Reflections from a First-Time WordCamp Attendee in Basel
13 June 2025
A Digital Dispatch by Sian Jamieson, Partnership Lead, Dog Walker, Marmite Enthusiast
When I landed in Basel for WordCamp Europe 2025, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. As someone who supports WordPress websites , but doesn’t touch a line of code, I thought I might be a bit of an odd bunny out. Spoiler alert: I wasn’t. Not even close.
Instead, I came away completely inspired, bursting with ideas, and with a renewed sense of purpose. WordPress is more than a CMS, it’s a community. One that charities, third sector organisations, and people who genuinely want to make the world a better place should absolutely be part of.
TLDR; Buzzing with Ideas from Basel
- WordCamp Basel 2025 was a hive of inspiration, from AI-driven tools and accessibility to the latest in multilingual WordPress development.
- The event highlighted how community and collaboration keep WordPress at the heart of innovation.
- For Pooka, it wasn’t just about tech — it was about bringing back fresh ideas for charities and good causes.
- The buzz? WordPress is evolving fast, and charities can benefit directly from its open, people-first approach.
🌍 Why WordPress? Why Now?
As a digital communications specialist, I’ve long been a quiet champion of WordPress. It’s open-source, endlessly flexible, and doesn’t trap charities behind paywalls or bloated platforms.
But attending WordCamp took that belief and gave it a megaphone.
Hearing from speakers like Noel Tock (who rescues animals from war zones when he’s not shaping WordPress communities) and Petya Raykovska (driving social impact through media in Bulgaria) reminded me that WordPress isn’t just about websites. It’s about ethics, accessibility, and empowerment.
As Noel said, “The lives we change for the better should be our North Star.” And in the third sector, that hits home.
💡 Big Takeaways (That Even a Non-Developer Can Use)
Let’s be honest: a good chunk of sessions were pretty technical. APIs, CSS, SiteKit integrations, image rendering — fascinating, yes, but definitely more useful to our Developers Lidia and Andrei (also attending!) than to me…Still, there was so much to take away:
- Top charities around the globe use open source, and around half use WordPress. That’s a huge testament to its reliability and flexibility.
- Google still loves WordPress. Myth-busting from John Mueller was a highlight. Turns out, it’s less about SEO perfection and more about relevance and uniqueness of content.
- Accessibility should come first. A powerful talk on designing for epilepsy challenged us to prioritise human experience over aesthetics.
We need more sessions for comms people! I heard the word “marketing” pop up again and again, and it made me think: WordCamp could really benefit from a few more sessions focused on content, storytelling, strategy, and audience reach.
🧠 For Charities and Good Causes: This Matters
Here’s the thing. Choosing the right CMS isn’t just a tech decision. It’s a values decision.
If your charity believes in transparency, accessibility, long-term sustainability, and doing good in the world — then your website should reflect that. WordPress does. But only if you build it intentionally, with partners who understand your sector and share your ethos.
That’s what really clicked for me at WordCamp.
The conversations I had, the case studies I heard, the community I witnessed, all of it reaffirmed why we champion WordPress for the third sector at Pooka. It’s not just about bells and whistles. It’s about creating digital spaces that do justice to the work charities are doing offline.
😅 A Few Personal Notes from a First Timer
- Overwhelmed, in the best way. Coming from a tiny village of around 1,000 people, the sheer buzz of 2,500+ attendees was a lot — but in the most energising way.
- Networking is hard when you’re shy. I’m an introvert-extrovert hybrid. I love a good chat, but struggle to make the first move. A few more structured networking spaces or topic-led meetups would’ve helped loads.
- Let’s talk social media strategy. If we want to get younger people involved in WordPress, we need to meet them where they are. Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn — yes, even X (sigh) — should be part of a bolder, more creative digital presence. Honestly, the social reach from WordCamp felt low considering how powerful the community is.
🐇 Final Thoughts (and a Little Bit of Pooka)
I left Basel buzzing. Not just with notes and photos and coffee-fuelled excitement — but with a sense of direction. I’m even more committed to advocating for WordPress in the spaces I care about most: the third sector, charities, ethical campaigns, and people-first organisations.
It’s time we stop thinking about websites as just another admin job, and start seeing them for what they really are: powerful, purposeful tools for change.
And if we can build those with a little humour, a little humanity, and a whole lot of heart? Even better.
Curious about what WordPress could do for your charity? I’d love to chat.
Let’s make digital a little more human, one ethical website at a time. 🐾
FAQs: Your Questions About WordCamp Basel
It’s part of the global WordCamp series — a community-led gathering where developers, designers, and digital thinkers share ideas, updates, and best practices around WordPress.
To stay on top of the latest WordPress developments, connect with the community, and bring back insights that directly help charities and third-sector organisations.
The impact of AI, the importance of accessibility, and the need for multilingual, user-friendly websites — all areas that charities increasingly rely on to engage diverse audiences.
Get In Touch
We’d love to hear what you’re up to. Please get in touch using hello@pooka.co or through the form linked below. Don’t be shy!
