The world’s first Divorce in a Box
November 18, 2011 by Suzy
The UK’s first ‘divorce fair’ – Starting Over Show – has now packaged up the best of what it offers in promoting non-adversarial routes through divorce – and put it into a box. A real box – supplied in different colours, some with ribbons.
“Why shouldn’t good information combined with powerful inspiration be packaged in an attractive way? I want people going through the confusion of family break up to be able to have easy access to key guidance and expert advice in a way that is more tangible than just flailing around on google,” explains the creator of SOS Divorce in a Box, Suzy Miller.
“I have taken the best resources from the Starting Over Shows and presented them in a different way. The SOS Boxes promote mediation and collaborative law, which keep people out of court, help protect the kids and save people money and stress. I am collaborating with the Ministry of Justice in promoting non-adversarial routes through divorce, and the experts partnering with me range from life coaches to financial planners.”
The box contains a media pack with videos, audio recordings and pdfs providing a wide range of resource material, including videos about divorce mediation and even audio ‘meditations’ for relaxation, positive affirmations, and forgiveness.
“It’s amazing how often people confuse divorce ‘mediation’ with ‘meditation’!” Suzy explains. “But I include meditations in the box because they are a powerful way to support people psychologically through a difficult life change. I believe in taking a holistic approach to life crises like divorce and break up, and empowering rather than ‘rescuing’ people, who need a map of how to navigate their way through.”
The boxes come in different colours, as Suzy wants both men and women to benefit from the booklets and also vouchers – over £500 worth of complementary expert services available ‘in the box’.
“Anyone buying a physical box or getting an online version, will be able to access free sessions with top experts like Francine Kaye (Channel 5′s The Wright Stuff ‘Divorce Doctor’), top UK Parenting Coach Sue Atkins, as well as financial and wellbeing support, and get a 20% discount on a managed divorce through Divorce Online.”
The Starting Over Shows have been well received because of the holistic and wellbeing focus of the events, supported by Reverend’s from the Church of England right through to support organisations like the CAB. Flyers for recent Guildford events were available via doctor’s surgeries, JobCentrePlus and family courts.
But even though the live events are very relaxed and friendly, Suzy felt that some people were still too overwhelmed by their divorce to be able to get along and attend, so she wanted to create something they could access in private, in their own time.
“I wanted the boxes to not only be incredibly useful – to provide information that guides people through a better way of doing divorce – but also to offer immense value for money by including fantastic 1-1 expert advice with top professionals in their field.”
Suzy is selling the boxes online: £36 for the online version, and £40 for the physical version including vat and UK postage. For more information visit www.sosdivorceinabox.com
END
Suzy Miller
suzy@startingovershow.co.uk
07525 059 634
Expert comments from ‘divorce professionals’ available on request.
Hi Res Images can be downloaded from http://gallery.me.com/suzymiller2#100316&view=grid&bgcolor=black&sel=6
Relevant links:
Press Pack: http://www.startingovershow.co.uk/index.php/sos-15-march-2009/press-pack-sos-divorce-in-a-box/
Divorce in a Box www.sosdivorceinabox.com
Starting Over Show www.startingovershow.co.uk
US Divorce Pill – coming soon to the UK ?
September 8, 2011 by Suzy
“The single most powerful predictor of stress-related physical, as well as emotional illness is marital disruption.” ‘National Institute of Mental Health’ – reads one of the statistics backing up the video and testimonials for The Divorce Pill being cunningly marketed and targeted at people in the US going through divorce.
So how long before we begin to see the ads on NBC and Fox for this “cutting edge herbal technology, for which you can “buy one get one free”, being seen on UK TV?
Divorce alone costs North American business more than $6 billion each year in lost productivity, absenteeism and higher health insurance premiums and stress-related healthcare costs. (Corporate Wellness Magazine 4 Sept 2009). So it could only be a matter of time before ‘divorce medication’ is being handed out as part of Employment Assistance Programmes. In the UK, the governmentʼs Foresight Programme study on mental capital and wellbeing estimated that sickness absence, presenteeism, and labour turnover costs the country about £26bn a year – so how about the NHS making divorce pills available here on prescription? Divorce Medication instead of Divorce Mediation to reduce the rate of ‘contentious divorce’ blocking up the courts?
