Free UK Genealogy Strategy Weekend 2025

When: Saturday 4th 1:30pm - Sunday 5th October 1:00pm 2025

Where: ibis Styles Birmingham NEC and Airport (with remote access available)

Every two years, the Free UK Genealogy community comes together to step back from day-to-day work and ask the big questions:

  • How can we ensure our transcriptions and data remain high-quality?
  • How do we create the most value for family historians, researchers, and the wider public?
  • How can we grow – in records, in community, and in impact – while staying true to our principles of free and open data?

In 2023, our Strategy Weekend defined these three pillars – Quality, Value and Growth – as the foundation of our long-term strategy. This year we’ll be building on that framework, turning it into concrete actions for 2025–2030.

The weekend will mix workshops, breakout groups, and whole-community discussions. The full agenda will follow, but themes include:

✨ Projects and Progress

  • Updates on FreeBMD2, FreeComETT, and the new FreeProbate project
  • Exploring how these developments align with our strategic pillars

🤝 Volunteer Experience

  • Building a stronger culture of community
  • Improving support, training, and recognition for volunteers
  • Expanding opportunities for leadership and contribution

🔍 Quality and Value

  • Strengthening transcription accuracy and support tools
  • Identifying what makes our data unique and how we can expand its impact
  • Open data and accessibility commitments

🚀 Strategy in Action

  • Setting clear deliverables and accountability for the next 12–24 months
  • Agreeing on how we track progress and share updates across projects

Trustees, staff and Steering Group members will be facilitating sessions, and we warmly welcome volunteers from all projects, whether you’ve just started transcribing or you’ve been involved for years. Remote participation will be available, so geography is no barrier.

Outcomes we’re aiming for

  • Clearer priorities for projects and volunteer support
  • Practical steps to improve quality assurance and community growth
  • A shared roadmap for delivering our QVG strategy
  • Stronger connections across our community

Will you join us?

This is your chance to shape the future of Free UK Genealogy. Your voice – whether transcriber, coordinator, trustee or supporter – will help us decide where to focus our efforts in the years ahead.

We can help fund travel and accommodation expenses for anyone who would need assistance in meeting these costs. Please use this form to let us know if you will be able to join us, so we can get an idea of numbers and plan for the event. If you’re unable to join us for both days, but can make one day or the Saturday evening, that would be great as well.