Card image cap Card image cap

Friday 21 June 2019
– Sunday 23 June 2019

Athena
Queen Street
Leicester
LE1 1QD

Tickets

Convention

Card image cap

General entry to Humanists UK Convention 2019 is once again the most affordable ever, with tickets priced at just £99, and a special student rate of £69.

Ticket-holders are entitled to attend all sessions of Convention 2019 from Friday evening through to Sunday afternoon.

Convention ticket £99 Student ticket £69

Food add-ons

Card image cap

Convention 2019 takes place in Athena, right in the heart of the city centre, with shops and restaurants close at hand.

Attendees may choose to join us for coffees, and a buffet lunch on both days.

Sales are now closed for the Gala Dinner on Saturday evening.

plus coffees and lunch +£50

Humanist Professionals Conference

Card image cap

Pioneered in 2017 and having grown in 2018, Humanist Professionals Conference will provide valuable training, CPD, and networking opportunities for all humanist professionals – celebrants, pastoral carers, school speakers, local group leaders, SACRE representatives, humanist student leaders – and those aspiring to become one.

See the Humanist Professionals Conference tab below for more information.

Please note that Humanist Professionals Conference takes place at the same time as LGBT Humanists Conference.

SOLD OUT

LGBT Humanists Conference

Card image cap

LGBT Humanists Conference returns for the first time since 2011, this time as part of the Humanists UK Convention.

See the LGBT Humanists Conference tab below for more information.

Please note that LGBT Humanists Conference takes place at the same time as Humanist Professionals Conference. Please purchase a ticket for only one.

SOLD OUT

Speakers

Card image cap

Alice
Roberts

Card image cap

Ed Byrne

Card image cap

Adam Rutherford

Card image cap

Joan Bakewell

Card image cap

Andrew Moffat

Card image cap

Christina Patterson

Card image cap

John Curtice

Card image cap

Sanchita Hosali

Card image cap

Fiona Millar

Card image cap

Hamza
bin Walayat

Card image cap

Felicity Hannah

Card image cap

Aliyah Saleem

Card image cap

Andrew Copson

Card image cap

Amy Walden

Card image cap

Cally Beaton

Card image cap

Natalie Haynes

Card image cap

Tim McGarry

Card image cap

Ruth Wareham

Card image cap

Kate Smurthwaite


Book your ticket

Card image cap

Alice Roberts

Paleontologist

Card image cap

Ed Byrne

Comedian

Card image cap

Adam Rutherford

Geneticist

Card image cap

Joan Bakewell

Journalist and Labour peer

Card image cap

Andrew Moffat

Author of No Outsiders programme

Card image cap

Christina Patterson

Writer, broadcaster, and columnist

Card image cap

John Curtice

President of the British Polling Council

Card image cap

Sanchita Hosali

Director of the British Institute of Human Rights

Card image cap

Fiona Millar

Education campaigner and journalist

Card image cap

Hamza bin Walayat

Humanist asylum seeker

Card image cap

Felicity Hannah

Journalist

Card image cap

Aliyah Saleem

Faith to Faithless

Card image cap

Andrew Copson

Chief Executive of
Humanists UK

Card image cap

Amy Walden

Chair of the Non-Religious Pastoral Support Network

Card image cap

Cally Beaton

Comedian

Card image cap

Natalie Haynes

Classicist and author

Card image cap

Tim McGarry

Comedian

Card image cap

Ruth Wareham

Faith Schools Campaigner

Card image cap

Kate Smurthwaite

Comedian

Book your ticket

Testimonials

Card image cap

We had the best time. Organisers should be widely congratulated for a really good convention and for going out of their way for making it a good event for people to attend!  

Humanists UK Convention 2018 attendee

 

Card image cap

It was an amazing, well organised event. Best convention yet!  

Humanists UK Convention 2018 attendee

 

Card image cap

There were amazing talks, with well-reasoned and respectful debate and discussions  

Humanists UK Convention 2018 attendee

 

Card image cap

It was great to have a chance to meet and catch up with other people around the country who are working for the same cause  

Humanists UK Convention 2018 attendee

 

Programme

The below times are tentative and subject to adjustment

Friday

Start time End time Session
10:30 16:30 Humanist Professionals Conference
13:15 18:00 LGBT Humanists Conference
16:00 20:00 Humanists UK Convention Registration
19:00 21:00 Comedy evening
21:00 00:00 Welcome drinks

See the respective tab below for the full programme for the Humanist Professionals Conference.

