By CU25 Scotland co-organiser Joanne Ford, on behalf of the (expanded) CU team
When was the last time you switched off? Like, really switched off.
As communications professionals this is a challenge… social media, on call rotas, media enquiries, last minute requests to ‘sprinkle some magic’, never-ending to do lists. It can be relentless.
But taking some time to disconnect can be one of the most powerful things you can do for both your work and your wellbeing. And Comms Unplugged is back in 2025 to help you do just that.
This year the theme for Mental Health Awareness Week is community and it couldn’t be more apt for Comms Unplugged. While this is a unique event which encourages you to disconnect from the day to day to do list and ‘always on’ mode, it’s also just as much about connecting…with nature and people. People just like you who are experiencing the same pressures and demands and craving space to be creative, to think and to learn… and maybe also just to chill and chat!
We’re launching Comms Unplugged 2025 this week because wellbeing and community are at the heart of our ethos.
Yes, it’s a work event, a unique combination of a conference and a retreat with a dual focus on both professional development and wellbeing. And underpinning all of that is you – the wonderfully talented, creative and caring community.
Since it first began in Dorset in 2017, Comms Unplugged has built a strong, vibrant and endlessly supportive community of unpluggers who have continued to share their learning, their ideas and experiences, the highs and the lows, with each other both in the field and beyond it.
It’s brought people together from the world of comms all over the UK who otherwise might not have connected. And those connections were made all the stronger by the fact we had each taken the time for ourselves to switch off from the day-to-day busyness of comms life, to spend time in a field without distractions (or Wi-Fi), connecting in a different way. It’s quite a brave thing to do but so valuable.
We’re incredibly proud of the impact that Comms Unplugged has had for our attendees on everything from mental wellbeing to confidence, careers to personal lives. We know because they’ve told us (check out the comments on the Past CUs tab). We want to continue to grow that community by bringing the Comms Unplugged experience to more people. That’s why this year we’re bringing that unplugged magic to a new venue in beautiful Scotland, with the aim of spreading the proven benefits even further.
We hope you’ll want to join our growing band of unpluggers and we can’t wait to #CUinthefield!
Comms Unplugged 2025 takes place 4-5 September. Find out more about the event then head on over to our shop to book your ticket.
— Sunday 11th May —
