The 2012 Party Conference
The Pirate Party Annual Conference will take place on the 16th of September and is one of the most important dates in Pirate Politics in the UK. Conference attendees will have the chance to take part in debates, hear about what has been happening within the party and help shape our agenda and approach for the coming year. This year we have spaces for 150 members at the main conference.
Our conference is an exciting event for us all to get together and discuss the party’s policies and priorities. You will be able to attend panels, arrange to attend training events, network with other pirates, exchange experiences and have some influence on policy and direction.
What's available at Conference for me?
Last year's conference was an excellent opportunity for me to not only put faces to web handles but also reminded me why I was a member in the first place. It was the first step in my deeper involvement in PPUK and the first time I met many people who I now consider friends.Conference is a unique opportunity to meet other members, elected officers, candidates, researchers and all those other people who are involved with the party. Whether you are an active member or someone who has been watching on the sidelines, conference is a time for you to get to know the party better and to get more involved.
- Ed Geraghty
It also means you can have your say about where the party is and where it is going. We are a small party at present and every voice is valued, so if you have a few choice words for the Party leader, want to bend the Treasurer's ear or meet those candidates you keep hearing about during elections then this is the place to do it. As a bonus you won't need to be vetted, apply for photo ID or pass your car registration to us in advance.
If you have any questions, take a look at the FAQ.
The venue
Our conference will be held at One Wimpole Street, in central London, just off Oxford Street. The full address for your GPS is:
1 Wimpole Street,
London
W1G 0AE
It is a popular event venue in central London, it was the first venue to be awarded BS 8901 Sustainable Events Certification in the UK. Free public wifi will be available and we will have enough space to ensure that we can run a full programme comfortably and have space to get together and talk.
Cost
Tickets to this year's conference cost £20.00 each, and are available online, you can register here. You may be able to buy a ticket on the door if tickets are still available (if you are paying on the door, you can't book a ticket).
Events and fringe
If you have a fringe event you would like to organise, please get in touch with campaigns@pirateparty.org.uk.
We have organised a gig in London - see here for more details
A Pirate Party international meeting will be taking place in London on Saturday the 15th, - details will be posted here as they become available.
Programme
A schedule of the days events is available here.
Accommodation
The party has and continues to look for cheap accommodation deals in and around central london for the period, however availability is fairly limited so you need to book early.
There is however a thread on the forums where people can ask and offer help with accommodation or travel here. We'd ask for people to help other members if they can, after all, sharing is caring.
Disabled access and help
If you are disabled and will need help whilst attending conference, please do let us know in advance so that we can ensure that you get any support that you need. You can contact the campaigns team by email at campaigns@pirateparty.org.uk and let us know what your requirements are.
Stewarding
Stewarding at our conference will be a rewarding experience for volunteers, you would be playing a very important role in ensuring that the Conference runs smoothly. We will need a small number of volunteers to assist with questions and queries from conference attendees, help people who have any special requirements, check tickets and help with the selling of Party Merchandise on the day.
Training and a tour of the venue will be provided before the event, you can get more information from campaigns@pirateparty.org.uk.
