by Rosaleen Kelly, co-organiser of CU25 in Scotland
Across this Mental Health Awareness Week, we’ve focused on how we can support and protect ourselves and each other. But this year’s theme of “community” is important *every* day. And the Comms Unplugged community is one I’m so proud to have joined.
If you’ve read any of our previous blogs, hopefully by now you’ll know that ours is a professional development and wellbeing event where you can learn and connect with people – while disconnecting from the noise of many tech-led events. There’s no online chat to monitor, and you don’t have to be live-updating your LinkedIn with thoughtful comments on the opening keynote to impress your boss. At Comms Unplugged, you can focus on learning, sharing your experiences and taking care of your wellbeing all at the same time. If that sounds like a community you’d like to join, we’d love to have you!
Because our community isn’t just together for a few days in a field. Although I’ve only attended once, I’ve since shared tips, ideas and curries with Unpluggers in person and (post-event!) online.
Although our event itself is unplugged, and I try to take the encouragement to bring more unplugged moments to my days, our energetic community with its collective wisdom is active online outside of the event too. And never was that more helpful than in the dark days of the pandemic.
As well as dealing with our own lives and worries, comms pros across the country found themselves in the thick of emerging organisational responses to unprecedented challenges. For some, workloads shot through the roof; for others, quite the opposite. At both ends of the spectrum, the pressure was intense.
Just a few months after I attended the 2019 event, the lively, funny, already-supportive CU WhatsApp group evolved from reminiscing about the field or helping each other prep for job interviews, to vital mutual support at a really difficult time. Our unplugged community swung into action, with people across the country sending short, supportive videos, clips of birdsong to bring the outside in, and even self-penned songs for a burst of creativity. It felt like always having a friend on hand, ready to join in with and dip out of as needed and as time allowed. A friend who “gets it” is so valuable. If your friends don’t work in the same industry, it can be hard to feel like they understand the unique pressures we all face.
Comms Unplugged has space for us all
As I saw on a fab meme recently, I’m more of an ‘outside’ enthusiast than ‘outdoors’: other than Comms Unplugged, I only camp for music festivals, and you probably won’t catch me joining in with any cold water swimming options! But gathered around the evening campfire, taking a gentle walk to immerse yourself in the colours of nature, and being able to engage with great speakers and workshops with a view of the countryside and not a bland hotel room? That’s the sweet spot for me.
You’ll learn from great speakers, get practical with workshops on some of the biggest issues facing comms teams today, and get to share some of your own expertise to help the community grow.
I’m so proud to be part of the team bringing Comms Unplugged north for the first time. Whether you’ve always wanted to come or just discovered us – welcome! I hope we #CUinthefield.
Find out more about CU25 in Scotland and book your ticket NOW!
— Monday 12th May —