Saturday

Start time End time Session
08:30 Registration
09:00 09:10 Welcome
09:10 10:00 John Curtice
Navigating a polarised society
10:00 10:50 Sanchita Hosali
The Human Rights Act threatened
11:10 12:00 In conversation with
Natalie Haynes
12:00 13:00 Lunch
13:00 13:50 Fiona Millar
Andrew Moffat
Aliyah Saleem
Ruth Wareham
Felicity Hannah

Ending segregation and intolerance in schools
14:00 14:50 Christina Patterson
The Art of Not Falling Apart
15:10 16:00 Adam Rutherford
16:10 17:00 Joan Bakewell
At the frontline of humanism
19:00 00:00 Drinks reception and gala dinner

No dress code

Sunday

Start time End time Session
09:30 Registration
10:00 10:50 The work of Humanists UK
11:10 12:00 TBA
12:00 13:00 Lunch
13:00 13:50 Alice Roberts
14:00 16:00 Humanists UK AGM
16:00 17:00 Drinks with trustees
17:00   Close

Venue

Card image cap

Our home for the weekend is the ancient city of Leicester, home to one of the oldest secular societies in the world. Convention 2019 will take place in Athena Theatre, a beautiful art deco Grade II listed building in the heart of the city centre.Book your ticket

Accommodation

The hotels listed below are all within 15 minutes’ walk of the venue. They are provided for your convenience, and not intended as a recommendation.

Card image cap
Card image cap
Humanist Professionals Conference

Card image cap

Friday 21 June 2019
10:30–17:00

Orange Rooms
9 Newarke Street
Leicester
LE1 5SN

Pioneered in 2017 and having grown in 2018, the Humanist Professionals Conference will be integrated with Humanists UK Convention 2019. Taking place from 10:30 on Friday 21 June, the conference will provide valuable training, CPD, and networking opportunities for all humanist professionals – celebrants, pastoral carers, school speakers, local group leaders, SACRE representatives, and Humanist Students leaders – and those aspiring to become one. Tickets to Humanist Professionals Conference 2019 can be bought alongside Humanists UK Convention 2019 ticket, or as a standalone ticket, for £39.

Please note that Humanist Professionals Conference takes place at the same time as LGBT Humanists Conference.

Programme

Timings are provisional and subject to change.

Time Session
10:30 Registration
11:00 Welcome | Teddy Prout
11:10 Plenary | Misconceptions around humanism: different uses and definitions of ‘humanism’ | Luke Donnellan
11:50 Comfort break
11:55 Workshops
12:40 Comfort break
12:45 Workshops
13:30 Lunch
14:15 Plenary | How campaigning is helping the Community Services | Karen Wright
14:55 Comfort break
15:05 Workshops
15:50 Comfort break
16:00 Plenary | What do we mean by ‘Community Service’: the three levels of service | Andrew Copson
16:30 Ends | Free time for dinner
19:00 Humanists UK Convention 2019 begins
Workshop 1 | 11:55

Session Facilitator
Peer Review Teddy Prout
Managing conflict Simon O’Donoghue
Writing good website copy Steve Church
Running humanist groups in prison Dr Jim Coakes
Workshop 2 | 12:45

Session Facilitator
The state of religion in the UK Jeremy Rodell
Loneliness: a humanist approach Simon O’Donoghue
The future of RE in the UK Dr Ruth Wareham
Workshop 3 | 15:05

Session Facilitator
A humanist understanding of death Luke Donnellan
The Apostate Journey Teddy Prout
The state of religion in the UK Jeremy Rodell
LGBT Humanists Conference

Card image cap

Friday 21 June 2019
10:30–17:00

Orange Rooms
9 Newarke Street
Leicester
LE1 5SN

LGBT Humanists Conference returns for the first time since 2011, this time as part of the Humanists UK Convention.

Please note that LGBT Humanists Conference takes place at the same time as Humanist Professionals Conference.