Suzy Miller – creator of the UK’s Starting Over from Divorce Road Show currently running in Guildford, Surrey, is alarmed by the prospect. Starting Over Show – SOS for short – is collaborating with the Ministry of Justice in promoting non-adversarial routes through divorce through the use of mediation and collaborative law:
“I get local GP surgeries in Surrey to share Starting Over Show flyers by saying to them: “don’t prescribe patients going through divorce pills and prozac – tell them to come along to a Starting Over Show!” Luckily, they agree, which is why they are happy to share the flyers. When people ‘suppress’ their pain they are unable to deal with the causes of it. Getting through a life crises involves ‘doing the pain’ – there are no short cuts or antidotes, but methods to learn and people to support you. This divorce pill is another scary step in the wrong direction.”
“The divorced or widowed are 20% more likely to have heart disease, diabetes, cancer, or other chronic conditions” (Dr Mark Hayward PHD, University of Texas) – reads a further statistic on the online ad for the pills. A 2007 study at University College London revealed that stress associated with marital struggle was found to increase the likelihood of a heart attack and other heart trouble by as much as 34%. In a recent CIPD report 38% of businesses reported a rise in mental problems such as anxiety and depression in staff over a 12 month period – an increase of 17%. The current levels of redundancy and unfair dismissals will also impact on relationships and therefore on divorce and family break-up.
With statistics like these, the prospect of GP’s handing out divorce medication could be closer than we think.
Free legal, financial and wellbeing advice at The Holiday Inn, 22 September 2011. A holistic approach to divorce, redundancy & other major life changes. www.startingovershow.co.uk
Suzy Miller
suzy@startingovershow.co.uk
07525 059 634
Expert comments from ‘divorce professionals’ available on request.
Relevant links:
Tickets available here http://www.divorceredundancybereavement.org/buy-a-ticket
The Divorce Pill http://thedivorcepill.com
Mediators & Divorce Psychics – in Guildford!
March 23, 2011 by Suzy
Guildford has been called the “Divorce capital of the country” according to Liberal Democrat Pauline Searle, in an interview with the Daily Mail in 2007. Now in 2011, Guildford is fittingly one of the first locations for the UK’s only ‘divorce fairs’ – Starting Over from Divorce Road Shows – to become established as a regular resource for local people, taking place 4 times a year at the Holiday Inn Guildford.
As the Government actively encourages divorcing couples to investigate mediation as a way through divorce, the Guildford Starting Over Show will bring visitors face to face with local mediators and collaborative lawyers – both professions dedicated to non-adversarial routes through divorce. But the event will also include a holistic range of exhibitors including a health club, a photographer of ‘blended families’, and the Mystic Housewife who’s new monthly ‘Psychic Divorce Horoscope‘ blog has just been launched on the www.startingovershow.com website.
“The Starting Over Shows provide a whole new alternative to the commercialisation of divorce, something that is taking off on a local basis and the like of which has never been seen before in the UK – or abroad” explains Suzy Miller, creator and producer of these resource-based events. “Visitors learn about non-adversarial approaches to divorce but also have access to life coaches and business start-up opportunities. At the recent SOS events in Farnham, local Citizen’s Advice Bureaus and GP surgeries made the SOS flyers and free code for tickets available to people who are going through divorce or family breakup because they recognised what a valuable service these events are providing to the local community.”
Local independent radio station Eagle Radio, part of the UKRD group who recently won the Sunday Times “100 Best Companies to work for” accolade, are keen that these events become a regular feature of Guildford life. “As Surrey and Hampshire`s local radio station, Eagle Radio is supportive of any new initiatives that make a real difference to our listeners”, says Eagle Radio MD Paul Marcus. “We support the starting over show as it is run with integrity, style and is genuinely relevant to people finding themselves in this situation.”
SOS is collaborating with the Ministry of Justice and educating people about the role of mediation through The Mediation Specialists, and also introducing people to collaborative lawyers from the Guildford firm Barlow Robbins – who keep you out of court. Just as important, they are helping people to deal with the pain and confusion of family break-up. The Guildford Starting Over Show events are sponsored by the local Collaborative Family Law Group.
