Authenticity to Action conference 2024
University of Central Lancashire, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 2HE
The 7th Authenticity to Action Conference - creative approaches to public and patient involvement in Health and Social care education
The Authenticity to Action conference is hosted by the Comensus group at the University of Central Lancashire. Our committee of service users, staff and academics is pleased to invite colleagues and partners to our 7th Authenticity to Action conference. It is now 16 years since we delivered the first conference in 2007 and we welcome the growth and partnership working that now exists in Higher Education Institutions and other centres of learning.
Our conference aims to celebrate and showcase good practice in involvement work in Higher Education, but also critique and discuss any barriers or less favourable conditions which still exist in our institutions. This year, we are focusing on creative approaches to involvement. By attending this conference, you will learn from other public and patient involvement facilitators and meet people with lived experience who are passionate and committed to changing attitudes and imparting knowledge to future health and social care professionals.
The Conference themes are:
- Creative arts approaches to involvement and innovation (including art, theatre, creative writing, multimedia).
- Going under or getting over? Stumbling blocks or stepping stones? Recovery and healing- sharing lived experience as a therapeutic tool for wellbeing.
- Creative solutions to the challenges relating to service user and carer involvement (which include recruitment of under-represented groups, payments, power imbalances and so on).
- Arnstein’s ladder or squeaky see-saw? The current state of play of democratic service user and carer involvement in research and education.
- Are we surviving, thriving or just left behind? Service user and carer involvement in the new world
The Authenticity to Action conference committee is pleased to invite colleagues and partners to our 7th Authenticity to Action conference. It is now 16 years since we delivered the first conference in 2007 and we welcome the growth and partnership working that now exists in Higher Education Institutions and other centres of learning. Our committee is made up of service users, carers and academic supporters of the Comensus group.
Our conference aims to celebrate and showcase good practice in involvement work in Higher Education, but also critique and discuss any barriers or less favourable conditions which still exist in our institutions. By attending this conference, you will learn from other public and patient involvement facilitators and meet people with lived experience who are passionate and committed to changing attitudes and imparting knowledge to future health and social care professionals.
Deadline - Friday 26 January 2024
For further information about submitting an abstract, please contact Janet Garner at Comensus.
Email: Comensusoffice@uclan.ac.uk
Telephone: 01772 893818/895146 or Mobile 077743 144143.
If you are concerned about any issues of affordability with regard to attending and presenting at the conference, please contact us to discuss. We hope to keep the conference fee to a maximum of £100.
We will have contributions from a wide range of individuals including academics, service users, carers, patients, researchers, practice educators, public involvement leads and other stakeholders, around the following themes:
- Creative arts approaches to involvement and innovation (including art, theatre, creative writing, multimedia).
- Going under or getting over? Stumbling blocks or stepping stones? Recovery and healing- sharing lived experience as a therapeutic tool for wellbeing.
- Creative solutions to the challenges relating to service user and carer involvement (which include recruitment of under-represented groups, payments, power imbalances and so on).
- Arnstein’s ladder or squeaky see-saw? The current state of play of democratic service user and carer involvement in research and education.
- Are we surviving, thriving or just left behind? Service user and carer involvement in the new world
- Public and Patient involvement facilitators
- Health and social care practitioners
- Academics/researchers/lecturers in health and social care education
- Health and social care students
- Members of the public, service users, patients or carers
Your abstract should be written in plain language and no more than 250 words.
Your proposed session or creative contribution should be designed so that it is inclusive, interactive and interesting to a wide range of delegates, whilst provoking deep discussion.
We welcome proposals for sessions to be delivered in the following formats:
SHOWCASES: These will celebrate the work and impact of a specific ‘involvement’ initiative within health and social care education. Emphasis will be on the practice of public and patient involvement and partnership. This will be 20 minutes in duration.
WORKSHOPS: These will maximise audience participation, focus upon a key area of ‘involvement’ practice and explore the associated opportunities and challenges. They will be up to 50 minutes in length
ACADEMIC PAPERS: These will usually share the findings from an organised piece of research into ‘involvement’. Alternatively, they may be a theoretical paper that presents critical thinking in relation to one or more of the conference themes. Presentations should be of 20 minutes’ duration (to include 5 minutes allocated time for audience questions.
