“Self Help”, the second Mechanics Institutes Worldwide Conference, was held in the UK city of Bath in September.

The event follows the first Conference, “Buildings, Books and Beyond” held in Melbourne in 2004, and is aimed at the fraternity of Mechanics’ Institutes, Athenaeums, Schools of Arts, Literary and Philosophical Societies and other related organisations.

Hosting the conference this year was the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution, located in the centre of the World Heritage City of Bath.

The theme of this year’s conference was “Self Help”, in recognition of the 150th anniversary of the publication of the seminal work of that title by Samuel Smiles in 1859.

Daniel Rose, Chair of the Swindon New Mechanics’ Trust pictured here gave a speech to the conference winning a letter of support from the international audience that the Trust’s efforts should be applauded and urging the Council to support the Trust in bringing the building back into community use.

Further information about the conference can be found at: http://www.brlsi.org/mechanics09/