We’ve made it to our 70th event!
Touch founder Debs Carter shares her thoughts as we hit a major milestone this Christmas.
Wow, it’s Touch Network’s 70th event! How cool is that?! I was especially excited that we had a balloon to celebrate. I couldn’t make the event in person due to mummy duties, but I was there in spirit.
I’m told it was a special evening at Gods House Tower, and I hope that everyone was able to take away some inspiration, hope and maybe a sense of all being in it together.
It’s been hugely tough for many of us over the last nearly 2 years. It’s been a time of worry, confusion, sadness, upset, grief and much more. It’s been a time that has caused us not to be together, both literally and emotionally.
The beautiful venue at God’s House Tower
I’ve worried a lot about the way Covid has separated us at times. I’ve sensed some in my community, quite understandably, battening down the hatches. I’ve sensed others determined to keep life as it is. I personally, haven’t really known what to do, and have felt confused and sad, jumping between one or the other.
I am glad we hosted our 70th event, and I am really proud of Team Touch for working through the issues around making this happen.
We had a team get-together recently where we explored what to do, there were some tears, some intensity and lots of worries, as well as the thought of cancelling being really tough and disappointing, due to the effort we had already put in.
As we sat together thinking it through, I felt proud of the values we are trying to live. Across our team there were different views, but we listened to one another, we cared for one another, we supported one another to express our worries and we didn’t ignore the elephant in the room that is Covid. We even shared our uncertainty with our community more widely. We sat with it and pushed ourselves to create an environment one way or another where those who wanted to be part of Touch tonight could be, in a way that is as safe as possible.
The pandemic, in this instance, enabled us to live our values as Touch and brought us closer together as a team, rather than further apart.
This is what Touch is all about.
Lottie, our newest team member, shares her story
Touch is about bringing people together, celebrating human resilience, connection and similarities, whilst still acknowledging that different people have different experiences, approaches and thoughts.
I’m proud to be part of a movement that can bring people together, that can value each and every person here. Our guests, storytellers and team have always taken part with open hearts and non-judgemental minds, we really appreciate that – this is true of all our events, and one of the things that makes them so special and unique.
In celebration of our 70th event (how did that happen?!?!?!) I’d like to thank everyone for being part of our amazing Touch community. I am looking forward to our 100th event – where we hope to have another balloon!
Wishing you all a great Christmas and a very Happy New Year.
– Debs
Speaker Jenny is interviewed by Touch team member Anna