“Divorce Fairs” started in Europe and the Starting Over Show was the first similar event in the UK to support people going through divorce and break up – but in a very different way. Unlike the first ever divorce fair held in Austria, SOS does not have any Private Detectives or DNA testers exhibiting, but instead actively promote a non-combative approach to breakup.
“It’s all about asking different questions.” Suzy explains. “Instead of ‘what will I get from my divorce settlement’ a better question is: ‘will we be swopping the kids over at motorway service stations for the next 10 years because it’s neutral ground? Instead of divorce parties and t-shirts, divorcing couples have the opportunity to learn all the skills they failed to learn when married – like communication skills, focusing on a positive future, letting go of the past, using this painful time as a catalyst for amazing change.”
Free legal, financial and wellbeing advice at The Holiday Inn, 16 June 2011 & 22 September 2011. A holistic approach to divorce & break up. www.startingovershow.co.uk
Tickets available here now! (paste this link into your browser)
http://www.divorceredundancybereavement.org/buy-a-ticket
END
Suzy Miller
07525 059 634
Case studies and expert comments from ‘divorce professionals’ available on request.
Relevant links:
http://www.startingovershow.co.uk/index.php/category/psychic-divorce-horoscope/
A whole new way of breaking up right
January 5, 2011 by Suzy
Linda Kelsey’s article on Divorce Day out today in the Telegraph mentions my Starting Over Shows, but doesn’t mention that there is a whole new alternative to the commercialisation of divorce, something that is taking off on a local basis and the like of which has never been seen before in the UK – or abroad.
At the Starting Over Road Show at Farnham Castle 10 February 2011, visitors will learn about non-adversarial approaches to divorce. Local Citizen’s Advice Bureaus and GP surgeries are making the SOS flyers and free code for tickets available to people who are going through divorce or family breakup.
SOS is collaborating with the Ministry of Justice and educating people about the role of mediation and also introducing people to collaborative law (which keeps you out of court). Just as important, we are helping people to deal with the pain and confusion – so we have counsellors, divorce coaches, goal mapping experts, passion coach, mystic housewife – and NO divorce cakes!
It’s all about asking different questions. Instead of ‘what will I get from my divorce settlement’ a better question is: ‘will we be swopping the kids over at motorway service stations for the next 10 years because it’s neutral ground?”
Instead of divorce parties and t-shirts, divorcing couples have the opportunity to learn all the skills they failed to learn when married – like communication skills, focusing on a positive future, letting go of the past, using this painful time as a catalyst for amazing change.
“Divorce Fairs” started in Europe and the Starting Over Show was the first similar event in the UK to support people going through divorce and break up – but in a very different way. Unlike the first ever divorce fair held in Austria, SOS does not have any Private Detectives or DNA testers exhibiting. We actively promote a non-combative approach to breakup.
Suzy Miller
07525 059 634
Featured in current Woman magazine article “Christmas with the Ex and his new wife” http://www.startingovershow.co.uk/index.php/xmas-with-the-ex/
Case studies and expert comments from ‘divorce professionals’ available on request.
More information:
Starting over from divorce or breakup?
Free legal, financial and wellbeing advice at Farnham Castle 10 February 2011. Mediation advice, passion coach, mystic housewife – a holistic approach to divorce & break up.
Tickets available here now! (paste this link into your browser)
http://www.divorceredundancybereavement.org/buy-a-ticket
Book your free private legal & financial powwow, or a space at our life coaching advice and mediation salons right now while spaces are available. Or just come along with a friend (tickets come in pairs) for friendly information & inspiration on starting over.
Previous Starting Over Shows received international press coverage and have been featured on GMTV and even Wogan’s Pause For Thought, for our innovative approach to supporting people through divorce and break up. The events provide information (legal, financial) and inspiration (wellbeing support, parenting advice) to help people start over from what is a major life crisis, in a holistic and inspirational way.
Now a smaller, local version of the events – the Surrey/Hampshire border SOS Road Show – is returning to Farnham Castle on 10 February, from 5.30pm to 8.30pm.
