Which is the best commscamp – Birmingham, Sheffield or Manchester?

I’m obviously biased with Birmingham as that’s where most of the commscamps have taken place. It’s normally great weather in Birmingham (yes I did say that) and the sunshine and setting are so fantastic, it feels like you’re on holiday, even though you’re learning shed loads. Generally though commscamp feels so ‘unconference’, that any location is brilliant.

Favourite cake?

It has to be hot chocolate fudge cake with ice cream melting on the top.

As part of the build-up to commscampnorth we’re running a series of Q&As with people who will be there.

In this post, Louise Hughes.

Hello, Louise, is this your first unconference?

No, I went to the last one in Sheffield.

If its not your first unconference what tips do you have to someone new?

If like me at my first event, you are a bit unsure if you should be there, you definitely should. The format is so refreshing, the people are very friendly and it’s true that the level of seniority does not matter one bit. You will learn loads. Don’t be shy, it’s a great bunch of genuine folk. I’m not part of a wider communication team so I really need events like this to help my professional development.

What made you volunteer and what will you be doing as a volunteer?

I wanted to get a ticket! Well, that and I did it last time and it helped me to get involved. I’m generally just a bit like that too…

What session would you like to see pitched at the event?

I like the one around how to keep skills up to date to be relevant, I’d like one about how to make the next step in your career.

What topics are you looking to go to?

I offered one on imposter syndrome and finding your voice  so I’ll be at that one if it runs.

What’s your favourite cake?

Anything which features almond. 

Can you describe public sector comms in three words?

Make a difference.

Have you been to Bradford before? 

Nope, but I did go to uni in Sheffield.

What single thing would you do to make the public sector a better place?

Break down the archaic internal bureaucracy especially in relation to style of communication used from senior managers.

For NHS particularly, allow the IT to really support creative jobs – my job can be literally impossible at times using the internal IT.

What’s your favourite cake?

Almond, raspberry sponge.

by John Fox

Did you miss out on the ballot for this week’s CommsCampNorth? Is it possible to learn from the information sharing that takes place there?

Unlike most industry events, conferences and seminars on a myriad of topics, a CommsCamp is so very different because it is focused explicitly on communications professionals who hold dear to the heart the principles of good, effective and often innovative customer engagement and communication.

And usually fortunately comms people are very good at sharing their knowledge and experiences for the benefit of others facing similar challenges to our own.

We all have friends and work associates that we follow on social media and in blogs. They influence our own thinking and encourage us to think out of the box and to try something new. It’s good to follow, and definitely on CommsCampNorth day. Follow the conversation tweeted by your regular contacts who you know to be present but also keep an eye on the @CommsCamp Twitter feed for an overall narrative of the event and topics in discussion. Following #CommsCampNorth hashtag timeline on CommsCamp day can be revelatory for folk of all experience levels. One can pick up snippets of ideas mooted by one person that are responded to by others. And you can lob in your own thoughts from afar too.

Rather like an oak tree that grows from an acorn, these little snippets can in time grow into big ideas and workable solutions, and best of all, this knowledge and experienced is shared at no cost to you whatsoever. There is considerable benefit to be gleaned by following CommsCamp remotely, but don’t set too much score on the day itself.

For many the real benefit of the day comes later.

For many past attendees the overall evaluation of the event will not be what’s seen on the timeline of the day.

Rather, it’ll be the new contacts discovered, post-event blogs written by attendees on a favourite subject, or even your own remembrance months after the event that that little problem you’re trying to fathom out today was discussed at CommsCamp and you now know who to maybe contact and seek some additional insights to help you.

You can follow John Fox on Twitter here. 

As part of our Q&A this is one of our volunteers Chris Dudley who is attending for the first time.

Hello, Chris. Is this your first unconference?

Yes it is and I can’t wait.

What made you volunteer and what will you be doing as a volunteer?

Seen as it’s in sunny Bradford this year, and as a proud Yorkshireman I just thought it was the right thing to do. I’ll be helping set up the room on the day and helping however I can.

What session would you like to see pitched at the event?

I’ll be pitching about how we can rationalise Social Media accounts across large organisations, but other than that understanding how e-marketing is being used throughout the sector would be cool to explore.

Can you describe public sector comms in three words?

Stories that matter.

Have you been to Bradford before? 

Yes, we’re only down the road. It’s the best place for curry in the land. FACT.

What single thing would you do to make the public sector a better place?

Make organisations collaborate more – we’re all on the same team.

What’s your favourite cake?

Coffee Cake.

As part of an ongoing series, we’re blogging a mix of new faces and old faces you may see at commscampnorth.

This is Christine Townsend who had a eureka moment at an unconference and gave in being a public sector comms person to found MusterPoint.  This platform has now blossemed into a one stop shop for your social media, internal communication, media handling and public information management.

Hello, Christine. What’s your background?

I was a public sector communicator and prior to that, a national news journalist.