Card image cap

Andrew
Moffat

Card image cap

Phyll
Opoku-Gyimah

Card image cap

Laura
Russell

Card image cap

Linda Riley

Card image cap

Daniel Asaya

Card image cap

Aliyah Saleem

Card image cap

Jenny Bartle

Card image cap

Ste Richardsson

Card image cap

Teddy Prout

Card image cap

Andrew Copson

Card image cap

Jimmy Bangash


Card image cap

Andrew Moffat

Equalities Primary,
Author of No Outsiders

Card image cap

Phyll Opoku-Gyimah

UK Black Pride

Card image cap

Laura Russell

Stonewall

Card image cap

Linda Riley

DIVA magazine

Card image cap

Daniel Asaya

House of Rainbow

Card image cap

Aliyah Saleem

Faith to Faithless

Card image cap

Jenny Bartle

LGBT Humanists

Card image cap

Ste Richardsson

Faith to Faithless

Card image cap

Teddy Prout

Humanists UK

Card image cap

Andrew Copson

Humanists UK

Card image cap

Jimmy Bangash

Faith to Faithless

Programme

Timings are provisional and subject to change.

Time Session
13:15 Registration
14:00 Welcome

Chris Geake, LGBT Humanists

14:10 No Outsiders

Andrew Moffat, Equalities Primary

14:50 Comfort break
15:00 Eradicating anti-LGBT bigotry for the 21st century

Linda Riley, DIVA magazine
Aliyah Saleem, Faith to Faithless
Jimmy Bangash, Faith to Faithless
Jenny Bartle, LGBT Humanists (Chair)

15:40 Comfort break
15:50 Building alliances in LGBT and BAME communities

Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, UK Black Pride
Daniel Asaya, House of Rainbow
Ste Richardsson, LGBT Humanists (Chair)

16:30 Comfort break
16:35 Why the fight is not yet won

Laura Russell, Stonewall
Teddy Prout (Chair)

17:20 Comfort break
17:25 Andrew Copson, Humanists UK
17:55 Close

Chris Geake, LGBT Humanists

18:00 Drinks at Firebug
1 Millstone Lane, Leicester, LE1 5JN
A three minute walk away
Young Humanists Saturday night social

Card image cap

Saturday 22 June 2019
19:00

Manhattan 34
34 Rutland Street
Leicester
LE1 1RD

After a packed day at Humanists UK Convention 2019, what better way to relax than joining Young Humanists for an evening of cocktails and conversation?

Manhattan 34 is only a one-minute walk away from the Athena Theatre, where Convention 2019 is taking place.

Entry is free (and you don’t need a Convention ticket to attend) but places are limited, so please register to let us know you're coming.

Whether you’re a humanist yourself, curious about humanism, or just want to meet up with some friendly people, everyone is welcome. There’s excellent food and drinks on offer, and great company is guaranteed!

Accessibility

There is a ramp at the front of the building, and all areas of the ground floor are accessible by wheelchair. The accessible bathroom is through a door to the left of the stage.

A hearing loop will be provided in the theatre.

Event policies

Cancellations

Bookings may be cancelled free of charge up to 120 days prior to the Convention start date (by 21 February 2019, inclusive). Bookings cancelled 60-119 days (by 22 April 2019, inclusive) from the start date will incur a 50% charge of the full price of the ticket. Cancellations made within 60 days of the Convention start date (from 22 April, inclusive) will not be refunded, but may, at the discretion of Humanists UK and with no less than 21 days’ notice (by 31 May 2019, inclusive), be transferred to another eligible individual. Any refunds for ticket cancellations will be processed within two months.

Early Bird pricing

Early Bird tickets will be available until 31 January 2019, or until the first 100 Convention tickets are sold, whichever comes first. Humanists UK reserves the right to extend, curtail, or otherwise alter, the Early Bird ticket period, or Early Bird ticket allocation, without prior notice. Early bird ticket sales have now ended.

Speakers

All appearances are subject to speakers' work and other commitments.

Photography, video, and audio recording

Humanists UK reserves the right to photograph and record video and audio of all public sections of the Convention and to make public the footage as it sees appropriate. Please be aware that by attending Humanists UK Convention 2019, you consent to your voice, name, and/or likeness being used, without compensation, in any and all media, whether now known or hereafter devised, for eternity, and you release Humanists UK, its successors, assigns, and licensees from any liability whatsoever of any nature. If you would like to ensure that you are not captured in any media, please contact events@humanists.uk and we will do our best to accommodate you.