Out of the Box

What’s this all about?

Developing a physical or mental health condition can bring big changes, and not just the challenges of the condition itself. All too often there are barriers of stigma, misunderstanding, isolation and unresponsive services.

Having a condition sometimes means people - and even the NHS - want to put you in a box with a label on it. And then, they talk to the label.

But this is changing. In the future we won't accept being stuck in the box of a condition or even just of being a "patient" or "carer". We won’t be defined any longer just by what we need from health services, but instead by what we have to give - to one another, and even back to the services too.

Out of the Box is a conference about using the web to connect, encourage, and inspire people and services to think and act differently.

The web can sometimes seem daunting and disorderly, but it is helping to shape the future - it won’t be top-down any more. The web has created a new digital gift economy to which everyone can contribute and from which everyone can benefit.

Out of the Box is about how people are already innovating to make this future a reality. There will be plenty of new ideas – but also plenty of practical examples of how the extraordinary gift of the web is being used to make a real difference and transform the relationships between us, our conditions, and the services we use.

So come along, be inspired and inspiring - get Out of the Box!

Is it really free?

Yes, the tickets are free - but it’s a gift economy. In return we want you to bring something to give.

What could you bring? Maybe a workshop or a 5 minute talk, some experience or expertise to share, something for the conference goodie bag - or even some sponsorship. Or perhaps you could bake a cake (seriously – we like cake!).

So sign up here for free. After you sign up, if you find you can’t come please let us know, because someone else will want your ticket.

We’ll have one or two special gifts for you on the day, too.

Who should come?

If any of the following sound like you, you should definitely come along:

• you have experience of, or expertise in, a particular condition and want to learn about how the web could make a difference
• you work in patient, carer or service user involvement or empowerment and you think the web could help
• you work in patient, carer or service user involvement and feel trapped inside your or the NHS’s boxes
• you feel you get defined by your condition or how you look or speak, rather than the person you are
• you use or care about a health or social care service and you have a great idea about how it could do something better on the web
• you are a service manager, policymaker or politician and you are trying to understand what patients are up to online
• you are any combination of the above or just think “Hey, this looks really interesting – can I come?”

Who shouldn’t come?

Anyone who thinks the web is just for running surveys and telling people how to look after themselves probably shouldn’t bother. And anyone who thinks that big organisations should be in charge of what people say on the web.

Who else will be there?

The attendance list is below so you can see for yourself. There will be a pile of people behind some of the most interesting and innovative online sites and services around, such as National Voices, Innovations in Dementia, Patient Voices, Health2Works, Be Inspired Films, Uscreates, thinkpublic, Sidekick Studios and (cough) Patient Opinion.

How can I contribute?

Here are a few ideas:

• Come along!
• Spread the word: blog, tweet, discuss (hashtag #box10)
• Bring your gift – personal, digital or physical?
• Offer a workshop session, 5 minute talk, or something else
• Or you could even sponsor us!

Whatever you think you can offer, we’d like to hear from you. Once you book your ticket, please get in touch. We need you more than you know.

How can I stay informed?

• Follow the event blog – you can help us create the programme you want to see
• Follow patientopinion on twitter
• Or drop by the Patient Opinion blog too