Welcome to the 2025 "Back to School" D71 Toastmasters Conference!
Join us in Solihull, on 9-11th May 2025 for the D71 Toastmasters Conference!
Whether you want to come for the full weekend, just a day or just a contest,
we will have a variety of ticket types!
Ticket sales are open!
Buy your Early Bird Discount!
We have a variety of conference tickets types.
Whether you want to come for the full weekend, just a day or just a contest, we cover all needs.
Early Bird tickets are available now!
Click the link below to purchase a ticket or fill in the embedded form:
TICKETS
Home Room
Scroll down inside the form to complete the rest of the form
GET INVOLVED
So you've brought your ticket but want to start the Conference fun already?
Here are some great ways to get involved right now!
Volunteer!
For some extra-credit, Volunteer! We need help on Decorating Committee, Registration Desks and Hall Monitors to help members throughout the weekend.
Whether you have specific skill or just want to be involved, please let us know by filling in the form below!
Anglo-Irish Meeting
Friday Night Photo Quiz!
On the Friday night we will have a "Guess the Child" photo quiz where people will guess who the person is from a childhood / school image.
If you would like your picture to be included, upload your childhood / school image below! Please make sure that the file name is YOUR name so we can identify the answer!
ABOUT US
Here are just a few of our amazing Conference memories! -->
Hi from Tanya and Mish!
We love Toastmasters Conferences! We are absolutely mad about them.
We attended our first conference, Nottingham's 2015 Robin Hood conference, just a couple of years into our membership. We had no idea what a Toastmaster's Conference was but it was local so we thought why not give it a go?
It sparked something in us!
The contests, the workshops, the quality.
The socialness, the friendship, the comararderie (and drinking if it's you're thing)!
Toastmasters provides such amazing meetings and events where you learn a lot and meet amazing people. But there is also something about those 3 days of a Conference, meeting 100+ Toastmasters, the silly dress up costumes, the next-morning breakfasts etc, that really inspired us. I don't know anyone who has gone to a D71 Toastmaster's Conference who hasn't come out passionately driven to take on a new Toastmaster's project. However, it was that first conference in 2015 that we first started our passion to hold our own Conference.
However, it wasn't until the Norwich Conference of 2019 that we took the plunge and decided to bid to host the Solihull "Back to School" Conference. We had everything set up for a 2021 Conference but, unfortunately, it happened...Lockdown. We had to cancel.
We had thought that was it. Our Conference dreams were over. But once again, conferences inspired us and we rallied again. Following Liverpool's 2023 conference, we re-started Solihull "Back to School" and now we are delighted to be your hosts for 2025! Back to School is Back!!
We can't wait to show you our hometown Solihull, which is home to our clubs Heart of England Speakers and Birmingham New Street Speakers, and to put on an amazing weekend for you all. For those hard-core conference goers like us, we will be bringing you the comforts and classics you are familiar with from the years gone by. For those who have never been, we hope to inspire you like so many Toastmasters did for us. For those who maybe don't have the time or money to attend 3 whole days, we have cheap day tickets for you so you can still get that conference buzz.
We look forwards to seeing you all at the Toastmasters Conference School in 2025!
Tanya Barad Chambers and Mish Barad
HeadMistresses of Solihull "Back to School" 2025
THEME!
The Theme of the Solihull 2025 Conference is Back To School!
As an organisation that supports people through self-development, we are excited to host our Conference with the feel of being Back at School. When you arrive, expect to see lots of chalk boards, exercise books and school-themed extra curriculars! Whether you loved or hated your actual school(s), we guarantee you will love the Solihull D71 Toastmasters School!
There isn't much you for to do as our guests for the theme - that is our job. BUT, there are two opportunities for you to enjoy; the evening meals!
Friday Night - School Disco!
The Friday Night meal will be the School Disco! Dress up in your silly 70s, Cheesey 80s or never-to-late Naughties school outfits and have a blast from the past. Having flashbacks of regretted outfits of the past? Just wear your normal clothes and come dressed as a teacher!
We will be serving some classic School Dinner meals, but don't worry, it made by chefs, not the dinner ladies this time.
Saturday Night - Prom! Black Tie Gala Dinner
The Saturday Night meal will be our big event - the Prom! As a D71 Conference tradition, the Saturday evening meal will be a Black Tie Gala Dinner, so get your suits and formal dresses and join us for a night to be remembered. This will be a seated 3 course dinner with entertainment.
CLASS TIMETABLE
ARRIVAL
When you arrive please sign in at the registration desk; open 8am-6pm Fri/Sat and 8am-12pm on Sunday.
First timers can visit the First Timers Desk which will be manned 9am-5pm Fri/Sat and 9am-12pm Sun
DINNER
Friday Dinner starts with the Opening Ceremony at 7pm.
Saturday Dinner starts with a Drinks Reception at 7:30pm
FULL CONFERENCE AGENDA
COMING SOON
Conference Opens: Friday 9th May 12pm
Conference Closes: Sunday 11th May 3pm
WORKSHOPS
Assembly
Solihull "Back to School" will have a variety of guest speakers and educational lessons through our workshops and Key Note Speakers! Click the images below to see our Speakers and the topics.
VENUE
Voco St. John's Hotel will provide the Conference Centre for the Solihull D71 Toastmasters 2025 Conference.
Voco St. John's has 180 hotel rooms. Delegates have a special B&B rate of £110pn for a single room or £120pn for double / twin room between Wed 7th May to Sunday 11th nights and include use of their spa facilities! Please note, these prices are available until the 11th April 2025 so book early!
By Airplane:
14 minute drive from Birmingham International Airport which has lots of cheap flights from across UK and Ireland. Tip:- When you arrive at BHX Airport, take the Monorail to Birmingham International Rail Station for better access to taxis
By Train:
10 minute walk from Solihull Train Station which has direct routes from Birmingham Moor Street and Snow Hill stations in Birmingham Town Centre. Birmingham Moor Street is just a couple of minutes walk from Birmingham New Street Station which has access to trains from Edinburgh to London
By Car:
There are 250 free car parking at the venue for delegates. Electric vehicle charging points are available at a cost.
HOW TO GET HERE
Geography
Contact Voco St. John's to book your hotel room and say you are with the Conference. Other cheaper nearby hotels are Premier Inn Solihull and Travelodge Solihull are within a 5-10 min walk.
Voco St. John's Solihull, 651 Warwick Road, Solihull, B91 1AT
Call the Voco In House Booking Team on 0121 712 7601.
Please call between 8:30-17:30 to speak to In House Team, else this goes to Central Booking who can't book special rates. Ask for the Toastmasters event!
What to do in Solihull
Solihull is a vibrant town with a population of over 200,000. It has a great Town Centre, literally over the roundabout from the Voco St John's, featuring the Touchwood shopping centre for lots of shopping, cafes and restaurants. Try our favourite local, The Mason's Arms's Pub just at the top of the High Street, or O'Neil's which is just opposite the Voco St John's, just cross the roundabout!
Below are some great activities which Solihull has to offer. If you want to try something a bit further afield, Birmingham Town Centre is just a 30 minute drive or a just 12 minute train from Solihull Train Station to Birmingham Moor Street Station.
Contact Us
Email: solihull2025@hotmail.com
Follow us on Social Media using @solihull2025
or use Facebook to send us a Direct Message!
FAQs
Coming Soon!