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Saturday 22 April 2023

Devonshire Place Conference Centre, Leicester

Click here to book your free tickets for Outlook 2023

Outlook is the TSA’s group for adults who are mildly affected by TSC. Come along to make new friends, share experiences about TSC, and attend interesting workshops and talks.

All adults mildly affected by TSC in the UK will receive a warm welcome at Outlook, whether it’s your first time at Outlook or you come every year. If you’re coming to Outlook for the first time, let us know and we’ll put you in touch with others who have been in the past so you can feel more comfortable.

A full agenda for Outlook 2023 is now confirmed. We know that seeing all of the talks might feel daunting, but don’t worry! Everyone who attends Outlook can go at their own pace and get as involved as they want. If you’d rather take a step back, that is no problem at all.

  • 10:00 – 10:30. Tea and coffee
  • 10:30 – 11:00. Welcome and icebreaker
  • 11:00 – 11:15. Update from the TSA (TSA staff)
  • 11:15 – 12:15. All about Gestalt Counselling (Katie Eliot, TSC community member and Outlooker)
  • 12:15 – 13:30. Lunch
  • 13:30 – 14:30. Life as a TSC Researcher (Dr Felix Chan, Aston University)
  • 14:30 – 14:45. Coffee break
  • 14:45 – 15:30. Living with TSC (Corinne Swainger, TSC community member and Outlooker)
  • 15:30 – 16:00. How the TSA can help you (TSA staff)
  • 16:00. Thank you and close, group chats continue

Please find more information about Outlook below.

“Over the past 15 years, the Outlook event has given me more confidence in myself, living and working with TSC on a daily basis. It’s a chance to have fun, find out how others are dealing with similar challenges, and learn about new medical treatments and opportunities. I’ve also made some fabulous friends I keep in touch with through social media.”

– Outlooker

Outlook is an event hosted by the TSA, where adults mildly affected by TSC can come together and connect.

Offering a relaxed, open and understanding environment of the impact that living with TSC can have on individuals and families, Outlook is one of the longest-running events hosted by the TSC.

At Outlook, you can be in an environment of over-18s who understand the impact that being mildly affected by Outlook can have on daily life. You can expect things like:

  • Opportunities to meet and get to know the TSC community mildly affected by TSC
  • A chance to hear about the work of the TSA and to speak to the team
  • Workshops and talks on topics that can help people mildly affected by TSC

Food, drinks, tea and coffee is provided to all attendees.

Outlook 2023 will take place on Saturday 22 April 2023 in Leicester, at the conference venue Devonshire Place. An agenda will be shared closer to the date with specific timings, but Outlook typically starts at 10:30am and ends at 5pm.

Devonshire Place is well located, just two minutes walk from Leicester train station and with a large carpark.

A full agenda for Outlook 2023 is now confirmed. We know that seeing all of the talks might feel daunting, but don’t worry! Everyone who attends Outlook can go at their own pace and get as involved as they want. If you’d rather take a step back, that is no problem at all.

  • 10:00 – 10:30. Tea and coffee
  • 10:30 – 11:00. Welcome and icebreaker
  • 11:00 – 11:15. Update from the TSA (TSA staff)
  • 11:15 – 12:15. All about Gestalt Counselling (Katie Eliot, TSC community member and Outlooker)
  • 12:15 – 13:30. Lunch
  • 13:30 – 14:30. Life as a TSC Researcher (Dr Felix Chan, Aston University)
  • 14:30 – 14:45. Coffee break
  • 14:45 – 15:30. Living with TSC (Corinne Swainger, TSC community member and Outlooker)
  • 15:30 – 16:00. How the TSA can help you (TSA staff)
  • 16:00. Thank you and close, group chats continue

The TSA does not organise accommodation for Outlook. However, we’ve carefully selected the location of Outlook 2023 so that it is close to hotels and accommodation. We expect that most attendees who chose to stay overnight will do so at the Premier Inn Leicester City Centre (6 minutes walk to Devonshire Place).

Other accommodation in the area includes:

(Please note that the TSA does not hold any endorsements or agreements with any accommodation).

The TSA does not offer care support at Outlook. If you require a carer at Outlook, we kindly ask that your carer comes with you.

Outlook is for adults (aged 18+) who are mildly affected by TSC, but others are welcome too. This includes parents of children with TSC and carers.

If you’re coming to Outlook for the first time, let us know and we’ll put you in touch with others who have been in the past so you can feel more comfortable.

Outlook is a friendly and understanding space. You’ll be given a very warm welcome, from people who understand the impact that TSC can have on individuals and families. Whether you come to Outlook every year or if this is your first time, we’ll be delighted to have you there!

We’re always looking for ideas and advice from the TSC community on how to shape all of our events, including Outlook! If you have any suggestions, be sure to let us know by contacting admin@tuberous-sclerosis.org.

Devonshire Place has lots of space for parking, available on Prebend Street.

TSA Support Fund might be able to help. Open to anyone who lives with TSC and receives benefits, the TSA Support Fund offers small grants to people when the financial impact of TSC becomes too much – including with grants towards paying for attending Outlook.

The TSA wants all adults mildly affected by TSC to attend Outlook if they’d like to, which is one of the reasons why Outlook tickets are free. Although the TSA always tries to keep the financial impact of Outlook as low as possible, the costs associated with Outlook – including travel, accommodation and food – can quickly add up.

Outlook officially begins on Saturday 22 April at Devonshire Place. However, an unofficial evening meal organised by Outlookers themselves will take place on the Friday evening at a local restaurant. If you’re interested in joining this unofficial meal, please email us and we’ll connect you with the meal organisers.

Please note: No TSA staff members will be on-hand before or after Outlook. The TSA holds no liability for unofficial meet-ups, organised meals or connections made as a result of Outlook or through the weekend.

“I find Outlook events informative. You get to learn a lot about TSC and take part in workshops. You can speak to and meet people who live with TSC, so you don’t feel alone. You can also become pen friends with Outlookers later or socialise on social media”

– Megan Hattersley

The TSA is able to provide services such as Outlook only thanks to a wide range of donations from individuals, groups and organisations. If you’re able to do so, please consider giving to the TSA so that our work for the TSC community can continue

What is it like to go to Outlook?

We were unable to host Outlook 2020 or 2021 in-person, due to the ongoing covid-19 pandemic. However, we were pleased to still host Outlook virtually. You can see some of what we got up to in the below recordings.

Outlook 2021 started with an update on the new TSA support line. Attendees discussed what the support line is and how it can be accessed.

The session also included a special meet and greet from Anna and Mega, the TSA’s new support line advisers, who talked about their professional background is support services and their passions for helping the TSC community.

You can read more about the TSA’s support line here.

The second session of the day came from Heather Carter, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) practitioner and founder of Ready For Change Now. Attendees took part in a practical introduction to EFT, with advice on how EFT might be useful in reducing stress and anxiety.

Thank you to Heather for logging in and offering this great workshop, showing that anything is possible virtually!

You can find out more about Heather Carter here.

In our final main session, community member and long-standing Outlooker Corinne Swainger chaired a talk focused on the challenges and opportunities of being mildly affected by TSC.

Attendees discussed their personal experiences of being mildly affected by TSC, as well as looking at ways in which the condition affects all.

Make a one off or regular  donation

£10 Can allow us to send a welcome pack to a family who has just received a life-changing TSC diagnosis, ensuring that they do not go through this time alone.

£25 Can help us develop materials that are included in our support services, flagship events or campaigns.

£50 Can provide laboratory equipment for a day’s research into the causes, symptoms, management or treatment of TSC.

To provide help for today and a cure for tomorrow