23 February 2010
Dear Colleague
We are really looking forward to welcoming you to Eastbourne for the 8th National Playwork Conference and the 1st Annual Playwork Awards on 2nd & 3rd March 2010.
This letter confirms all the details we have on our database for you and your booking. If there are any errors please let us know. Do check the spelling of your name and organisation as this will be going on your Conference badge and certificate. If we have got anything wrong please send us an email so we can put it right. We will send you a new joining letter once we have updated our database.
This letter also gives you other information about Conference so you are fully prepared and ready for it!! Do read all the way to the end.
The Conference Venue is:
The Winter Gardens, Compton Street, Eastbourne BN21 4BP
The Hotels are either:
Mansion Lions Hotel, Grand Parade, Eastbourne BN21 3YS or
The Chatsworth Hotel, Grand Parade, Eastbourne BN21 3YR
They are adjacent to each other
We will be using the bar area in the Mansion Hotel as an evening networking place; on the Monday night after the pub has closed and on Tuesday after the evening event. Both hotels are fully accessible for those with mobility impairments once you are inside. However due to the age and historic value of the traditional Eastbourne seafront hotels they have been refused planning permission for external stairlifts to be fitted. The Mansion Hotel will have available a Stairmaster wheelchair lift which climbs the external steps with you in your wheelchair. Please advise us if you need to stay in this Hotel and are not already booked into it.
Travel directions to Eastbourne are on the Conference website http://www.playworkconferences.org.uk/11.html but here is a money saving tip! There may be other Conference delegates on the same train as you, so print of the first page of this letter and keep it visible on the train and in your hand as you walk across the station and wait for a taxi and then you might find other delegates and share the cost – as well as make a friend.
Your lead delegate is and they have been sent the invoice. The invoice number is . Payment terms are on the website and do include a penalty if not paid on time
Coming on Monday?
If you are coming on the Monday you will be able to check in to your Hotel from 4:00pm. Katie, who is a member of the Conference Staff team, will be in the reception of one of the Hotels to greet you from 4:00pm – 8:00pm. She can be contacted on 07772 487766 if you need any assistance. Only use this number for hotel queries on Monday 1st March.
Both hotels have night staff so it doesn’t matter how late you arrive.
When you go to your Hotel room there will be a welcome letter for you with information about Eastbourne and details of how to get a discount at our favourite local restaurant!
After your meal you are invited to join me, the Conference Team and other colleagues in the Buccaneers Arms [a nice and fairly large pub] next to the Winter Gardens. With your hotel welcome letter you will find a voucher that you can use!! Once the pub closes we will return to the Mansion Hotel bar to continue our conversations!
If you are coming to Eastbourne for Monday evening but are not staying in one of the Conference hotels please let us know in the Office and we can arrange to get the welcome letter to you.
Coming on Tuesday?
You will come directly to the Winter Gardens.
The Conference registration does not start till 9:00am but the building will be opened at 8:00am and the Bistro will be available for the purchase of refreshments. The Door Stewards will direct you to the right place.
There will be an allocated space to leave any suitcases or bags you have brought with you once registration has commenced.
Coming on Wednesday?
The same as Tuesday but the bistro will not be available.
Registration
Registration starts at 9:00am and we aim to have the shortest queues possible!! Each Delegate will have a personalised carry bag with all the information about the Conference in it as well as Delegate name badges [one for Tuesday and one for Wednesday], voucher for the Tuesday Conference Café and voucher for the ‘goody bag’ that you get to take home with you. [The voucher means you can collect the bag at any point]. When you arrive at registration you will see that it is divided up by the first letter of your last name. Please go to the appropriate desk where a member of the Conference team will help you find your Delegate’s pack. Please do take the time to read it because as there is so much going on at this Conference it can be quite a daunting experience so there will be guidance in the pack to help you get the most out of it. There will always be Conference staff around to help you. Please do not hesitate to ask us. It is your Conference – we want you to get the most out of it.
Food at Conference
There will be coffee and a range of teas available throughout the day [there is a limited amount of soya milk and organic milk]. Lunch will consist of a light buffet which will cater for most dietary requirements. If you have very specific requirements or allergies please do tell us. The Tuesday evening meal in the Conference Café will also meet all your requirements. Alcohol will not be available for sale during the day but will be in the evening. We have negotiated hard with the venue for their bar prices not to be excessive.
Photographs, video and audio recording.
By coming to Conference you accept that you may be recorded visually or on audio, digitally or on tape and film. The Conference organisers may use the sound or image to promote future Conferences or events and to raise the profile of playwork.
Don’t forget to tell us if you have any specific or additional needs we need to know about so that your Conference experience is a positive one.
Shopping
This year at Conference we have some opportunities for you to spend yours or your organisations money. And what you can buy will be at bargain or discounted prices. So bring some cash, a cheque book or a bundle of purchase orders. Not all sellers can accept your credit cards!
What can you buy?
There will be bookstalls selling all the well known playwork books and other books. You will be able to buy books and in many cases get them signed by the authors!
We are selling t-shirts! BUT with a difference, they are not printed yet so you will be able to choose a playwork quote, or create your own message and we can print it on for you there and then. If you want to bring a logo from your organisation we should be able to incorporate that too.
Conference Café
On Tuesday evening we are inviting all our delegates on the full package [plus any exhibitors and day delegates who have paid the extra amount] to an evening of entertainment, information, networking, and food in the Gold Room at the Winter Gardens. The doors [and bar] will open at 6:30pm. The starter will be available on your table and the main course will be put out on the buffet at 7:30pm. We are going to put on a small show before the main course – this will involve loud bangs [we are telling you this so that if you have a medical condition that could be affected by the bang don’t come ‘til we tell you it is safe!!] As part of the entertainment for the evening, we will be having a table quiz [with prizes] and the rounds interspersed with story telling, music, and performance. If you feel that you are able to contribute, in any way, by singing a song, playing a tune, telling a joke, reading a poem, or anything else, please make yourself known to Pete [the drummer] on the Conference team. Thank you.
Not happening
Just about everything we have advertised is happening with just the one cancellation; Dr Louise Peacock has, unfortunately, been in hospital with pneumonia so we thought it not a good idea for her to travel down. She has agreed to come next year!
Contacting us
If you are having any problems on your journey to Eastbourne, checking in to the hotel or finding the venue then we would like to help you. We have a dedicated mobile phone number for any queries on Monday 1st March regarding the hotels at this years Conference: 07772 487766 so call us if you think we can help. My personal mobile number is 07977 017090.
I am really looking forward to seeing you this year –IN EASTBOURNE!!
Yours faithfully
Meynell