Information about the event at Farnham Castle can be seen here: http://www.startingovershow.co.uk/index.php/sos-roadshows/surreyhamps-border-sos-road-show/
Tickets available here now! Click this link…..
http://www.divorceredundancybereavement.org/buy-a-ticket
Farnham Castle, Farnham, Surrey GU9 0AG
Starting Over from divorce or break up? Information & Inspiration in one SOS
Contact: suzy@startingovershow.co.uk
07525 059 634
The event that could save you breaking the bank if you are breaking up
November 3, 2010 by Suzy
Breaking up is hard to do and it is easy to make costly mistakes – that’s why Starting Over Roadshow creator Suzy Miller is urging people to come to her event next Thursday (11 November).
Farnham Castle, a popular wedding venue in Surrey, will host the event which will give people access to a range of local experts giving advice on financial planning, parenting, mediation, wellbeing, dealing with debt, legal issues, prenuptials, wills and even events for singles. The roadshow takes place between 5.30 and 8.30pm.
There are still a few places left at one-to-one ‘pow-wow’ sessions with experts where people can have a cup of tea and a no-obligation chat.
“A staggering 60 per cent of people will know someone going through a divorce or break up. Often people don’t know where to turn when they are breaking up and end up breaking down in the process. Coming to the event is a perfect way to meet experts face to face without having to resort to looking in the telephone directory and spending precious time trying to find the right advisers,” explained Suzy.
The Starting Over Show (SOS) www.startingovershow.co.uk was launched two years ago by entrepreneur Suzy Miller to help people going through a divorce or breakup. Having been through a difficult separation herself, the mother-of-three used her experiences to create an event that would encourage a non-combative approach to divorce.
More than 115,000* marriages in the UK end in divorce and the SOS show offers help with almost every aspect of this difficult time.
Suzy says: “A relationship break-up can be the perfect time to make positive changes and the event provides an opportunity to gain legal and financial advice, relationship and parenting coaching and even holistic healing to help with relaxation.”
According to Ian Taylor of Godalming-based Davenport Financial Management Ltd www.davenportfinancial.co.uk, divorce rates are high on the Surrey and Hampshire border, making Farnham an ideal location for the SOS event.
“Divorce rates in this area are high, and the size of the assets being split are probably among the largest in the country. Making sure assets are fairly shared can be extremely complex, especially when it comes to pension arrangements. We are urging people who are thinking about divorce or currently going through a break up to come to the event and seek professional advice.”
Ian Taylor is a Resolution-accredited pension and divorce specialist and a member of the Collaborative Family Law Group based on the Surrey Hampshire border. Collaborative Family Law Group www.collaborativelawgroup.co.uk is hosting the Farnham show on 11 November from 5:30 to 8:30pm. Tickets are on sale now on line for £8 for two (tickets sold in pairs) at: www.startingovershow.co.uk/index.php/sos-roadshows/surreyhamps-border-sos-road-show/
Notes to editors:
For more information and a full list of exhibitors visit www.startingovershow.co.uk
You can access our on-line press pack which contains a number of hi-res images
www.startingovershow.co.uk/index.php/sos-15-march-2009/press-pack/
For further information, a press pass, or interview requests contact Suzi Christie at Blueberry PR: 01435 830031
The first local Starting Over Road Show – in a castle!
August 24, 2010 by Suzy
The Surrey/Hampshire border SOS Road Show is the first local event to help people bounce back from relationship break ups and life crises. On the day, we will create a safe haven in which visitors can take professional advice to build the confidence and skills they need to go it alone, whether they are going through divorce and break up, or just looking for a new beginning.
A relationship break up can be the perfect time to make positive changes whether that’s starting up the business you always dreamed of, getting your pension sorted, or losing weight and taking more care of your health. But this show is not just about the wellbeing aspects of moving forwards from divorce – the SOS Road Show also focuses on how to create a less combative approach to break up, and to protect the welfare of any children.
The Surrey/Hampshire border Starting Over Road Show is taking place at Farnham Castle, Farnham, Surrey GU9 0AG, between 5.30 and 8.30pm on Thursday 11 November 2010.
