First two SOS networking events 2009
August 17, 2009 by Suzy
Exhibitors like to get to know each other better. It’s part of what creates such a great atmosphere at the Starting Over Show live events….
Free SOS divorce makeover
August 3, 2009 by Suzy
Free SOS divorce makeover™
Free legal and wellbeing advice surgeries in return for sharing your experience to help others
Are you embarking on the journey of divorce, or still trying to convince yourself – now the decree absolute is through – that it’s all done and dusted? There are more ways – positive, proactive and exciting ways – to access legal, financial and wellbeing advice than you might have thought.
Join us for our SOS divorce makeover™ and you can sample the power of financial mediation, collaborative law, parenting advice, style makeovers and other self esteem boosting (and fun!) experiences at the hands of our Starting Over Show exhibitors. And if you are willing to share your experiences (not your private lives, just your thoughts and feelings about how these professionals can help you start over) in order to open the eyes of others who also want to ‘start over’ afresh, then you can try out these life changing experiences for free.
If you are interested in being chosen for this ground breaking project, which will involve you being able (at your convenience) to attend legal, mediation, financial, style makeover and relationship surgeries normally amounting to thousands of pounds, (but free to you), please email Suzy ASAP suzy@startingovershow.co.uk
Help others find healthier ways to rebuild their lives – help yourself truly start over in style
Who will be providing this legal, financial and wellbeing ‘Makeover’?
They’re a great bunch of people, who recognise that this is not about staying friends THROUGH the process (that’s pretty tough and not always very realistic) but it’s more about keeping your integrity when under great pressure, knowing that in only a short few years life could be very much better if you don’t burn all your bridges between now and then. With the right support at the right time, you can get through a difficult process feeling informed, supported, and let’s face it, you could save a great deal of money too.
We already have two courageous women who are going to share their starting over experience with us, and benefit from a range of inspirational support and good information via our SOS team.
Real people “Talking about the Ex”….
BBC Radio Sussex Interview including Suzy talking about the SOS Divorce Relationship Makeover
Audience reach of press coverage SOS 2009 event
August 3, 2009 by Suzy
Press Coverage
This included local and national newspapers, local and national and on-line. In some publications there was print as well as on-line coverage, and circulation figures shown where known.
Pre Show
Independent on Sunday – 170,000
You magazine
Daily Mail – 2,187,428
Telegraph – 827,376
The Argus – 40,000
BBC Radio 4 – You and Yours – 9.982,000
Alan Titchmarsh – ITV1
BBC News on line
The Scotsman – 51,135
Sunday Herald – Scotland – 43,915
BBC Sussex (twice) – 277,000
BBC Radio Kent – 235,000
Sovereign Radio
Meridian TV
Mercury FM – 85,000
East Grinstead Courier
Divorce Diva.com
Virgin media
AOL News
Marie Claire.com
Southern FM – on line
Denbeighshire Free Press
United World.org
Playvybe Radio
CityTalk Radio
Edinburgh Evening News – 49,367
Rye and Battle Observer
LBC – 630,000
Press Association
Telegraph – 827,376
Portsmouth Today
Edmonton Sun
Splash FM
Bright FM
Radio Reverb
RTE- Irish National Radio
Tg.com – Italy
Five Live (two interviews) – 6,211,000
Premier Christian Radio – 113,000
BBC News 24
C4 News
The Law Practice
So Feminine
Washington Post – 2,113, 725
United World.org
BBC Radio Leicester
BBC Radio Lincolnshore
BBC Somerset
MetroNews.ca
Action News (US TV)
The Western Australian – 11,252
4FM
Palm Beach Post
Seattle Pi.com
Yahoo News
Premier Christian website – negative
(55)
Post event
BBC Radio 2 – Wake Up to Wogan – 13,457,000
PR Inside.com – Austria
BBC Newcastle
Travelmole.com
Expoabc.com
Event Magazine
BBC News on line
BBC South East
BBC Essex – 252,000
BBC Sussex
BBC Leeds – 214,000
BBC Devon
BBC Newcastle
Blatterskit.com
Traveloscipy.com
Times of India
The Sunday Express – 638,416
The Sun – 2,997,993
The Guardian – 343,065
Telegraph
Associated Press
International Herald Tribune – 242,182
The Canadian Press
Taipei Times
The Star – South Africa
Daily Express – Vanessa Phelps column (negative) – 725,085
Comment piece in Independent (negative) – 205,488
(28)
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
Could be nasty
July 19, 2009 by Suzy
Heads of state from more than 50 countries have been attending meetings of the Non-Aligned Movement in Egypt.
I saw the news on Twitter and thought “how amazing! A non-aligned, presumably free thinking organization focused on good ideas rather than tying themselves to some political or social dogma.”
And how relevant it seemed to me at this time, about to be interviewed for the “Ex Files” column in the Observer Women’s supplement. Because when it comes to relationships, I’m becoming increasingly less influenced by conventional ways of thinking, and learning not to just take relationships and pop them into a nice neat socially acceptable box, and create a Cold War situation where once there was love and harmony. Especially since the box for ex’s seems to be marked (and not without cause) ‘agent of destruction’.
