Meet the Backup team at the Backup Support Hub, part of the #WeMakeEvents Stand A18 at PLASA 2024.
Trained Mental Health First Aiders from Backup and Music Support will be available for the whole show to share information and signpost, with specific support again being offered by EventWell in the Safe-Space for anyone who needs it, at any point during the show. This is also a chance for companies and individuals to learn more about the services Backup provides and find out how they can get involved and support the industry charity.
Tuesday sees the first Backup Interactive Wellbeing session, coordinated by PLASA. Starting at 2:30 pm in Theatre 1, the session has been designed to offer a more personalised environment and will be chaired by Peter Heath, PLASA MD and Backup Trustee. Speakers include, Joanne Croxford from Roadies in Recovery, The Back Lounge’s Suzie Green, Joe Hastings from Music Support and Backup Chair, Piers Shepperd.
“We are very excited to announce this new format,” said Shepperd. “Seminars very often have little interaction from audiences, other than a Q&A at the end. This session aims to change that, allowing audiences to feel much more connected. Wellbeing is all about connection and sharing, so this is going to be a fantastic session for us all.”
“The line-up is really strong this year. PLASA is always a great opportunity to meet and socialise with industry peers, but can be overwhelming. We know that sessions like this can have a profound effect on participants, so we’re really looking forward to a good turn-out.”
On Monday at 7.15pm at the PLASA Bar. Sherry Coenen, Lighting Designer, regular Backup fundraiser and owner of 28 inches of hair, will be having run a very popular ‘Shave or Save’ campaign via social media, the funds will be counted on the day and the verdict will be announced. Will Sherry end up with a trim or a shaved head? The outcome is dependent on donations received via the Shave-or-Save Backup donations page and money raised during the show. After it is cut, her hair will be donated to the Little Princess Trust, a charity providing real-hair wigs for children who have suffered hair loss due to cancer treatment or other illness.
The final fundraising event comes courtesy of the BikeFest team, who are offering two cycling challenges as summer draws to a close. First is BikeFest London. This challenge offers riders three routes, all ending together at Riverside Studios in Hammersmith. The longest route begins in Chippenham at 7am on August 31st. Later at 11am, the 50-mile team will start from Reading, and at 1pm, the final team will begin its 20-mile ride in Surrey. All three teams will meet in Richmond Park to make the final leg of the journey as one.
BikeFest Spain is the final fundraising challenge which for the last seven years, the #WeMakeEvents team have joined forces to raise money for Backup with their annual trip to Valencia. The aim is to arrive in Barcelona just in time for the ISE trade show. The route is almost 400km and they will complete it in just under three days of cycling.
All the funds raised from donations to our fantastic volunteers will go towards furthering the amazing work that Backup Tech do to help the industry, including mental health training, support and education.
