LivesthroughFriends Cheltenham Summer Institute 2025

Welcome to LivesthroughFriends Cheltenham Summer Institute 2025

“Always a New Adventure” – Communities within which People with Disabilities can Thrive

📍 The Butterfly Garden, Cheltenham

📅 Tuesday 23rd & Wednesday 24th September 2025

🕊️ Restoring Care as a Societal Issue – Developing the Narrative

Join us for a unique two-day gathering during Westminster’s Conference Recess at the beautiful Butterfly Garden – a place that lives and breathes the very values we’ll be exploring.

The 2025 Cheltenham Summer Institute will illustrate this robust alternative narrative in a place that does it, and with guest speakers who quietly do it in their own neighbourhoods.

🌍 Why This Matters

Last year, leaders from a dozen countries across three continents issued a powerful communique:

“We collectively envision a world where care for individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism is rooted in human connection, interdependence, and kindness. This shared vision can be achieved through an intelligent combination of person-centred, locally designed services and the fostering of resilient, caring social networks.”

Echoing Michael Sandel, they warned:

“It has been the expansion of markets, and of market values, into spheres of life where they don't belong,”which has contributed to fragmented and failing systems of care.

This year, we continue the conversation — with hope that parliamentarians and policy influencers will join us — to help shape a better future for care that begins in community, not in contracts.

💬 What to Expect

• Provocative talks and honest dialogue
• Stories from lived experience and community leadership
• Space to think, connect and collaborate
• A collective effort to restore care as a public, human value

This is a gathering for those who believe care must be rooted in human relationships, not transactions — and who want to be part of building something better.

ℹ️ Important Information

🗺️ Venue

The Butterfly GardenDundry Nursery, The Brambles, Bamfurlong Lane, Cheltenham, GL51 6SL

🔗 www.thebutterflygarden.org

📍 What3Words: ///fuzzy.achieving.club (…a strong contender for the WhatsApp group name!)

🏨 Accommodation

Event Hotel:Leonardo Hotel CheltenhamGloucester Road, GL51 0TS

📧 cheltenham@leonardohotels.com

📞 +44 87 0410 0800

At the time of writing, a one-night stay on 23rd September is approximately £128. Guests are encouraged to book directly via the Leonardo website, by phone, or via third-party platforms.

Other nearby options include:

• Travelodge
• Premier Inn
• Manor by the Lake

A regular bus runs between Cheltenham town centre, the train station, and Leonardo Hotel.

📌 For presenters and attendees on full bursaries, accommodation will be arranged by LivesthroughFriends.

🚆 Getting Here

Rail:

• National Rail
• Trainline

Coach:

• National Express

📍 When travelling in groups of 2–3, a taxi transfer from Heathrow, Birmingham, or Bristol may be cheaper and easier than rail. Local firms offering this service:

• Airport Taxis Cheltenham
• Airport Plus
• Cheltonian Cars
• Airport Shuttle Service
• Starline Taxis

Once in Cheltenham Spa, local taxi companies include:

• Dial-a-Cab: 01242 242424
• Starline Taxis: 01242 250250
• Spa Tax: 01242 807666

🚌 Local Transfers

A free minibus will transport attendees staying at the Leonardo Hotel to the Butterfly Garden.📍 Please be at the hotel reception by 9:00 am on both days.

🚗 Driving? There is ample free parking directly in front of the Butterfly Garden.

♿ Accessibility

The Butterfly Garden regularly welcomes individuals and groups with diverse access needs.

If you have any accessibility requirements, please let us know in advance by contacting:

📧 Chris Evans – info@thebutterflygarden.org

🍽️ Food & Dietary Requirements

Lunch and refreshments will be provided on both days. Please inform us of any dietary needs as early as possible via:

📧 info@thebutterflygarden.org

👕 Dress Code

This is a relaxed and informal gathering — wear what you feel comfortable in.However, we do advise dressing for the weather and bringing practical footwear, as some parts of the site are outdoors or uneven.

📸 Photography & Filming

Photos and videos will be taken throughout the event. You may be invited to participate in short interviews or video reflections.

📌 If you’d prefer not to be filmed or photographed, please indicate this when booking or let us know at registration on Day 1.

🤝 Staying Connected

We hope to continue the spirit of learning and collaboration beyond the event.

If you're happy for us to share your contact details with other attendees, you can opt in when booking or during registration.