I worked in policing primarily and also did some work with the Dept. of Health, Ministry of Justice and worked on a lot of big events such as Margaret Thatcher’s funeral, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, a few major incidents and some really challenging campaigns around young offenders institutes, the sugar tax and fracking.

I was also a volunteer police officer for a number of years. I’m now the founder and CEO of MusterPoint – a communications management dashboard for the public sector.

Have you been to commscamp before? 

I have and it’s lots of fun – I’ve been a few times and it’s always been a worthwhile trip. I’m always amazed at the enthusiasm that people muster – pardon the pun – despite constantly working under difficult conditions in the public sector. It’s heartening to see. I always come away with too many good ideas.

Can you tell us about MusterPoint?

MusterPoint has been on the go now for five years and helps public sector comms teams and internal stakeholders within organisations manage communications. It’s a one stop shop for all types of engagement and includes social media for campaigns, media monitoring, archiving and emergency management. I wanted something that was all in one place that helped me when I was part of a very small team have oversight of all that was being said about and to our organisation. We had a lot of extra legal requirements to comply with and so I wanted to ensure this was taken care of in addition to enabling full internal collaboration.

Is it true you got the idea at an unconference? 

Yes it was – there were lots of people saying that there wasn’t really a tool fit for the public sector as it’s such a unique comms environment, that I scribbled something out on a piece of paper and wondered if it would be possible. I was kind of fed up with paying for six different tools that we were locked into long contracts for and wanted something that was a lot more affordable that did what I needed it to do.

Why does this work for Public Sector people? 

It takes into consideration the things that aren’t a necessity for private sector – archiving, audit trails, accountability, legal compliance. The logging of media contact and decision making during a campaign or crisis response is absolutely vital. Why shouldn’t it be easy to do and all in once place. I would say that the public sector and emergency services have a higher number of people on call, on shifts and across a wide area – some don’t even meet on a regular basis. This enables that clear overview to see what everyone has done at any time day or night.

What session would you pitch at commscampnorth?

How can we beat the procurement system to find tools that are fit for purpose – regardless of how little it costs and how well  – or not – the supplier fills in the the 2,384 page procurement application process.

What session would you like to see pitched?

The above. Or something around how do we professionalise comms in the public sector.

I’m fed up with really good communicators not valuing themselves enough because other people don’t. I was once given a press release written by a police officer with no comms experience. When I asked him if I could have the keys to his van so I could arrest a few people, he was a bit shocked that I would suggest I could do his job. After that he did a short stint in comms and it totally changed his outlook on how absolutely vital *good* communications is.

Victoria sponge or battenburg?

A bit of Battenburg is always better. Mind you, I’m the sort of person that peels marzipan from wedding cakes and hides the unnecessary fruit bit in plant pots.

You can find Christine Townsend via the @muster_point Twitter account where you can find out more about the platform and discuss with her the finer points of Battenburg cake.

You can check-out the platform here or sign-up for a free 14 day trial here. It’s a good platform, so I would. 

With commscampnorth coming we’re putting the faces to the names of some of the people you’ll see on the day.

In this post, Kate Bentham, who works for Shropshire Council who for the past eight years has ran the cake stall. Attendees are asked to bake or bring a shop-bought cake with them. Cakes are then sold and each slice raises money for a good cause. This year? MacMillan Cancer.

Hi Kate. What’s your day job?

I work in local government with a focus on communicating information to families.

This includes families of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities; families who may need some early help to stop challenges escalating and families who are generally looking for information to help them in their role as a parent or to help their children.

Having access to information can really make a difference to family life and it’s something I have been involved in for over 18 years.

 

If you could do one thing to improve the public sector what would it be?

Never forget who you’re working for. Frontline workers have this sorted, but I think there are managers and leaders who, due to the nature of their role, are detached or out of touch with people and this must make decision making a challenge.

How many years have you been coming to commscamp?

I am lucky enough to have attended every single commscamp and commscampnorth. I was asked to be Official Cake Monitor for the first commscamp and have clung onto the role ever since.

No two commscamps have been the same, and they have evolved over the years. The wider public sector is well represented, there’s always plenty of first timers in attendance, and pitches alter to reflect the changing nature of comms, technology and budget.

What tips do you have for the first time attendee?

I always think that you get for something what you are prepared to put into it, so get involved. Share and give what you can and take from the room what you need.

I always come away from commscamp with a new idea, or a clearer way of thinking, or a new contact.

Why is there a cake stall at commscampnorth?

There’s been a cake table at every commscamp since it started. Chatting over a piece of cake is a very sociable way to spend time and get to know someone. Something which we have found to be true at commscamp.

We also use the cake table as a way of raising money for charity – have a slice a cake, chuck some money in a donation bucket. Win, win. Our lovely attendees have raised over £1000 for charity, and long may this continue. 

What’s your favourite cake?

My favourite at the moment is courgette, lime and pistachio. My all-time favourite is my late nan’s banana and walnut loaf.

What tips to you have for first timers when it comes to baking?