The diversity of opinions on Twitter was interesting too. Let’s face it, from a traditional PR point of view, me sticking my relationships into print and not knowing exactly what my ‘ex’ is going to say about me, would be a crazy thing to do and if I had a traditional PR agency managing the Starting Over Show I should be no doubt told to stop being so reckless.
But SOS is just me, and my PR queen is @SuziPR who is amazingly supportive of my desire to just be, well – real.
CourageousLover
@SuzyMiller Fascinating oppotunity – see how you’ve grown/he’s grown. And in print for the public. Good luck.
@CourageousLover has it right – even if I’m being reckless, my ex is being very courageous. It’s one thing to share your stuff with friends, but to have it printed with a full length photo in the Observer Magazine is quite something else.
NeilDenny
@SuzyMiller Wow, I hope that Observer article works out alright. Could be nasty.
@NeilDenny is a Collaborative lawyer and keynote presenter/trainer on how conflict affects us as individuals and organisations – and he was right to point out how risky this article could prove to be.
But somehow, going through relationship breakup leaves one with a certain amount of courage – how can anything else (apart from physical death) be as bad? And of course, my ex and I are working – slowly – upon finding our way through into a different relationship. Needing to mediate with ourselves as much as with each other.
The Non-Aligned Movement was born during the Cold War in 1961, aiming to unite countries which officially expressed the wish not to be allied either with the US-led western bloc or the Soviet-dominated eastern bloc.
It now has 118 member states, with 15 observer states, representing two-thirds of the members of the United Nations and half of the world’s population. But it still struggles to have a voice.
Sometimes a relationship can crumble and bitterness and pain prevails, but given support, opportunity and courage, it can revive and become something else, something non-aligned and even uncomfortable to those who prefer things to stay in a nice neat box, part of a defined movement or belief system.
The interview is tomorrow morning. Wish me luck.
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.
dating in the dark
June 24, 2009 by Suzy
Dating in the Dark by @suzymiller
Those first terrifying tentative steps into dating after 10 years of solid coupledom and 6 years of motherhood seem, looking back on it, like scenes from an old black and white comedy. Not just any old comedy either – one without any sound except the relentless plug of the piano and a plot line that threatened at any time to tumble from absurd humour into a heart-rending tragedy.
And the main narrative of these comedies? Dating sites and speed networking of course – de rigeur for the modern single woman, who wants a wider choice than that offered by the beer soaked local hostelries or the few loan single men brave enough (and smart enough, if they want a ratio of 10 women to 1 man) to Salsa in the village hall. Keeping those delights as part of my ‘social’ life, I took those first bold steps into actual concerted dating via the enticing promise of online shopping for men.
Well to tell the truth, I was harried and coerced into it – having had enormous fun helping my friend create her profile and do pick and mix online, it was only right that I created my own profile and dived in. It all made good sense – using the search facility to avoid guys who are smokers or not interested in children, or who in any way contravene the ‘non negotiables’ list we all need to write for ourselves and stick up on the fridge so we never forget them.
But then there were those horrible gaps when no-one responds, those endless profiles that all begin to sound the same – it was great for reminding me that dating should be a game, fun and involve large doses of humour, but when it came to wanting to seek out a long term life partner it just seemed strangely like taking the long way round.
I’ve attempted to Salsa with men half my height, counselled drunken suitors in the local pub, snogged a lovely man at a bus stop thinking “my god I’m 40 what if someone sees me?” and then remembered that these are things I didn’t do enough of when I was 20. Dating sites led to many conversations but only a couple of dates, mainly because of fear and finding too many things wrong about someone by just reading their profile, and being in too much of a hurry.
So I’m beginning to think about the old fashioned way – matchmaking. And I guess that is what a modern dating agency provides. The cost initially put me off, but then I reasoned that a man looking for a relationship rather than just a distraction, is more likely to put his hand in his pocket, so why shouldn’t I?
The old silent film of relationships going in circles has come to the end of the reel, and now I feel ready for the quirky romantic comedy, in full technicolor and the promise of a happy ending.
So it’s no-more supermarket shopping for men for me. Spending my summer evenings instead down the allotment sowing seeds, enjoying the sunsets and remembering to water occasionally. And wondering if perhaps, by signing up with a dating agency complete with proper interviews and, most importantly, real human beings to support the process and give advice rather than just `dating tips’ on a website, I may find myself not weeding alone in the future. Still fancy snogging at the bus stop though.
Suzy Miller is the creator and producer of the Starting Over Shows which provide information and inspiration to people dealing with life changing situations such as divorce and relationship breakdown.
This blog is also posted on the Dateline Platinum website – see blog and comments here……
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
exhibitor information pdf downloads
May 20, 2009 by Suzy
Download our pdf exhibitor information pack here: sos-exhibitor-brochure-1-october-20091
Download our pdf exhibitor booking form here: sos-booking-form-051009
Wogan’s Pause For Thought
April 28, 2009 by Suzy