SYMPOSIUM discussions: We are looking for submissions from partnerships or networks for a focused discussion of up to 50 minutes in length, which will engage the audience and be centred around one of the conference themes.
POSTERS: There will be the opportunity to submit a poster for display in the conference space and dedicated poster presentation session.
CREATIVE ARTS: We encourage submissions utilising a variety of creative or artistic media. We hope to be able to facilitate a range of entries, please contact us to discuss this further.
An abstract is a written description that sets out what you would like to present and why (please define your work in no more than 250 words). Your abstract should be submitted by email to Comensusoffice@uclan.ac.uk. The subject line of your email should clearly state Authenticity to Action, and you should state in the email whether you are submitting a Showcase, Workshop, Academic Paper, Symposium, Poster or Creative Arts.
Please include a short biography of the authors/presenters in addition to the abstract.
A panel of public/patient/service users/carers, academics will review abstracts.
Background
Hel Spandler (they/them) is Professor of mental health at the University of Central Lancashire. They hold a Wellcome Investigator Award Holder for the project, ‘Crafting Contention: exploring the role of zines in challenging mental health knowledge and practice’. They are also the Managing editor of Asylum: the radical mental health magazine
Zines as critical pedagogy: some perils and possibilities
Recent years have seen a resurgence in DIY hand-crafted literature - ‘zines’ (pronounced zeens) and associated zine cultures. This has included zines about personal experience (perzines) and collaborative zines made by individuals and groups of people who have used, refused, or survived health and social care services. Such material clearly has potential as a critical pedagogical tool in higher education.
This talk will draw on a current Wellcome funded ‘Madzine’ project to explore the perils and possibility of introducing zines into the academy.
*In a linked zine making workshop [From Authenticity to ‘Quiet Activism’] there will be a chance to get hands-on with Madzines following the talk.
Background
Sue’s background is in academia; she has a PhD in History and is a published author. During a mental health crisis, in which she was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, she offended and spent time in prison. Since her release, she has been campaigning for prison reform, as well as better mental health treatment both in prison and in the community. Sue has worked for various organisations, either as a volunteer or as an ad-hoc worker, using her lived experience as a way in which to raise awareness of injustices and poor treatment. She is currently a fellow of, and implementation co-ordinator at, the international ‘Fair access to justice knowledge hub’, which fights for the right of defendants with disabilities. She is also an ad-hoc lecturer, as well as a lived experience member of the Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) Higher Education Programme research team, here at UCLan.
Abstract
Using my lived experience of mental health services and the criminal justice system, I will share how my passion for coproduction has led me to organisations where I have been able to influence decision making. I will discuss how and why I began my campaign work and public & patient involvement, beginning with my dream of developing a support group for people with borderline personality disorder, and how it eventually came to fruition. I strongly believe that involvement should be of mutual benefit, and I will describe the barriers I have faced and why some attempts at coproduction have failed. Finally, I will examine the lessons I have learned along the way, and the ways in which my work has, with certain exceptions, helped with my mental health and long-term recovery. Whilst recognising that everyone’s experiences are different, I hope to highlight some commonalities shared by those who have experienced injustice and/or poor treatment, and how important it can be in bringing about change.
Background
James Wilson is a highly regarded Registered Mental Health Nurse and Nurse Educator who has significantly contributed to healthcare education. His teaching approach is student-centred and has been recognised for his innovative use of interactive theatre to enhance learning and engagement.
James is a member of the inaugural team at the School of Nursing and Allied Health at the University of Chichester, where he works to ensure that diverse community perspectives inform healthcare practice.
As a recipient of the prestigious National Teaching Fellow, James was recognised by Advance HE for his contributions to transformative learning. He has developed an immersive suite of drama-based learning techniques that have gained national and international recognition for their effectiveness in actively empowering students to participate in learning and explore key healthcare issues.
James is a collaborator at heart, often partnering with students, charities, further education colleges, and local authorities. He is a sought-after speaker and presents regularly at the Royal College of Nursing and the World Congress of Psychiatry.
In his teaching philosophy, James fosters dialogue and creates learning experiences that empower students to develop their voices and actively engage in healthcare practice discourse. His dedication to excellence has been recognised through prestigious awards and nominations, such as the Times Higher Education Award (Most Innovative Teacher of the Year).
