UK - Backup is always excited to be at the PLASA Show and this year is no exception. Meet the Backup team at the Backup Support Hub, part of the #WeMakeEvents Stand A18.
Trained Mental Health First Aiders from Backup and Music Support will be available for the whole show to share information and signpost, with specific support again being offered by EventWell in the Safe-Space for anyone who needs it, at any point during the show. This is also a chance for companies and individuals to learn more about the services Backup provides and find out how they can get involved and support the industry charity.
Tuesday sees the first Backup Interactive Wellbeing session, coordinated by PLASA. Starting at 2:30pm in Theatre 1, the session has been designed to offer a much less intimidating, more personalised environment and will be chaired by Peter Heath, PLASA MD and Backup Trustee. The session will break down into smaller groups, facilitating conversation and allowing greater input from audience members, for a more relaxed feel.
Speakers include, Joanne Croxford from Roadies in Recovery, The Back Lounge’s Suzie Green, Joe Hastings from Music Support and Backup chair, Piers Shepperd, all of whom can offer their expertise in their fields covering wellbeing-related support.
“We are very excited to announce this new format,” says Shepperd. “Seminars very often have little interaction from audiences, other than a Q&A at the end. This session aims to change that, allowing audiences to feel much more connected. Wellbeing is all about connection and sharing, so this is going to be a fantastic session for us all.
“The line-up is strong this year. PLASA is always a great opportunity to meet and socialise with industry peers, but can be overwhelming. We know that sessions like this can have a profound effect on participants, so we’re really looking forward to a good turn-out.”
The session does not require pre-booking, so pop in on Tuesday afternoon to meet this amazing group of people and experience a new format of session with Backup.
Another unmissable event is taking place on Monday at 7.15pm at the PLASA Bar. Sherry Coenen, award-winning lighting designer, regular Backup fundraiser and owner of 28 inches of hair, will be doing something extraordinary. Having run a very popular ‘Shave or Save’ campaign via social media, the funds will be counted on the day and the verdict will be announced.
Will Sherry end up with a trim or a shaved head? The outcome is dependent on donations received via the Shave-or-Save Backup donations page and money raised during the show. After it is cut, her hair will be donated to the Little Princess Trust, a charity providing real-hair wigs for children who have suffered hair loss due to cancer treatment or other illness.
The final fundraising event comes courtesy of the BikeFest team, who are offering two cycling challenges as summer draws to a close. First is BikeFest London. This challenge offers riders three routes, all ending together at Riverside Studios in Hammersmith. The longest route begins in Chippenham at 7am on 31 August. Later at 11am, the 50-mile team will start from Reading, and at 1pm, the final team will begin its 20-mile ride in Surrey.
All three teams will meet in Richmond Park to make the final leg of the journey as one. It promises to be a fantastic event and there are still places available for all routes, should you be up for the challenge.
BikeFest Spain is the final fundraising challenge and perhaps the most physically and mentally challenging. For the last seven years, the #WeMakeEvents team have joined forces to raise money for Backup with their annual trip to Valencia. The aim is to arrive in Barcelona just in time for the ISE trade show. The route is almost 400km and they will complete it in just under three days of cycling. It is the ultimate challenge for cycling enthusiasts and the team have already raised over £15,000 towards their target of £20,000. The event takes place in January and registration opens by the end of the summer.
All the funds raised from donations to volunteers will go towards furthering the work that Backup Tech do to help the industry, including mental health training, support and education.
