Five voices. One red circle. A new chapter for Grantham. Relive the people and perspectives that brought RETHINK to life.
A town with a history of ideas
On 10 October 2026, our first TEDxGrantham brought five speakers and a local audience together at The King’s School for an afternoon of ideas worth spreading.
Our theme was RETHINK. Across disability, surgical recovery, success, reading and rest, the programme invited us to look again at things we might take for granted — and to imagine what could change.
The photographs tell another part of the story: the red circle, the people listening, the cameras capturing the talks, and the speakers together in a room with its own remarkable history. A local event, made possible by people choosing to be part of it.
To everyone who spoke, attended, volunteered or supported the day: thank you for being part of our first chapter.
The story behind TEDxGrantham ↗The ideas we’re taking with us
Different experiences. Different disciplines. A shared invitation to question the familiar. Explore the themes of our 2026 talks — and a question to carry into your own life.
Rethink disability
Emma Easton
Emma Easton brought accessibility into focus: the barriers people face are shaped by the spaces, systems and assumptions around them. Her idea invites us to look beyond the individual and ask what genuinely inclusive design makes possible.
A question to take away
Who could participate if we designed things differently?
Rethink surgical success
Professor Paul Y. F. Lee
Professor Paul Y. F. Lee explored how we define success in surgery and joint repair. Clinical measures tell part of the story; life beyond the operating theatre asks us to consider recovery more broadly, and to rethink the decisions made along the way.
A question to take away
What does success look like in the life of the person recovering?
Rethink success
Hannah Worrall · What If Success Is Just Survival in Disguise?
In “What If Success Is Just Survival in Disguise?”, Hannah Worrall challenged the celebration of relentless performance and impossible loads. Her idea makes space for a different measure of achievement: sustainability, health and humanity.
A question to take away
Are we building lives people can thrive in, or simply endure?
Rethink reading
Taryn Lee Johnston · The Spark
Taryn Lee Johnston’s “The Spark” put people at the heart of reading for pleasure. Drawing on her work in publishing and literacy, she explored the human connection that can help a child discover books — and the part each of us can play.
A question to take away
Whose love of reading could you help ignite?
Rethink recovery
Matt Craven · The ROI of Rest
Matt Craven’s “The ROI of Rest” reframed recovery as a resource for small business owners. Bringing together independent-business experience and sports science, his idea treats rest as a deliberate part of sustaining energy, judgement and resilience.
A question to take away
What changes when recovery is planned, rather than postponed?
The 2026 photo album
On stage, in the audience and behind the camera. 33 moments from our first TEDxGrantham.
Select a photograph for a closer look.
An event is more than the people on stage. Thank you to our audience, volunteers, organising team, venue and supporters for making space for ideas in Grantham.
Keep the conversation going
The day is over. The invitation to rethink stays open. Revisit the speakers’ ideas, share a photograph with someone who was there, or follow our next chapter.
Our speaker-interest form is open for the next edition. Tell us about the idea you would like to share.
x = independently organised TED event
In the spirit of discovering and spreading ideas, TED has created a programme called TEDx. TEDx is a programme of local, self-organised events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Our event is called TEDxGrantham, where x = independently organised TED event. At our TEDxGrantham event, TED Talks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx programme, but individual TEDx events, including ours, are self-organised.
