We'll be in Liverpool in the North of England at Hope University for the two and a half days in early July. The conference is a perfect opportunity to meet with other Transitioners taking this challenging journey, to delve deeper into the areas that interest you most, and to gain new skills that will serve you and your initiative well over the coming years.

You can expect innovative workshops; plenty of open space sessions; skill sharing; in-depth project discussions; process work; entertainment (bring instruments!); creative outlets galore (particularly for kids); revitalising activities (bring loose clothing); and lots of meaningful fun and frivolity. All you need to bring is yourself, your energy, your experience and your thirst for learning more!

And just to make sure you didn't miss that - we're welcoming kids too this year. We finally got our act together and are welcoming children and young people with an exciting programme and plenty to do.

Hope University is ideal for the conference - lots of meeting rooms, a feeling of space, and enough accommodation for everyone. And it's on a mainline station, reasonably accessible from just about anywhere in the UK (and beyond). It's also good in terms of accessibility.

If you haven't been to a Transition conference yet, you don't know what you're missing. To get an idea from last year, have a read of the 2010 conference blog.

Dates and times

• Registration opens on Friday July 8th at 19.00
• The conference programme itself begins on Saturday morning July 9th at 10.00
• The programme finishes on Monday July 11th at 13.00
• Friday night will be an informal mixing time with an open bar, so turn up on Friday night to meet old friends and make new ones.

Programme

The programme schedule will be arriving here soon....

Conference costs and booking information

Summary:

• Tickets for the 2 ½ day event are £110
• Some concessions tickets are available
• Lunches for Saturday and Sunday are included in the price
• Accommodation is extra – details below
• Other meals can be booked (see below), or you could self-cater, go off campus, or call in takeaways. Please note that to self-cater you would need to be staying campus (or cook with someone who is), and bring cooking utensils.
• Day tickets are available for Saturday or Sunday at £42.50 with lunch, or £35 without lunch.
• Booking early will allow you to take advantage of cheaper transport options.

Concessions Fund:

Can you afford to help someone pay for a ticket? Please donate what you can afford to allow us to help someone with the price of their ticket. If half of us donated just £10, 35, or whatever you can, additional people will be able to attend at a concession rate. Please click on the button below to donate to the concession fund. 

Booking tickets

Reservations

The only way to reserve a place is to pay for it. See below for payment details - you can pay either online or with a cheque (UK only). We request that you resist the temptation of calling us up and asking for a reservation – just check this page http://www.transitionnetwork.org/conference-2011-uk on the website to see if we still have tickets.

Payments – online

Buy your conference ticket here via Paypal, Visa, AmEx, Mastercard, Solo or Switch.
When Eventbrite accepts your payment, your place at the conference is secured – you will receive a confirmation e-mail.

Payments – cheque (UK only)

To purchase a ticket by cheque (UK only) please make out your cheque to: "Transition Network", and send it along with your contact details, the number of tickets you want and your accommodation and meal choices to:

Transition Conference 2010
Transition Network
43 Fore Street
Totnes
TQ9 5HN

Your place will only be reserved once we have received your cheque. We will notify you via e-mail or phone.

Concessions

We have a limited number of tickets at concession prices. Please think carefully as to whether or not you need a concession. We are happy to give the concessions, but want to ensure that they go to those who most need them. To apply for a concession please e-mail the conference team. 

Accommodation costs and options. Book soon - first come first served!

We can offer several options for accommodation on campus. Sorry there are no double rooms – the University doesn’t have them. Children are allowed to stay on the floor in a parent’s room (you would need to bring a bed roll or sleeping bag for them).

• Single room ensuite including breakfast (includes bedding and towel). There is a shared kitchen for every 5 rooms with appliances, but no utensils.: £35/night
• Single room ensuite, NOT including breakfast (includes bedding and towel). There is a shared kitchen for every 5 rooms with appliances, but no utensils.: £30/night
• Single room, shared bathroom, including breakfast (includes bedding and towel). There is a shared kitchen for every 7 rooms with appliances, but no utensils: £25/night.
• Single room, shared bathroom, NOT including breakfast (includes bedding and towel). There is a shared kitchen for every 7 rooms with appliances, but no utensils: £20/night.
• Note: We have fewer of the single rooms with shared bathrooms, so if you want one please book early.
• We have asked local Liverpool transitioners whether anyone can spare a room or sofa during the conference. Keep an eye on the conference forum for this information.
• Other accommodation

Meals

• Buffet lunches for Saturday and Sunday are included in the price. Please let us know of dietary restrictions when booking.
• Other meals can be booked. If you are staying on campus you can choose to book a room including breakfast. You can also book dinners either for all three evenings, or just for 2, or even 1 evening – dinners cost £8.75/dinner. Dinners are a main course and sweet, plus tea or coffee. You can also book a buffet lunch on Monday if you would like one for £7.50.