Just please bake. A simple traybake, or batch of fairy cakes will go down just as well as a Mary Berry show stopper. The fact is comms people like cake, and lots of it, and so we need as many people as possible to bake.

We have prizes up for grabs for our bakers, one overall Star Baker and 3 runners up prizes. You have to bake to be in with a chance of winning.

Seriously though don’t stress about it if you can’t bake or don’t have the time, a shop bought cake is just as welcome. 

What’s your best memory of the event?

My best memories are when the cake creations start arriving in the morning. I am in awe of the skills our bakers have. From the Willy Wonka cake, to ice cream cones cakes, to ‘Weird Shit’ and last year’s gin and tonic cake, we’ve had some delicious cakes for us all to try and I am sure this year will be the same.

I also have fond memories of the time my strawberry and coconut cake was described as looking like sweaty meat.

You will find Kate on the day by the cake stall.

In 2019, commscampnorth will be held in Yorkshire for a second time and we spoke former Hull City Council and Sheffield City Council head of comms turned student Eddie Coates-Madden.

A veteran attendee Eddie talks about the inspiration he gets from the unconference model.

Q: Are you still a head of comms in local government?

I’m not currently a Head of Comms anywhere, but it’s a hugely rewarding job, so I don’t completely rule out a return to the role in future. I’m currently a full time student. An opportunity came up to do something I’m passionate about, so I took it. It coincided with my thinking that it was time for some new energy and leadership for my team and I’m sure they will go from strength to strength.

Q: Why the change of direction? I think we can all reflect a bit on why we do a job and how well we’re doing in them. I believe I did a decent job and made a difference but – at the risk I sounding like a football manager – I had probably taken that team as far as I could. So that, and the opportunity to dive into some Arts and Culture, along with a recognition that nobody is irreplaceable and it was time for someone else to have a go means I’m doing new stuff. It’s all good.

Q: Are you coming to commscampnorth in Bradford?

I am if I’m still allowed! I will be at commscampnorth for a few reasons. The first is that it feels like family. I’ve made a lot of great friends through my work in Comms and it is good to stay in touch. The second is that I genuinely believe the opportunities to learn at commscamp are unlike anywhere else, and I am working on my learning! And third, Bradford is ace.

Q: How would you describe the event?

My first unconference  – I was encouraged to go to GovCamp by a brilliant friend and colleague – was a total revelation. A conference where everyone can be the keynote speaker, where everyone is the expert, including you! It’s a place where everyone is learning and sharing and discussing, having fun and making friends. It’s rare that you don’t take away at least two things you want to try out back at base.

Q: What advice do you have for people coming to commscampnorth for the first time? Join in. It only works because you’re part of it, and – new or veteran – your ideas and experiences are equally valid. Leave the job title at the door; bring your brain in with you.

Q: Seeing as you’re an unconference veteran, what’s your favourite memory from an unconference? A couple. I remember Sarah Baskerville arriving at a GovCamp years ago. She’d been treated appallingly by the Daily Mail over some twitter nonsense. As she said who she was the whole room burst into supportive cheering and applause. Like I say, family, innit? And I remember causing a massive fight at the first CommsCamp with a simple question about whether Comms would be better thought of as Customer Services, than some pretentious marketing thing. Big, ‘energetic’ debate. But all left as friends. Like I say, learning, innit?

Q: How do you intend to pass the day? Talking. Listening. Laughing.

What session would you like to pitch? I’ve been thinking a lot about how or if public sector Comms people can support the communications work of local charities and local action groups. How the professional bodies like LGComms and Comms2Point0 can reach into these very small, under-resourced teams and provide support, skills and platforms. So something about that.

Q: What session would you most like someone else to pitch?

I love the ‘restricted people say what they actually think among friends’ pitch. And maybe something about how Comms people can do better with their own and each other’s mental health. The stats on mental health problems among public sector communicators are shocking and we need to do better at finding strategies for looking after ourselves. And diversity too – we still have a great deal to do to make sure we represent those we serve – especially BAME communities – in Comms teams.

If you could do one thing to make the public sector better what would it be?

Oh, I have controversial views here. I think we need massive reorganisation and merger, with fewer elected members and much greater use of social, digital and insight to drive evidence-based policy, service delivery and improvement. The truth is that we’re running over-layered, confusing, Victorian governance structures in the 21st century. That has to change. Someday I’ll write a pamphlet.

Q: Lastly, what’s your favourite cake?

Today it’s chocolate. Tomorrow it’ll be something different, and the day after that… it’s always cake though.

In the run-up to every event we’re always keen to get the discussion going… what kind of cake shall I bake? Is this a good idea for a session? Is there anyone going from Batley? 

With that in mind we’ll be using the pre-existing commscamp Facebook group here.

If you’re thinking about a session you’d like to see, maybe you can find someone who can pitch it with you.

Pop over to the Facebook group and connect with them.

We’re also on Twitter @commscamp and we’re using the #commscampnorth hashtag.

Head over and say hello.