TEDxBrayford Pool: Building Community, Inspiring Action.
When we launched TEDxBrayford Pool, our mission was simple but ambitious: to create a platform in Lincoln where people could come together to share “ideas worth spreading.” With a licence from TED.com, we set out to bring this vision to life. TEDxBrayford Pool was inspired by our involvement in Festival800, a celebration of the Magna Carta in 2015, which showed us Lincoln’s potential to inspire change on a global scale. Through TEDxBrayford Pool, we aim to showcase Lincoln’s innovative spirit, proving our city can be just as impactful today as it was in its rich history.
Our role:
Our team has managed every aspect of TEDxBrayford Pool’s events from the ground up. Each year, we bootstrap funding through corporate sponsors and ticket sales, allowing us to remain independent while creating real value for our community and partners. We carefully curate and coach all speakers, ensuring impactful, high-quality presentations. Beyond the stage, we design interactive experiences to immerse attendees in the ideas presented, driving deeper engagement with each topic.
Our responsibilities span the full production spectrum: event operations, volunteer management, technical production, filming, editing, and post-production approvals with TED. We then market the talks online, helping them reach global audiences and widening their impact.
Results and impact:
Over the years, TEDxBrayford Pool has become a respected platform for bringing our community together and driving meaningful change. Here are just a few highlights of what we’ve achieved:
-
Diverse Speaker Line-Up: Since 2017, we’ve hosted 37 events, including TEDxYouth@BrayfordPool, TEDxBrayfordPoolSalon, and TEDxBrayfordPoolWomen, featuring 150 speakers and performers sharing a wide range of perspectives and ideas.
-
Broad Audience Reach: Our events have attracted over 1,000 in-person attendees, and online, our talks have been viewed more than 1.5 million times.
-
Community Partnerships: We’ve worked with over 40 organisations, from major institutions to local businesses, creating valuable partnerships that bring our events to life.
-
High Social Impact: Through TEDxBrayford Pool, we’ve generated an impressive £5.6 million in social return on investment. This impact continues to grow each year as we attract new partners and community members.
Building on this success, TEDxBrayford Pool has become one of the leading TEDx series in the UK. In 2024, we will be leading a unique international collaboration with TEDxKyiv, focusing on amplifying Ukrainian voices affected by the ongoing conflict.
Challenges:
Operating within the TEDx model, TEDxBrayford Pool is entirely financed by partnerships, ticket sales, and in-kind donations, requiring strategic financial planning and a strong network of community supporters. Securing resources each year brings fresh challenges, but it also fuels our creativity and strengthens our community’s engagement and sense of ownership.
Why TEDxBrayford Pool Works:
Our approach to TEDxBrayford Pool is driven by a deep commitment to community involvement, innovation, and impact. Here are some key insights that shape how we work:
-
Empowering Community Ownership: By relying on local sponsors and community volunteers, we create events that our community feels deeply connected to and invested in.
-
Harnessing Passion: From speakers to volunteers, we are continually inspired by the dedication of those involved. This passion is what makes each TEDxBrayford Pool event truly unique, fostering an atmosphere of collaboration and excitement.
-
Listening to Our Audience: Our TEDxBrayford Pool Salon series is co-curated with attendees, inviting them to help shape the themes of future events. This level of collaboration enhances engagement and leads us in innovative directions that resonate with our community.
-
Embracing Organic Growth: Our community-driven growth has allowed us to evolve far beyond our initial five-year plan, adapting to meet the changing needs and interests of our audience.
-
Celebrating Success Together: With a modest starting budget of just £2,000, our £5.6 million social return on investment is proof that community-driven initiatives have incredible potential. Together, we’re creating a lasting impact for Lincoln and beyond.
TEDxBrayford Pool is growing, inviting partners to engage with a passionate audience, support powerful ideas, and drive real change. Join us in building a stronger, inspired community and creating meaningful connections for a brighter future.