No you read that right, Sunny Cardiff! So after a few days rest following the Easter Break up, we headed down to Cardiff for National Conference, Division had arranged a mini-bus for us to travel down & socialize on the way….. 
but as a family we decided to travel down early & check out the crèche facilities for the kids and I had been invited to a ‘First time delegates lunch with the General Sec’. So we set off early & drove down to Cardiff and surprisingly the roads were clear-ish and the sun was shining, upon our arrival in Cardiff we checked into the fantastic Radisson Blu, which is a swanky hotel right in the middle of Cardiff.
The hotel was superb, with interconnecting rooms for my wife & I and the children, once again I found that the Union had ensured that families & partners are involved and supported and actively encouraged to attend with those members who engage in Union life.
They went off to explore Cardiff & I set off to register at the Conference centre and have lunch with Chris Keates & other first time delegates. The conference was held at The Millennium Centre at Cardiff Bay.
During this lunch meeting I was informed of the process & procedures of conference. It was informal, light hearted and a warm welcome which made me feel keen to speak if the chance arose during the various motions that Conference would discuss/debate. It was then back to the Hotel however with some bad news, my crèche bookings had not worked out, so over dinner at the hotel with all the other Division delegates my wife & I worked out a plan for their activities over the next few days.
We ate that night with all the other delegates(as we did other evenings during the Conference) from my division at the Hotel and an enjoyable sociable evening followed, the format was every evening we would meet, socialize and follow up discussions from earlier in the day. Families were of course included and one highlight was my children & other families children playing & laughing in the restaurant of an evening.
My thoughts/concerns that would my wife & children be bored when I was at conference were blown away when each evening the kids got together and enjoyed an evening meal with new friends
#happy kids!
Some highlights for me of the Conference were:
- Listening to Tristan Hunt Shadow Minister for Education discuss how Labour would rebuild trust with Teachers after the last 5 years of attacks, and also listening to Hew Lewis the Minister for Education in Wales talk about the Education system/needs in Wales & The UK.
2.Listening to, following and being involved in decisions that would shape NASUWT union work over the coming year.
3. Visiting the Fringe events & workshops on topical issues and taking advantage of the free relaxation & massage tents and other great stall holders in the foyer of the Conference.
4. Socializing with people from Division, Regional & National areas and discussing topics affecting us all as a profession.
5. Speaking at Conference (not once but twice) Having listened, voted and participated in votes on various motions, I felt the desire to speak & offer my opinions, I duly completed a card requesting I be called to speak, as a first time speaker I was greeted with a round applause as I took the lectern to discuss how shameful the current supply market is and how it needs regulation.
I felt my speech went well, was well received and comments by delegates in and around the Conference Hall was positive afterwards. This made me feel happy that I had participated in the discussion and debate that formed how NASUWT would action this issue in the coming year.
6. Finally Broadening the horizons – Having the opportunity to visit a city I have not visited before, exploring Cardiff Bay which is wonderful & the children exploring Cardiff Castle, Cardiff Bay, etc.
In Summary: My first conference was a great success in every way, all the family enjoyed their long weekend, I was able to feel I contributed to my union and its action plans for the coming year, I met with lots of like-minded people & even got up and spoke! Happy Days
However Two things to carry forward to Birmingham ’16 Conference though:
- Book and sort out the crèche early!
- Keep the receipts as the Expense Form is a killer!!
PJR Education Consultancy 
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