16th August 2019
Families are important to us all, they are rich, diverse and evolving, with no two being quite the same. Over time our families might shift and change, but the need for connection between individuals remains constant. Beyond the legal or genetic bonds we might share, the essence of a family is in the provision of emotional and spiritual kinship through a combination of:
- Shared values, beliefs and traditions
- Common experiences and activities
- Unconditional, non-judgemental support
Building a family takes energy, commitment and time. Energy to build the memories and foundations that are the heart of any family, commitment to make sure these foundations stay strong and time to allow family values and rituals to develop amongst a group. Whilst sometimes difficult, the result of a successful family is a sense of belonging, purpose and being a part of something greater than oneself.
Our first launch party
This week at TEDxNHS we held our first official launch party, supported by one of our partners DrDoctor and hosted at Oasis Farm Waterloo, an urban farm and a flourishing community resource. We welcomed over 100 people, including team members, speakers (past and present), partners, long-term supporters and special guests to celebrate TEDxNHS and our journey so far.
As well as a celebration, the launch party provided us with a chance to thank the team for their hard work and progress, to thank our partners and supporters for their involvement and to introduce a new group of guests to the aims and values of TEDxNHS. Perhaps most importantly our launch party marked the announcement of our 2019 cohort of speakers, welcoming them into the world of TEDxNHS and providing a snapshot of what to expect at the main event through a selection of talks highlighting the growth and ambition of the brand.
Over the course of the evening we heard from:
- Allegra Chatterjee, Anthony James, Ayse Gungor & Shane Costigan – TEDxNHS 2019 co-organisers
- Tom Whicher – Founder of DrDoctor
- Jackie Marshall – Oncology nurse and TEDxNHS 2018 speaker
- Sheena Visram – TEDxNHS 2017 Co-Organiser
- Manpreet Bains – TEDxNHS founder
No longer an aim, but an achievement…
Our aim at TEDxNHS has always been to build a family across health and social care – sharing ideas, learning and empowering staff and service users to affect change, no matter their role or seniority. Hearing from our speakers and talking with our guests, what our launch party showed me was that this is no longer just an aim, but an achievement – we have built a family. Within our core team alone this year we have experienced joy and sadness, health and illness, births, weddings and the passing of loved ones. We have supported one another, learnt from each other and worked together to create a growing movement that is always welcoming of new ideas and perspectives.
At times the process of organising TEDxNHS can be all-consuming, as many of the team’s loved ones will attest to. Could this be in any way better illustrated than by the fact that we managed to arrange the launch party on the same date as my husband, Ben and my fellow co-organiser, Shane’s fiancé Imogen’s birthdays. Despite this oversight, which I heard plenty about before the party, on the actual evening it was truly special to share such a mix of celebrations; with many of the team’s friends and families being introduced to what TEDxNHS is about and us being able to thank these other vital figures in the extended TEDxNHS family.
A growing family
As we head towards the main event in October, we will continue to expand our family, welcoming over 1000 guests from across the UK to connect and join us. As our growth continues, we are entering an important new chapter in the TEDxNHS journey. One which will take TEDxNHS beyond a single event and build on the momentum and energy that our speakers, team and audience bring with them to think differently, dream bigger and design better for the population we serve. This next step relies on the continued support of our family.
I look forward to seeing you at the main event!