2025-26 Contact & NNPCF Joint In-Person Conference FAQ 2025-26 Contact & NNPCF Joint face-to-face Conference FAQ Tuesday 3rd February 2026 Mercure Sheffield St. Paul’s Hotel & Spa, 119 Norfolk Street, Sheffield, S1 2JE Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) If you require this information in a different format, or if you have any questions that are not answered below, please email [email protected]. Conference Details This year’s face to face conference is taking place on Tuesday 3rd February 2026 at the Mercure Sheffield St. Paul’s Hotel & Spa, 119 Norfolk Street, Sheffield, S1 2JE. For more information on the venue see some images here. Timings: Exact timings are to be confirmed a little nearer the time. How do I book my place at the face-to-face event? Booking for this year’s conference will again be via an online Formsite application. The link to the booking form can be found at the end of this FAQ. Is the Conference agenda available? At this early stage the agenda to the conference is not yet available. We aim to publish it 14 days before of the event. Once finalised the agenda will be shared via our Conference page and e-mail reminders. Who is the face-to-face event aimed at? The event is designed for parent carer forum members who can represent their forum and share feedback afterward to their forum. We encourage PCFs to consider who has the capacity to attend and who would benefit most from the experience, especially those members of their forum who have not been to the Conference before. If a forum wishes to send a paid worker, trustee or steering group/committee member who is not a parent carer of a Child or Young Person 0-25 with SEND, please contact your Parent Carer Participation Advisor before booking. You can find the team contact details at the following link /pcp-team/. How many places are there per forum at the face-to-face event? We want to welcome parent carers from as many forums as possible, in a fair and inclusive way. However, places are limited, so we’ll initially accept bookings for up to two parent carers per forum, on a first come, first served basis until we reach the maximum capacity. If a forums requests more than two places, up to two additional names can be added to the waiting list. Open booking for the event will close on 8th January 2026 and the waiting list will then be reviewed on 9th January, and any remaining spaces will be offered. Please note that no forum will be allocated more than four places overall. Is there help with costs to attend the Conference? Most forums include the cost of attending the national conference in their budget. However, we understand this is usually an estimate as the full details aren’t known at the time of planning. If your forum doesn’t have enough funding to support at least two parent carers to attend the NNPCF and Contact National Participation Conference you can apply for support through the priority grant. For further information please see the Grants & monitoring page https://contact.org.uk/help-for-families/parent-carer-participation/grants-monitoring/. What if at the last minute I cannot attend, can someone attend in my place? It is possible for someone else within your forum to attend in your place. However, please notify us of the change at [email protected]. We do understand that circumstances beyond your control are unavoidable, and we will do our best to accommodate last minute changes. Access and Support requirements We want everyone to feel welcome and able to take part fully in the event. When booking, please let us know on your booking form, if you have any access needs or require any support to help you take participate comfortably. We will do our best to make any requested reasonable adjustments to support your involvement and enjoyment of the event. We will contact you discuss any individual requirements. Quite Space and Meeting space We understand that the conference environment can sometimes feel noisy or overwhelming. To support this, we’ve arranged a quiet space where anyone can take a break if they need to. We also know that some members may need to take urgent calls or meetings. However, we kindly ask that the quiet space is prioritised for those who need a calm, low-stimulation environment. If you need a space for a call or meeting, the hotel has a large lobby area with tables, booths, and plug sockets that you’re welcome to use. For more information on the venue layout etc. see some images here. Refreshments, lunch and Dietary Requirements We’ll be providing light refreshments on arrival, a hot lunch, afternoon, and post event refreshments[ea1] . The venue will make every effort to cater for dietary needs where advised in advance. That’s why it is really important that you tell us about any specific, food allergies, intolerances or preferences on your booking form. Once we’ve received your booking information, you will receive a confirmation e-mail, to let you know that your requirements have been noted. If you do not receive this confirmation email, please first check your clutter and junk folders and then contact us at [email protected]. Networking after the Event After the main event, there will be an informal opportunity to network and chat with other forum members, the Contact and NNPCF teams, and some of the day’s speakers (where availability allows). It’s a relaxed space to reflect on the day, share ideas, and make new connections.[HR2] Directions and Parking Q-Park Charles Street, St Paul’s Place, Sheffield City Centre, S1 2NJ is adjacent to the hotel and recommended by the hotel as more secure. It offers 530 indoor, public parking spaces. If you are booking a room with the hotel, you will receive the option option on your booking conformation e-mail to pre-book parking at a 25% discounted rate Alternative car parking as advised by the hotel is: Arundel Gate Car Park – £12.50 plus VAT for a 24 hour stay (as of June 2025.) Ensure you give your car registration number to a member of the hotel front desk team. If you’re traveling by train, the hotel is about a 10-minute walk from Sheffield Train Station. Please note that the walk includes an uphill section. If you’d prefer not to walk, there’s a taxi rank outside the station for an alternative way to get to the hotel. Accommodation. Mercure Sheffield St. Paul’s Hotel & Spa has offered a preferential Bed & Breakfast rate of £100 for single occupancy // £110 for double occupancy (per Night, Including Breakfast and VAT) on Monday 2nd and Tuesday 3rd February 2026. To take advantage of this rate, please call or email and quote ‘Contact conference’: Email at [email protected] or by phone at 0114 278 2000 (Option 1). This rate will be valid until 31 days prior to the event. The hotel offers co-joining rooms and has a limited number of dedicated disabled rooms with wet rooms. Booking early is advised. Please note: Alternative accommodation is available within the area, which may better suit your individual needs or budget, along with alternative booking sites etc. which may show different/lower prices across all hotel options. Other hotels that are within easy walking distance (less than 5 minutes) of the conference venue are: Novotel Sheffield (next door) Radisson Blu Hotel Sheffield A Note for Forums Attending for the First Time If your forum hasn’t attended before, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your NNPCF Director or Contact Participation Advisor — they’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have. Many forums choose to stay the night before the conference, the night after, or even both. The evenings tend to be relaxed and social — some Parent Carer Forums meet up for a meal or gather for drinks in the hotel lobby. Of course, this is completely optional. There’s absolutely no pressure to join in — and many simply enjoy the rare chance to unwind in the comfort of a hotel room without caring responsibilities! If this is your first time attending, why not ask other forums in your region what they usually do? It’s a great way to feel more connected and make the most of the experience!To book your place at the Contact & NNPCF Joint face-to-face Conference on Tuesday 3rd February 2026 click here https://fs29.formsite.com/o32c2G/szyttf5ufm/index