Abstract
This presentation showcases an innovative approach to healthcare education through a Collaborative Learning Network (CLN). The CLN aims to empower individuals with lived experience of healthcare to become active contributors to the educational process. The CLN mainly shapes curricula, develops teaching materials as learning objects, and participates in supportive educational activities alongside community members, healthcare professionals and students.
This presentation also highlights the network's unique enterprise activities, such as simulation exercises and interactive theatre performances. These award-winning, innovative approaches not only serve as educational tools but also as sustainable sources of revenue. By leveraging these activities, the network demonstrates its commitment to financial sustainability while advancing its educational mission.
Accommodation available in Preston
There are a range of accommodation options available nearby to the event.
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Rooms held for this conference on 15 and 16 May 2024 - £74.50 per night including breakfast (based on sole occupancy)*. Contact the hotel quoting booking reference 63539. Email: res-prestoninternational@legacy-hotels.co.uk Phone: 01772 255600 *Rooms held for this event until 15 March 2024, after this date the conference rate of £74.50 per night may not be available. A set number of rooms are booked for this conference. Once they are all booked then the rate above will no longer be available. |
3 stars |
0.2 miles |
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Rooms must be booked directly with the hotel. |
3 stars |
0.3 miles |
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Rooms must be booked directly with the hotel. |
3 stars |
0.6 miles |
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Rooms must be booked directly with the hotel. |
2 stars |
1.2 miles |
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Rooms must be booked directly with the hotel. |
4 stars |
3.7 miles |
The above is for information only and does not constitute a recommendation.
Conference Booking Terms and Conditions
Please read our terms and conditions before booking onto the conference.
1. About UCLan
a. University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) is a Higher Education Corporation in England and Wales with its main address at Fylde Road, Preston, Lancashire PR1 2HE. Our Vat number is 677 3793 76.
b. UCLan may amend these terms and conditions (Terms) from time to time. Every time you place a booking with UCLan, the Terms in force at the time of your order will apply to the contract between you and us.
c. Where expressly stated, some of these Terms only apply to ‘consumers’. For this purpose, ‘consumer’ means any individual delegate who is attending for purposes that are wholly or mainly outside that individual’s trade, business, craft or profession
2. Registration and Contract
a. Our delegate booking form (Form) will guide you through the steps you need to take to place an order with us to attend the meeting referred to on the Form (Event). Our order process allows you to check and amend any errors before submitting your form to us. Please take the time to read and check your Form at each stage of the order process. By returning this form you are requesting a firm booking.
b. Please note that your booking acknowledgement will be automatically sent once the Form has been received. Formal joining instructions will be sent to you via email approximately two weeks before the start of the meeting, using email address supplied.
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d. All bookings must be received by the 1 May 2024. Bookings will be accepted and confirmed only when full payment or invoicing instructions have been received. Bookings will not be accepted unless they are made using the official online form.
e. In the event UCLan do not accept your application we will refund any booking fee (Fee) you may have already paid to UCLan. Payment sent independently of this booking form must state details of the delegate and the meeting. If you do not receive a confirmation e-mail of your booking within two weeks of the meeting, please contact the Events Team.
3. Your Obligations:
By submitting the Booking Form to us for attending the Event you agree that:
a. If you are not a consumer, you have authority to bind the business on whose behalf you submit the Form;
b. You are at least 18 years old;
c. You will comply with all health and safety regulations and other premises rules expressly brought to your attention at the Event;
d. You must not behave in an abusive, threatening, anti-social or intoxicated manner at the event or carry any offensive, illegal or prohibited substances or materials (failure to comply with this obligation may result in you being refused admission or ejected from the Event);
e. You will not make any audio or visual recordings of or during the Event without our prior written consent (failure to comply with this obligation may result in you being refused admission or ejected from the Event);
f. UCLan or its authorised licensees may record, film or photograph the Event and the resulting materials may contain your image and/or voice. If you object to this please raise your concerns to UCLan in advance of the Event; and
4. Fee and Payment
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b. Prices for attending our events may change from time to time, but changes will not affect any order you have already placed.
c. You can only pay the Fee using a debit card or credit card through our Online Store via the conference webpage or for UK delegates, (if we have agreed) by return payment of invoice issued by us. We accept most major cards.
