Food for our thoughts: the role of social pedagogy in sustainable wellbeing
Call for abstracts
The Social Pedagogy Professional Association [SPPA] is pleased to invite you to submit abstracts for our annual conference which will take place on 20th October 2022, via a Live Broadcast from London (with in-person attendance optional). The SPPA annual conference and this call for abstracts is open to members and non-members. We welcome proposals from academics, policy makers, practitioners, students, pedagogues, artist and everyone interested in and/or passionate about social pedagogy from across a range of disciplines. The focus of all your proposal should fit broadly within the topic of this year’s conference.
About this year's topic
Social pedagogy goes beyond the medical and behaviourist approaches to addressing mental and emotional wellbeing. This year’s conference will explore how social pedagogy can work holistically to sustain mental health, well-being, networks and localities in the broadest sense. We seek to look at what wellbeing and mental health mean openly and critically for different people in diverse contexts. From there, we will ask ourselves: How can we expand our views on what it is to be well and healthy and go beyond the individual medical model?
Beyond the medical and behaviourist models…
It’s the place, the smells and sounds, the people and habits we hold that are at the core of our sense of belonging and existence. When this experience is positive, we tend to care and want to sustain the environment that nourishes us. From this comfortable position, it seems easier to imagine the future and ourselves in it, we might even feel motivated to find ways to support causes and people in our networks.
Yet when we or someone is unwell or struggles emotionally, a different picture emerges. We start feeling that something is not right, and we want to find solutions. In our desire to remove pain and suffering, we might try to intervene and control and we could end up losing sight of the bigger picture: that human beings are more than an individual mind and a body that needs to be fixed.
Join us to explore, discuss, learn and co-create together!
Who is this conference for
All those interested in a social pedagogic approach to delivering care, education and health services, from practitioners to policy makers, students academics and artists.
You might be working in early childhood education and care, family support, youth work, foster care, social work, in day care services for older people, mental health services or residential childcare. There is a place in social pedagogy for all of you!
There will be a special discounted rate for students, foster carers, and non-wage earners.
Ways to participate
a. Workshops
Give a creative, interactive, experiential, or academically focused workshop from a social pedagogical perspective. Workshops should aim to both inform and actively involve participants. The workshops should last 45 minutes for online workshops and 1.5 hours for in-person.
b. Lightning talks
Give a brief talk or share a story in a quick, insightful, and clear way. These talks and stories could include experiences from practice, provocations or insights of social pedagogical approaches and concepts. Each talk should last 10 minutes max. and will be followed by a 5 minute Q&A session.
c. Case Study Poster
We welcome posters that visually communicate projects, research, examples and case studies from practice or theoretical approaches. You will have the opportunity to present your Case Study Poster for 5 minutes followed by a 5 min Q&A.
For any of the above, please submit an abstract. The focus should relate broadly to this year’s conference topic and abstracts must specify the aim and provide a brief explanation of the session or poster as well as how it connects to the conference topic and social pedagogy.
Deadline for abstracts: 30th June 2022
Decisions will be made by the end of July 2022
Guideline
All abstracts must:
Workshops
Submit your abstract
Please fill in the following form and once complete click submit. You will receive a copy of your answers and we will email you to acknowledge receipt of your abstract. We aim to respond within 2 weeks from the date of submission and final decisions will be made by the end of July 2022.
Fill in the abstract form here
If you have any questions please contact us at info@sppa-uk.org.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
About SPPA
SPPA is the professional home of social pedagogy in the UK. It is a membership based organisation that exists to support continuous professional development in social pedagogy in all areas of the UK. It holds standards for social pedagogy qualifications and endorses social pedagogy learning programmes.
New members are always welcome!
Tickets
More information about tickets coming soon! Stay tuned for our Early Bird rate and other special discounts for SPPA members
Date
20/10/2022
Time
00:00 - 00:00
Location
Broadcast from London (with in-person attendance optional).
Address and time TBC
Pricing
TBC