The Road Show events are based upon the successful regional events of Brighton and London during 2009-2010. The London event was featured on GMTV and mixed family lawyers and yoga, financial experts and guided meditation, life coaching and dating advice – a holistic approach which visitors truly appreciated.
The events will include:
* free legal & financial private powwows
* free parenting, personal development and wellbeing advice
* information & inspiration to start over
A recent survey by Starting Over show reveals that over 60% of people in the UK will know someone going through divorce or break up. The show’s organiser Suzy Miller encourages people to ‘tell a friend’ – or even better, to bring them along to the event, and this is why tickets are all sold in pairs.
To find out more about the Starting Over Road Show at Farnham Castle this November, visit the www.startingovershow.co.uk website or contact Suzy@startingovershow.co.uk 07525 059 634
Kettering woman’s miracle makeover
February 5, 2010 by Suzy
A 38-year-old Northamptonshire mum of three has won an exclusive competition that has helped to change her life.
Michelle, who lives in Kettering, Northamptonshire, applied for an ‘SOS Divorce Makeover‘ after hearing about the competition on a social networking website for people going through divorce.
Since winning the competition, the brainchild of Starting Over Show creator Suzy Miller, Michelle has had access to thousands of pounds worth of free legal and personal advice to help her overcome the trauma of her relationship breakdown. She also had a makeover from Twinns Hairdressers in Mayfair, followed by a professional photoshoot with Mayfair-based top photographer Scott Collier.
Michelle said: “I am so glad I entered the Relationship Makeover competition. When I entered, I was really desperate and it was like clutching at the final straw. I can honestly say that the advice I have been give as part of the SOS makeover has changed my life.
For instance, I didn’t know what collaborative law was. Thanks to James Pirrie of Family Law in Partnership, now I know collaborative law, and alsomediation, are a far better way of resolving things than ending up in court in a bitter dispute. The life coaching I had from Julie Jones of Changes Forever completely transformed my thinking. I thought life coaching was just for the rich and famous, but now I know it can be worthwhile and effective for anyone – whatever their situation.”
Starting Over Show Creator Suzy Miller said: “It was a very big day for Michelle – her first ever experience of life coaching, her first introduction to collaborative law, and her first chance to be made to feel special and have some great photos that reflect the beautiful lady that she is and the person she is striving to become, because of her situation rather than in spite of it.
To hear the full story go to:
(http://www.startingovershow.co.uk/index.php/category/sos-divorce-makeover/michelles-journey/)
If you are going through divorce, relationship breakdown, redundancy, bereavement or a serious illness – or just want to gain a new perspective on your life, you will find the Starting Over Show is a full of information and inspiration.
Ticket are on sale for the next Starting Over Shows at
http://www.startingovershow.co.uk/
There is one on 7 March in London and one in Brighton on 28 March.
Tickets are just £3 when bought online. ENDS
Dates for two more ‘divorce fairs’ announced
July 24, 2009 by Suzy
23 July 2009
Starting Over Show creator Suzy Miller has announced her next two events – one in London and one in Brighton and both in March 2010.
The first Starting Over Show in Brighton this year- dubbed a ‘divorce fair’ by the media – helped more than 500 visitors who travelled from across the UK and abroad to seek advice on a range of issues from wellbeing to legal and financial.
Created by single mum-of-three Suzy Miller, the Starting Over Show has been designed to help the thousands of people in the UK who experience relationship break-ups, separation and divorce and want to turn their lives around – and literally start over.
A number of exhibitors have already signed up for the events which take place at the Hilton London Metropole in Edgware Road on Sunday 7 March 2010 and Hilton Brighton Metropole on Sunday 28 March. They include: Jaci Godman Irvine of Estate Legacy Services alongside Mystic Housewife Jane Orr and Mark Robinson of Private Wealth Management alongside makeover stylist Gay Richardson of Style Me Confident - both examples of the balance of information and inspiration that defines the Starting Over Show events.
