The First Time for Everything: Reflections on Procuary

Did you know that was the first time I’ve spoken in public in front of my peers? And can you believe we raised an incredible £6,400 for Cancer Research and Samaritans?!

 I only told a handful of people about public speaking experience (or lack of) beforehand because, to be honest, I felt a bit self-conscious about it. But now that it’s all said and done, I can confidently say it was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

That’s exactly what I loved about working on #Procuary this year. Almost every single thing we did was a first for us, and that’s what made it so special. We embraced the unknown, made mistakes, learnt from them, and grew. As Dave Jones MCIPS so brilliantly put it, “We’ve become accidental event organisers.”

Here’s a quick snapshot of some of the firsts we tackled this year:

• Letting the community decide: We held LinkedIn polls to choose the event date and even invited suggestions for a new name. Shoutout to Donna Bowden for coming up with the winning name!
• Building excitement: We created a countdown calendar and sold sponsorships to fund it.
• Celebrating excellence: For the first time, we organised an in-person awards ceremony where winners were chosen by their peers.
• Fundraising in style: We hosted our very first auction, and I have to applaud Laura Sellers MCIPS and Channing Brazier, who delivered it brilliantly.
• Procuary swag: Yes, we had T-shirts!
• Teamwork makes the dream work: We formed a Procuary committee, bringing the incredible Laura and Channing onboard.
• Finding the perfect venue: A dedicated space made a world of difference.
• Making an impact: We partnered with Samaritans and Cancer Research UK (CRUK), and used a donation app to collect contributions on the day.
• Adding a personal touch: Award certificates were laminated by none other than Mrs S. (Sometimes it’s the little things!)

Did the event exceed our expectations? Absolutely.

Were there things we could have done better? Without a doubt.

Do we want to do it all again? A resounding yes!

As I reflect on this journey, one thing is clear: the Procuary spirit is all about embracing challenges, learning from them, and building something meaningful together. From organising an auction to delivering an awards ceremony, every new experience taught us something invaluable.

Looking ahead, we’re already brimming with ideas for the next event. There’s so much more we want to try, refine, and explore. Procuary isn’t just an event—it’s a community of people coming together to create something bigger than themselves.

To everyone who supported us, contributed, and shared in this experience—thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your generosity, enthusiasm, and encouragement made this possible.

If I didn’t get the chance to properly chat with you on the day, please drop me a message. I’d love to catch up and hear your thoughts.

Here’s to learning, growing, and daring to try something new. See you at the next Procuary!

Cheers!