5. Cancellation Policy
a. Cooling-Off Period: If you are a ‘consumer’ (i.e. attending the Event for purposes wholly or mainly outside your profession, trade or business) you have a legal right to change your mind within 14 days after the day we email you to confirm we accept your booking. UCLan will reimburse any Fees you have already paid using the same means of payment as you used. To exercise the right to cancel in this period, you must inform UCLan of your decision to cancel by a clear statement (e.g. a letter sent by post, fax or e-mail). You may use the model cancellation form provided [on our website] or otherwise contact our Conferencing and Event team. Please note that if the Event takes place prior to expiry of the cooling off period you cannot change your mind once it is finished, even if the period is still running. This right does not apply to delegates who are not consumers for the purpose of the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013,
b. No Cooling Off Period of After It Has Expired: Any cancellations received by UCLan up to and including 1 May 2024 will be given a refund less 10% administration charge. For cancellations received after this date, a refund will not be given. Cancellations must be made in writing to events@uclan.ac.uk Verbal cancellations will not be accepted. Please note you do not have a statutory right to cancel your contract with us under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 (regulation 28(1)(h)).
c. Cancellation, Rescheduling or Material Alteration by UCLan: Occasionally, an Event is cancelled, rescheduled or materially altered for a variety of reasons, for example, if the speaker is unable to attend on late notice or if there is an incident at the premises. If an Event is cancelled (and not rescheduled), you will be offered a full refund of the Fee. If an Event is rescheduled or materially altered, you will be offered a place at the rescheduled or altered event (subject to availability) or a full refund of the Fee. Any refund will be paid by the same method of payment you used to pay the Fee.
6. Substitutions Policy – You must not allow your booking for attendance at the Event to be sold or transferred to any third party without our prior permission. Requests for named substitutions (subject to our right of refusal) are accepted up to 10 May 2023 and should be made in writing to events@uclan.ac.uk. Verbal substitutions will not be accepted. Packages cannot be shared under any circumstances.
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a. Nothing in these Terms limits or excludes UCLan’s liability for: death or personal injury caused by our negligence; fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation; or any other liability which cannot be lawfully excluded.
b. IF you are NOT a consumer, then subject to clause 7.a:
i. UCLan will under no circumstances whatever be liable to you, whether in contract, tort (including negligence), breach of statutory duty, or otherwise, arising under or in connection with the contract for any loss of profits, sales, business, or revenue; loss or corruption of data, information or software; loss of business opportunity; or any other indirect or consequential loss; and
ii. Subject to clause 7.a, UCLan’s total liability to you in respect of all losses arising under or in connection with this contract, whether in contract, tort (including negligence), breach of statutory duty, or otherwise, shall in no circumstances exceed the Fee of the Products].
c. If you ARE a consumer then, subject to clause 7.a, if UCLan fails to comply with these Terms, UCLan is responsible only for loss or damage you suffer that is a foreseeable result of our breach of these Terms or our negligence. Loss or damage is foreseeable if it is an obvious consequence of our breach or if it was contemplated by you and us at the time we entered into this contract.
d. We only supply the Products for domestic and private use. You agree not to use the product for any commercial, business or resale purposes, and we have no liability to you for any loss of profit, loss of business, business interruption, or loss of business opportunity.
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b. If such an event occurs that affects the performance of our obligations under these Terms UCLan will contact you as soon as reasonably possible to notify you and you may cancel this contract.
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11. General
a. If any provision of these Conditions is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder shall not be affected. Any waiver by us of any breach by you is not a waiver of any other or subsequent breach. These Conditions and the contract between us do not create, confer or purport to confer any benefit or right enforceable by any person not a party to it.
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d. Each of the paragraphs of these Terms operates separately. If any court or relevant authority decides that any of them are unlawful or unenforceable, the remaining paragraphs will remain in full force and effect.
12. English Law – These Conditions and the contract between us are subject to English law and the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts. If you live outside of England or Wales you may have legal rights to pursue proceedings in your local jurisdiction and should seek further independent advice.