Other exhibitors include:Jane Robey of National Family Mediation; law firm Jeffrey Green Russell; James Pirrie from Family Law in Partnership and Charlotte Friedman of the Divorce Support Group; collaborative law firm Mayo Wynne Baxter LLP; mediator and collaborative lawyer Elissa Da Costa; Armida Business Recovery; solicitors Nockolds LLP; Lambda Mediation; therapist, author and international athlete Julia Armstrong; Scott Collier Photography; ‘Unwrapping the gifts of passion’ holistic coach Vena Ramphal; introduction agency Dateline Platinum; Divorce Online; Dummies Guides; Rhythm of Life interfaith minister Estelle Williams and law firm Bennett Griffin.
Like at the first show, there will be information and inspiration all in one place, as well as workshops and seminars on a range of topics. At both events, Mayo Wynne Baxter LLP will be running a free surgery covering all the options, including mediation and collaborative law. While at Brighton, Bennett Griffin’s team of Resolution accredited family experts will be offering free, confidential advice during 15-minute surgery consultations covering everything from achieving a fair financial settlement, to attending mediation to resolve issues about contact with your children.
Suzy, 44, came up with the Starting Over Show after her 10-year relationship broke down and she was left on her own with three young children and no income. The experience made her realise just how difficult it is for people to get the information and inspiration they need to get back on their feet.
“It’s time to stop expecting people going through relationship breakdowns to feel like failures. It happens to most of us as some time or other, and it is only right that we should not ignore others going through such life-changing situations but try and help them and give them a vision of a better future.
“I’m really pleased about holding the next show in London and helping the thousands of couples in the South East who are going through divorce or separation – or even thinking about it.”
Visit http://www.startingovershow.co.uk for more information and tickets. Suzy has also created a resource site at www.sos-village.org where people can find helpful and inspiring information and also share stories about starting over.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
Suzy’s personal story has been featured in Eve magazine last year and in the July 2009 edition on Prima. She is also being featured in a forthcoming edition of the Observer Magazine.
Suzy is available for interview on 07525059634 suzy@startingovershow.co.uk
Or contact Suzi Christie at Blueberry PR on 01435 830031 suzi@ blueberry-pr.co.uk for more information.
WHO’S EXHIBITING?
Check out our exhibitors here: http://www.startingovershow.co.uk/index.php/let-us-help/information-inspiration/
There are two types of exhibitors – some offering information and some offering inspiration:
The Information exhibitors will offer practical advice and access to experts including:
Specialist legal advice around marriage, divorce, separation, family law and estates and wills
Family specialists that can help with issues around children and child care
Financial professionals who can offer specific guidance and recommendations
Business advisors
Public and Independent Advice and Support agencies
Practical marriage makeover experts for those who want to turn their relationship around
The Inspirational exhibitors will provide a range of people, services, techniques, experiences and ideas to improve your mental and emotional wellbeing
Therapists, counsellors and life coaches
Health, fitness and wellbeing professionals: personal trainers, makeover & style coaches, hypnotherapists, reflexologists and acupuncturists
Business and career guidance
Holidays and overseas opportunities
Fun stuff to help you enjoy and celebrate life!
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Anyone who has experienced or maybe experiencing a relationship break up or divorce
Anyone who has experienced loss of a partner, child, family member or friend
Anyone who is entering or has entered retirement or redundancy and feels at a loss as to what to do next
Anyone who has been affected by serious injury, illness, abusive or damaging situations and needs help to move forward
The show is for anyone who wants to start over in their life and needs a bit of help!
WHAT DOES IT COST?
Ticket are £3 each and can be bought on line at www.startingovershow.co.uk
For more background information – see our press pack at http://www.startingovershow.co.uk/index.php/sos-15-march-2009/press-pack/
or request a PDF version by e-mailing suzi@blueberry-pr.co.uk
Press FAQs
July 2, 2009 by Suzy
Q. Who visits the SOS events?
A. Couples who want to ‘break up right’ – especially those who have children. People considering break up but wanting to know what is involved. Couples who have got together post divorce but still have legal or financial issues that need sorting out. People who have already got divorced and are looking for the inspiration to really start over. Happily married people who are bringing along ‘a friend in need’ (which is why we provide two tickets for the price of one).
Q. How did you come up with the SOS concept?
A. There are fairs for people getting married, but nothing for those getting divorced – when they need even more support, especially emotional support. I discovered this when I was breaking up from a 10 year relationship with 3 young children.
