Sammy Connell, head of events at NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union and ABPCO co-chair, has been at the forefront of this movement ensuring that their events are accessible to all delegates, including working parents.

Sammy’s commitment to inclusivity stems from a deep understanding of the challenges faced by delegates who are also parents. “We are a Union for teachers with equality at the heart of our organisation. The question we often ask ourselves is ‘Do we believe in equality or not’. We know many of our members are parents and it is vital to us that everyone is included in decisions that could affect them. If we didn’t have a creche, we would be effectively excluding many members from attending and being part of key decisions being made. Excluding parents diminishes the diversity of perspectives at an event,” she explains. “So, providing a creche widens the number of potential attendees and ensures the participation and views of a key section of our society are included.”  

To turn this ethos into reality, Sammy collaborates with Nipperbout, a partnership that spans over 25 years. This year, Nipperbout managed a crèche at the NASUWT annual conference in Harrogate. The crèche was 812.25sqm with four separate areas and catered for 56 children over the three-day event. The crèche looked after a wide range of children, from 17 years to two months old.  The Nipperbout team created a ‘spy theme’ which included activities such as code cracking, laser challenge, mocktail making and a casino floor.

“Each day the children were asked to choose the activities, which added to the inclusive nature of the event,” says Janthea Bridgen, CEO of Nipperbout.

Nipperbout took the children out to Harrogate each day, visiting local attractions including the Pump Rooms, Valley Gardens and the Museum and Gallery. “We created a Treasure Hunt app to entertain the children on their daily excursion,” she continues. “The app will be available (via the local tourist board) for all families to download and will create a lasting legacy for the destination.”

“Embracing a family-friendly approach can bring numerous benefits to your event,” explains Janthea. “Offering childcare services enables parents who might struggle with childcare arrangements to attend a multi-day event, thereby widening your audience.”

There’s also the factor of ‘pester power’. According to Janthea, satisfied children can become powerful advocates, influencing their parents to return to events; creating a positive experience for the whole family can significantly boost an event’s success.

For many events, the integration of crèche is more than just a convenience – it’s a crucial step towards inclusivity.

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Originally published on Conference News, our thanks to author Jill Hawkins.

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