Everyone Thriving – Exploring Possibilities, 2026
This year’s Careers Conference, was titled ‘Everyone Thriving – Exploring Possibilities’ and took place on 4th June, online over Zoom.
Hosted by our very own Becky Hill – Back Up, Vocation team lead, over 30 attendees heard from a range of excellent speakers and panellists, exploring themes including the importance of finding purpose through returning to work, study or volunteering after a spinal cord injury, irrespective of age or past education or employment history. It highlighted what is possible, why it’s important and the range of support that is available to help people achieve their vocation ambitions.
We were joined by a number of speakers and panellists, including:
– those with spinal cord injuries talking about their experiences of working, study and volunteering
– corporate partners and recruitment professionals sharing good practice in support of disabled employees
– health care professionals adding their voices to the role they play in vocational rehabilitation
We were delighted that this year’s event included guest speakers Jess Hare, Principal Clinical Psychologist, Spinal Cord Injuries – East of England and Mo Belal, Consultant Urological Surgeon at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.
Dr Jess Hare is a Clinical Psychologist working with patients in the early stages of spinal cord injury in the East of England. Since qualifying in 2015 she has worked with issues around psychological wellbeing in a number of adult and paediatric health specialties, joining the East of England Spinal Cord Injury ‘Hubs’ in 2022. She is interested in principles from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Compassion Focussed Therapy in the context of spinal cord injury. Outside work she is mostly occupied with the joy and chaos of wrangling two feisty children.
Mo Belal is a Consultant Urological Surgeon at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (since 2011), specialising in neuro-urology and urinary tract reconstruction. Educated at King Edward’s School and Cambridge University, he trained at centres including Guy’s Hospital and the Bristol Urological Institute, followed by a fellowship in Melbourne. He has published extensively and is currently BAUS Vice President for Education, formerly Chair of the BAUS Section of Female, Neuro-urology and Urodynamics, and BAUS Mesh Lead with NHS England. He is a trustee of several charities and an SIA ambassador.
Themes covered included:
– Valuing Purpose: the importance of finding purpose and the role of work, study & volunteering in the psychosocial adjustment to spinal cord injury
– Learning from Others: sharing real-life stories over a wide age-range, demonstrating what is possible
– Sharing Good Practice: demonstrating the range of support available for employees, students and volunteers with disabilities
– Exploring Possibilities: general guidance and practical steps and demonstrating the range of vocation services Back Up provides
There was also an opportunity to network and speak directly with a number of our speakers and panellists; whether that was others with a spinal cord injury who have returned to work or one of our corporate partners.
Careers Event Donation
Back Up relies on the generosity of individuals and companies. Attending our events is free of charge but if you’d like to make a small donation in support of our work it would be much appreciated. The suggested donation for attending a careers event is £20. To donate please visit our donation page.
Contact
If you have any questions or want support or guidance to return to work, study or volunteering after a spinal cord injury, then please email vocation@backuptrust.org.uk.
We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you at our next careers event next year – ‘Everyone Thriving – Exploring Possibilities, 2027!’