Q. Was the SOS in March 2009 the first in the UK?
A. Yes, we were the first. I knew there would be demand for such fairs and I wanted to set a high standard, an ethical approach, as I feared that other event organizers would focus more on the divorce rather than the starting over, as had been done in the rest of Europe (SOS does not have any Private Detectives firms or DNA testers exhibiting – unlike other ‘divorce fairs’.
Q. What are the SOS Road Shows?
A. SOS Road Shows are local resource-based events, usually taking place on a Thursday evening after work so local residents and employees of local businesses can drop in and experience free legal & financial powwows, parenting and wellbeing salons, and find a better way to start over from divorce and break up.
Q. Why did you begin with an SOS Road Show in Farnham?
A. I create the SOS Road Shows in collaboration with key local firms who effectively sponsor and host a series of local events. My first SOS Road Show is hosted by the Collaborative Family Law Group who are based in the Blackwater Valley on the Surrey/Hampshire border. We felt that Farnham Castle was a fitting venue for our first Road Shows – an uplifting and inspirational venue for an uplifting and inspirational series of events.
Q Are you planning shows in other parts of the UK?
A. I would love to create SOS events throughout the UK. It is important that people have access to local support and expertise, which is why the locally based SOS Road Show events will provide a valuable local resource – nationally.
Q. Who are you aiming the show at and does it cater for gay people too?
A. The shows are ideal for anyone considering divorce and wanting to know what is involved, and how to proceed in a way that helps maintain a healthy relationship with their partner irrespective of whether they stay together or not. SOS is also ideal for couples going through break up or even a few years down the line post-divorce, who have unresolved legal or child access issues, or just feel a bit stuck! We are an inclusive event and welcome people breaking up from civil partnerships, which is one of the reasons why we chose Brighton as our very first location.
Q. Don’t you think you are profiting from people’s misery?
A. Does a doctor profit from another’s pain because he makes a living by helping others to heal? Our exhibitors include many who have been through divorce themselves, and are passionate about helping others to go through the process in a healthy and empowering way.
Q. What about people from different religions?
A. As an inclusive event, we welcome all races and religions – fundamentally, divorce and relationship breakup is a process identical to that of bereavement. Human pain has no cultural or religious boundaries. Our show includes the presence of non denominational pastors who can give support and spiritual advice to people of any religious background.
Q. Why do you think the first show was such a success?
A. The press and the visitors were expecting a miserable, depressing event – or something that felt very commercial. They experienced something very different! Visitors felt relaxed enough to chat with each other and share stories, and they knew they were somewhere brimming over with information, inspiration, and where no one was made to feel like a failure just because their relationship hadn’t worked out as planned.
Q: I’ve heard of some other similar events taking place – are you involved in those?
A. There are some copycat shows happening which demonstrates a real need for such events, but I am deliberately distant from other ‘divorce fairs’ because of the fundamental differences between our approaches. We are not a ‘divorce supermarket’ – rather, SOS is more like the friendly local organic shop where you can interesting and healthy alternatives to what is on the supermarket shelves. Consequently, the atmosphere of our shows is friendly and relaxed, and there are no private detective agencies (the only UK divorce fair so far that can make that claim).
Q. How do you respond when people say you are helping to promote divorce?
A. No one goes through divorce or relationship break up lightly. It is one of the most painful and difficult experiences anyone can experience. The idea that something so painful and difficult could be ‘promoted’ is ridiculous, and a claim that could only be made by those who have never experienced it. To deny people – thousands of people – easy access to emotional and practical support, which will encourage them to take a non-combative approach to the divorce process, can only be a good thing.
Q. What sort of people are exhibiting at the next events?
A. It’s early days yet, but already we have some great exhibitors. Jane Orr, The Mystic Housewife, Collaborative family lawyers and mediators, a Wills specialist, a photographer – a holistic mix of inspiration and information. We have financial experts, relationship experts – including Vena Ramphal, a holistic coach who ‘unwraps the gifts of passion’, and also a private surgery for couples wanting parenting advice and support. Also present will be the interfaith ministers who created such interest at the last events with their ‘letting go’ ceremony.