Other food options

There is a cafe on campus where tea/coffee and some light refreshments can be purchased.

If you are staying on campus and bring your own mug you can also make drinks for yourself in your kitchen.

If you prefer to prepare your own meals there are kitchens available in the accommodation blocks. These have ovens, microwaves, fridges and kettles, but do not have utensils, plates, cutlery etc. We suggest that if you want to do this you get together with friends, or other transitioners via the conference forum and arrange who will bring what, and who will cook etc.

There are a number of takeaway outlets and restaurants nearby. Some of the takeaway outlets deliver. There is a Co-op within a mile of the campus.

Cancellation

• Cancellations received by end of day June 1st will be reimbursed 100%
• Cancellations received between June 2nd and end of day June 24th will be reimbursed 50%.
• Cancellations received from June 25th will not be reimbursed (please contact us if you have exceptional circumstances).

Venue and conference information

Where

Liverpool Hope University
Hope Park
Liverpool
L16 9JD 

Conference numbers

This year we have capacity for around 350 participants, which has felt like a comfortable number at previous conferences.

• Hope Park is a modern university campus. All of the classrooms that we will be using have fully accessible entrances, lifts, and access to accessible toilets. The main room and classrooms are fitted with hearing loops. DeafAlerter® is installed at the Hope Park site (fire alarm alert).
• There are a number of wheelchair accessible bedrooms including wet-room style bathrooms.
• Many workshops use visual aids such as powerpoint slides and flipcharts. Please let us know if this is an issue so that we can work with the presenter to reduce the impact of this.
• The University provides designated parking bays for the exclusive use of vehicles displaying a Blue Badge providing the badge holder is accompanying the vehicle. Any vehicle using a designated parking space without a Blue Badge will be clamped and subject to the University regulations on clamping.
• If you have further queries, or need assistance making your way to the venue once you arrive in Liverpool, please email Catrina and we will do our best to help.

• We have some places for children (0-16 year olds) who are attending with a parent or guardian. Please make sure that you book places for your children.
• There will be a children’s and young people’s programme running during the weekend by Moving Sounds. Please let us know when booking whether your children want to join in with these scheduled activities.
• If your child is attending with you and is either younger than 5 or doesn't wish to join in the activities, please be aware that you still need to book. Sadly we cannot afford to provide creche facilities, so you will need to keep your child with you at all times and be responsible for their welfare.
• The venue does not have any provision for baby foods so please bring what you need.

Getting there

The campus is east of the centre of Liverpool – see map.

• By public transport: There are regular trains and coaches to Liverpool from around the country. Search for ticket deals using trainline.com, National Express or Megabus. For local public transport connections see here.
• If you’re bringing your bike there are secure lock ups on campus.
• By car: For directions see here. If you have space, please offer it to others on the forum, and if you need a lift, it's worth having a look there too.
• By plane: While we would love to have all Transitioners at the conference, we are also aware of the carbon footprint aspect of travel. Please read this piece from Rob's blog and consider it before making a decision about flying to the conference. The nearest airport is Liverpool John Lennon airport.

• YHA hostel – not that close, but good prices
• The Old Dairy guest accommodation – about half way between town centre and Hope University
• Premier Inn Liverpool Roby – trains run from Roby station to Broad Green
• Premier Inn Liverpool Tarbock – a bit further out than Roby, nearest train station Huyton
• Check hostel bookers website for more information online

Other

• Wifi is available on campus. Passkeys will be available at reception.
• We will be filming during the conference. If you do not wish to be filmed please politely notify the filmer.

Press protocol

Members of the press are very welcome to participate in or observe all and any aspect of the conference, as long as they sign up (by email or at the conference) to the following protocol:

• All press must register through the normal channels, paying full price. Email the Conference team for your press pass
• All press must state which publication (or freelance) they represent on their signup form
• All press must make themselves known to a Transition Network person on arrival
• Transition Network will provide press with an identifiable badge with name and publication
• Press must wear the badge at all times
• Any press person engaging a conference participant in conversation must explicitly convey whether the conversation is on the record or off the record
• All participants will be told that if they feel uncomfortable talking to the press that it is their responsibility to express that (politely) before the conversations start
• Dress code for conference - if you're in a suit, you'll be the only one :¬)

Any questions please email the conference team at transitionconference@gmail.com.