Care Revolution network meeting, 16–18 October in Einschlingen/Bielefeld

From 16 to 18 October, we will be holding our autumn networking event, which will once again take place in person. The venue is the conference centre at the Einschlingen Training Centre near Bielefeld: https://www.einschlingen.de/

We’d like to warmly invite you to take part! Please note: We need your registration by 20 August at koordination@care-revolution.org. You’ll find more details on the reasons for this further down in the email.

We will be focusing on two main topics at the network meeting. On Saturday morning, we’ll be focusing on preparations for a comprehensive feminist strike in 2027. After lunch, we’ll be looking at the plans – some of which have been drafted and some of which have already been adopted – to dismantle social security, and, above all, at strategies for resistance.

On both of these topics, we will also reflect as specifically as possible on the state of our visibility and effectiveness as a network and as network groups. This also concerns the question of how we can reach the most vulnerable groups of people in particular.

On Sunday, we also intend to reach agreements on, amongst other things, our joint position as set out in the resolution currently being revised, and on membership issues.

The network meeting is also open to anyone interested, even if they are not members. You are very welcome to join us! Only the Sunday programme is for members only. As Saturday’s sessions will also focus on issues relating to our political work, you should definitely have an interest in the network.

Here is the detailed schedule:

Friday:

From 5.30 pm: Arrival

6.30 pm Dinner

7.30 pm Welcome and get-to-know-you session. Discussion of current events as well

Saturday:

08:30 Breakfast

09:30 – 12:45 Care and feminist strike 2027. This part will be organised by the Feminist/Care Strike Working Group within the Care Revolution network. Without giving too much away: the discussion will certainly cover, amongst other things, the status of plans for 2027, positive examples from other countries, and the Care Revolution network’s contribution to a powerful care strike.

13:00 Lunch

14:00 Social cuts and social protests. In the first part of this session, we’ll take stock: an overview of planned and implemented cuts and tightening of policies, as well as a presentation of examples of protest and resistance actions: what ‘best practice’ examples are there from which we can learn?

15:30 Coffee/tea/cake

16:00 Continuation: Social cuts/social protests. Following the overview, we want to delve deeper and be more specific: What lies behind the cuts to social services – what mindsets, objectives and constraints on action? What approaches do we, as the Care Revolution network, propose as a countermeasure? And what could we tackle directly within the network, as groups or collectively?

18:30 Dinner

The time after dinner is unscheduled – time for yourself, alone or with others. If required, topics from the day can also be revisited and explored in greater depth.

Sunday (for members only):

9.15 – 11.30 Review of the proposed revised resolution of the Care Revolution network, with the aim of reaching a recommendation for a resolution

11.45 – 12.15 Review of the proposed membership regulations for the network, with the aim of formulating a recommendation for a resolution

12.15 – 12.45 Report from Solidarisch Sorgen e.V., a partner organisation within the Care Revolution network

Closing

13:00 Lunch/End

After lunch: Clearing up together

All participants will be provided with an information pack in advance. It will contain details on how to get there, accommodation and the programme, contact numbers, as well as material on the topics covered over the weekend.

We urge you to register as early as possible by emailing koordination@care-revolution.org! Firstly, this helps us with our planning; more importantly, however, we need to confirm or cancel the room bookings at the conference venue by 21 August. That is why the registration deadline is 20 August. As cancellation fees apply in the event of a last-minute cancellation, please treat this registration as binding.

The house is accessible; there are two single rooms equipped for wheelchair users. The remaining rooms are double rooms. If you have any special requests or requirements, whatever they may be, please write to the organising team. Whether it’s catering, accommodation, the programme or anything else – we’ll do our best to find a solution with you and the conference venue.

In particular, no one should be excluded from taking part for financial reasons. To this end, we are using the tried-and-tested approach from our previous network meetings: Solidarisch Sorgen e.V., a partner organisation within the Care Revolution network, settles the accommodation costs with the Einschlingen training centre, and these costs are covered by donations from the participants.

We suggest you transfer between 60 and 80 €. A higher amount is, of course, very welcome and helps to fund the gathering on a solidarity basis. For your information: the costs from Friday evening to Sunday lunchtime amount to €142 for accommodation in a twin room with full board. If you’re staying at home or arranging your own accommodation, the cost is €116. You’re welcome to join us in any case! This also applies if you’re unable to pay or need help with travel costs. If you’re unsure, please do get in touch with the organising team!

If you let us know you’d like to take part, we’ll be happy to provide further details, such as our bank details.

We’re confident that, once again, we’ll be able to create a setting for a productive meeting where everyone can feel at ease. If there’s anything you need or if you have any questions, please email koordination@care-revolution.org!