Uniting Communities; the difference that makes the difference
Evolving systemic ideas and practice in therapy, research, and social justice
13 Hours
CPD
More Info
Join us in Bristol for the AFT Annual Conference 2024
A hybrid conference combining a full face-to-face programme, including evening entertainment, along with a number of dedicated online sessions which will be accessible to a wider audience around the world.
The overall theme for the conference is ‘Uniting Communities’, recognising the core ethos of family and systemic psychotherapy in bringing people together, whether in birth families, families of choice, organisations or communities. We want to hear about the innovations, projects, concepts and theories that have made the difference in your community.
We will be thinking about the ways systemic ideas can unite people with a purpose, supporting connections from the personal to the global. What are the ways in which we use our skills to promote dialogue, healing and meaningful connection? How do concepts of community, home and belonging inform our work and allow us to build those connections? What is the difference that will really make a difference to the lives of people we work with, giving them the tools to heal, unite and participate?
Conference Spotlight
This year's conference features a hugely varied programme, and there really is something for everyone. Check out a few of the highlights below...
We recognise that the AFT community is itself made up of a number of overlapping communities of identity, and that our conference is a perfect place for these to come together, learn from each other and discuss ideas, practice and research.
By examining the concept of relational activism, we will explore what tools we need and what contribution we can make as a community, building one connection at a time to promote reconciliation and engage in social justice.
Quick Facts
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Date: Thursday 19 & Friday 20 September 2024.
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Venue: Delta Hotel, Bristol City Centre, UK
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Format: A hybrid conference combining a full face-to-face programme with selected online sessions.
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Replays: All keynote presentations and selected workshops will be recorded and made available to ticket holders as a replay.
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Programme: Click here.
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Ticket Prices: Click here.
Keynote
Nora Bateson
Our opening plenary will be led by Nora Bateson, award-winning filmmaker, writer and educator and president of the International Bateson Institute in Sweden. This is the first time Nora has presented at the AFT conference, and we are so excited to welcome her to our UK family therapy community.
Entertainment
Jason Singh
Dinner will be followed by a vocal performance and DJ set by South West composer, beatboxer and curator Jason Singh. Fresh from his headline set at WOMAD Festival, Jason will showcase music from around the world based largely on communities, traditions and cultures of the global majority as well UK dance music cultures.
Fringe
Every Brilliant Thing
This powerful, laugh-out-loud funny yet poignant play, directed by Polly Whitfield, created by playwright Duncan MacMillan and performed solo by Philip Robinson , raises awareness around mental
health issues such as depression and suicide, yet addresses these in such a gentle way to highlight the irrepressible resilience of the human spirit.
Keynote
Maimunah Mosli
Maimunah Mosli, a director, systemic clinical consultant and psychotherapist at the Hayaa' Network in Singapore will join her close colleague Nora Bateson to conduct an interactive warm data lab, exploring the conference themes of belonging, home and uniting communities, which will be a powerful way to open our conference and bring us all together.
Workshop
Dr Karen Partridge
Dr Karen Partridge and Tim Fisher will deliver a fascinating workshop on relational activism, in which they will invite participants to become systemic nomads, embodying systemic theory as lived practice and practice as living theory.
And if a choice of 32 workshops wasn't enough for you, we will be hosting range of informal fringe events that will take place before the conference starts and also during lunchtime. More details coming soon!
Shopping
Visit the Bookstall
The bookshop, provided by Bookmark, is open again this year, stocking a range of relevant books, including suggestions from our speakers.
Funding
AFT Bursary Scheme
The new AFT Bursary Scheme aims to support AFT members to attend conferences or training where the cost would otherwise be prohibitive, and to support programmes aimed at groups currently under-represented in our activities and the profession.
Keynote
Professor Divine Charura
One of our keynote speakers for day two will be Dr Divine Charura, professor of counselling psychology and programme lead at York St John University. Divine has been acknowledged with various awards for his international collaborative work and research projects and is author of The Handbook of Social Justice in Psychological Therapies: Power, Politics, Change.
Conference Dinner
Co-Exist Community Kitchen
We have been working hard to bring you a more ethical and innovative offer for the conference meal and we are pleased to announce a partnership with The Coexist Community Kitchen, a non-profit cookery school in Bristol. Coexist’s main aim is to use food as a vehicle to work with people who experience social marginalisation in our society, and we are delighted that they will be providing the main meal on Thursday night.
Exhibition
Art Exhibition
The conference will feature an exhibition space withing the lunch area, featuring various forms of creative expression from AFT Members.
Location
Bristol
The conference will be held in the vibrant city of Bristol at the Delta Hotel Bristol City Centre. The hotel is right in the heart of the city centre and is close to many of Bristol's amenities and attractions, including the Cabot Circus Shopping Centre and the Brunel's SS Great Britain.