Q. Why won’t you allow DNA testers or private detectives at SOS?
A. Both professions provide a valuable service – but they are not part of the ethos of ‘starting over’. We are determined to encourage people to break with tradition and focus on non combative ways to go through break up, keeping a healthy working relationship with each other despite some inevitable low points.
Q How can people exhibit?
A. Contact suzy (at) startingovershow.co.uk or ring her on 07525 059 634.
Q. How can people get tickets and where exactly are the shows?
A. Tickets can be bought online for only £8 from most pages of the www.startingovershow.co.uk website, and we always provide 2 tickets for the price of 1 in case you want to bring along a friend/family member or a new partner. The first SOS Road Shows are on 11 November 2010 & 10 February 2011 from 5.30pm to 8.30pm at Farnham Castle.
Q What are you doing to promote the shows?
A. We promote the events in a variety of ways, including making some tickets available for free to charities or organizations who see the SOS events as a positive HR resource. For example, BT and the South East Fire Brigades’ Union gave out the code for free tickets to their staff which reflects their positive approach to their own corporate social responsibility. The Brighton & Hove City Council and GLA also shared the code for free tickets with their staff.
Q Are you planning more SOS road shows?
A. I would love to put on more shows around the UK, but since I am a single mother of three with only so much time and energy, I plan to invite collaborators to take on the organisation of local SOS events in other parts of the UK as an ideal start-up business opportunity for parents looking for part-time flexible work, whilst maintaining they high quality of experience and strong ethos which is the mark of the Starting Over Show brand.
Blueberry wins ‘divorce fair’ contract
June 16, 2009 by Suzy
East Sussex-based Blueberry Public Relations has won the contract to promote London’s first Starting Over Show and Brighton’s second event.
The UK’s first Starting Over Show, which was held in Brighton on 15 March, was aimed at anyone going through a divorce or relationship break up. The event, the brainchild of single mother-of-three Suzy Miller, received worldwide media attention with nearly every national paper attending. Suzy also appeared on BBC Breakfast News, BBC South East, Meridian TV, Five Live and BBC Radio 4′s You and Yours, as well as many other shows.
Around 500 people had the opportunity to get free advice on everything from estate planning to collaborative divorce and legal, financial and coaching workshops were fully booked. There were also talks by TV divorce coach Francine Kaye and Daisy Dooley Does Divorce author and Daily Mail columnist Anna Pasternak.
Blueberry PR Director Suzi Christie said: “I’m thrilled to be working with the Suzy Miller again – she is an inspirational woman and is so passionate about helping people break up without breaking down by providing access to vital resources.
“There was press interest in the first show from as far away as Sydney, Australia, Taiwan and India as the idea for a Starting Over Show was unique. The next events will be equally exciting and I’m looking forward to building on the success we had in March.”
Suzy Miller added: “We had clear objectives for the first show and wanted it to be platform to launch the Starting Over Show brand. We also wanted to get the message across that the event was not about encouraging divorce but helping people through one of the most devastating periods of their lives.”
The success of the Starting Over Show in March 2009 has spawned several similar divorce fair events but Suzy Miller’s event remains the only one that focuses on getting through the experience in the most positive way possible and looking towards the future.
London’s first Starting Over Show is on 7 March at the Hilton London Metropole in Edgware Road, London, and on 28 March at the Hilton Brighton Metropole.
Exhibitors so far include author and leading life and performance coach Julia Armstrong; Jane Robey, of National Family Mediation; Vena Ramphal, a holistic coach specialising in divorce; Franklin Price & Sarah Ingram of Jeffrey Green Russell Legal Firm, a general service law firm with a specialist matrimonial department; James Pirrie of Family Law in Partnership (FLIP), divorce and family law solicitors, and Charlotte Friedman who runs Divorce Support Groups.
Sponsorship opportunities and exhibitor spaces are still available. For more details and tickets go to www.startingovershow.co.uk
ENDS
Contacts:
Suzy Miller 07525 059 634 suzy@startingovershow.co.uk
Featured in Sept 08 issue of Eve Magazine & July 09 Prima Magazine
Suzi Christie/Blueberry PR suzi@blueberry-pr.co.uk 01435 830031
High quality photos/images and case studies are available on request
