by Kate Bentham

It’s very nearly CommsCamp, which coincidentally is the same day that it’s OK to eat cake for all your main meals and any snacks in between. You’ll like it. It’s like when you get to eat chocolate for breakfast on Christmas morning.

I’m lucky to have been Official Cake Monitor of the CommsCamp Cake Table since it started in 2013. For those who don’t know the situation with the cake table it is very simple: bake or buy a cake, eat cake, and chuck some money in the donation bucket for the cake you eat. The money raised goes to charity and you can feel good about all the cake you’ve eaten. Simple.

Over the years, the money donated for slices of cake has raised nearly £1,000, proof if proof were needed, that Comms people are lovely, kind, generous and massive fans of cake.

This year we want the cake table to be extra special. We’re holding this year’s cake table in memory of Steph Clarke, who died suddenly and unexpectedly at the end of last year.  Steph was a good ‘un, she was a thinker and a doer, she made positive things happen for communities and individuals. She once said ‘What do I do? I think, I make a difference, I give a fuck, and I’m really proud of that’.

In memory and tribute to Steph the hashtag #Stuff4Steph was established by Steph’s husband James and their family. #Stuff4Steph is about doing good…

It could be random acts of kindness, community spirited acts of goodness, time giving, volunteering, photographing beauty. Or it could be something as simple as holding a door, or smiling at someone in the street. We think she’d love this.

– James Clarke

Much of the vision of #Stuff4Steph fits with the ethos of CommsCamp, which is why with the backing of James, we want CommsCamp to forever support #Stuff4Steph. Together we will remember how fabulous Steph was, the work she did and the legacy she left behind.

Donations from this year’s cake table will go towards local charities which Steph, James and her family supported, so let’s make this the best year ever, bring your pennies and let’s do #Stuff4Steph.

Kate Bentham, or Cake Bentham as Dan Slee once introduced me as.

Official Cake Monitor

(Best job in the world)

Picture credit: Nigel Bishop / Flickr

by Emma Rodgers

It really is not long now. There’s only one week to go until commscamp. We can’t wait.

If you can’t come, don’t worry. Follow the #commscamp hashtag and look out for Facebook Live streams for the pitching at 10am and through the day via our group here.
Here’s a reminder if you are coming along on Friday July 14.

What to do now…

If you can’t come let us know. Not everyone can get away and that’s fine. But do let us know.

Facebook, Twitter debate and discuss. We have a Facebook group here where people kick around ideas for sessions and we’re on Twitter @commscamp. Hashtag is #commscamp There have even been memes by Winston Churchill – yes you did read that right.

If you are in two minds about pitching a session… DO! If you want to talk about it, if there’s a problem that needs solving or if you think you’ve got some answers do it. You’ll be amazed at how much you’ll get from it. Everyone is welcome to pitch and you will get lots of support, whoops and cheers. So go on push yourself out of that comfort zone. But no powerpoint. Okay?
BRING OR BAKE! Bring along a homemade cake for our cake table so brilliantly put together by the fantastic Kate Bentham. Each slice bought gets a raffle ticket where incredible prizes can be won. Like the best of Cliff Richard LP. Or a cat ornament. Bring a prize if you can’t bring a cake or even better bring both. Pre-loved stuff is fine.

The night before social. There’s a pre-camp social the night before that involves drinks and curry. We’ll be at the Anchor, Bradford St, from 6pm and Manzils, Digbeth at 8pm. You can sign up for a ticket here

So you need a place to stay. There’s a list of hotels on our website just in case. Take a look at some helpful information. There’s also a map on how to get there.

On the day…

Yes, there will be a walking train from New St and Moor St Stations. It’ll leave Birmingham New Street at 9am and we’re asking people to meet at Boots in the main concourse. You’ll see volunteers with a red foam hand and a commscamp sign. It’ll then swing by Moor Street at 9.15am and be at the Bond Company venue at 9.30am. Sarah Yates, Kelly Quigley-Hicks and James Allen are your helpful peeps to look out for.

Yes, there will be ice cream. We’ve booked a VW Camper ice cream van for the afternoon so clearly, there will be sunny skies.

You’re bringing your car. There is parking at the venue ONLY for blue badge holders – book in advance by emailing info@thebondco.net – and limited street parking but there are pay and display car parks a short walk away. There is a Google map here with car parks marked.
Registration is from 9am on Friday 14 July at The Bond Company, Fazeley Street, Digbeth, Birmingham and the event starts at 10am. Please try and get there by 9.30am. There will be tea and coffee.

At the end of the day. We should be all done by around 5.30pm and we’ll head along to The Old Crown in Digbeth High Street for those who’d like a quick wind-down.
Any questions, just ask.

This couldn’t happen without our lovely volunteers. Thanks to everyone who’s mucking in to make commscamp a success.

Big shout to our lovely sponsors and supporters: GOLD: Granicus, Touch Design SILVER: Alive With Ideas, comms2point0, dxw, Digital Action Plan from Helpful Technology, UR Promotions. BRONZE: Council Advertising Network, MusterPoint, PSCSF, The Satori Lab.

SUPPORTERS: FirePRO, Government Communications Service, LGCommunications.

Creative commons credit: Paul Clarke / Flickr