# Barcamp Nonprofits: cut and paste your own conference

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2013/02/13/barcamp-nonprofits-cut-and-paste-your-own-conference/
- Published: 2013-02-13T10:45:29+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

It’s funny how most charity sector conferences and seminars are exactly the same.
I don’t mean in terms of speakers, content, quality or venue of course. I am referring
to the fact that they all use the same model: a series of speakers who speak for
an allotted time at the front and a group of delegates who face them.

 

That has served us well and will continue to do so. But there are other methods 
of learning, and **Barcamp Nonprofits** is one of my favourites.

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Imagine turning up to a one-day event not knowing who the speakers are and what 
they are going to talk about. Imagine realising that you and all the other delegates
_are_ the speakers. That might sound a bit like the nightmare of turning up to work
in your pyjamas.

 

In fact, it’s not like that at all. A **barcamp** is a friendly, fascinating and
surprisingly enjoyable day where you get to make the most of your time.

 

No tents involved, and yes, a bar is usually involved, but that’s for the end of
the day where you can continue any discussions in a nearby pub.

 * Got a question or issue to raise? Run a short session on it, and find out that
   plenty of other people face the same problem.
 * Spotted a session that you can share your experiences in? Put it on the timetable.
   Yes, Barcamp Nonprofits isn’t too way out: it does have a timetable, but we only
   pull it together in the morning, with all the delegates present.
 * Finding that a session isn’t as good as you hoped? You’re allowed to move on 
   to a more relevant one. Don’t sit there wasting your time.

In other words, **it’s down to you to cut and paste the day to your needs**.

 

Everyone has a different Barcamp Nonprofits experience. That’s its value, and that’s
why I’ll be there again. UK Fundraising is also one of the sponsors of the event.

 

[www.barcampnonprofits.com](http://www.barcampnonprofits.com)

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