Being the Textiles Leader is more than just a job

Being the Textiles Leader is more than just a job. It is a part of who I am. What I love most is seeing people learn something new and seeing how proud they are of themselves when they realise what they can achieve.

Over the years I have watched people build confidence, develop skills and surprise themselves in ways they never thought possible. Whether someone is learning a new stitch, creating their first piece of work or contributing to a community project, those moments never get old.

What has kept me most connected to Camphill, however, has been the long-term residents and students.

Through the meaningful relationships I have built over the years, many of them have become like an extended family to me. One of those relationships is with Fergus. I have been his key worker for eighteen years. "When Fergus started here, as much as he was tall, he was just a wee boy." Today he is a young man.

When I returned after a 3 month absence, Fergus came running straight up to me and gave me a huge hug."He's my boy. I feel like I'm his work mum."

It is not just Fergus. There are so many people I have built connections with over the years. Sometimes it is a hug, sometimes someone rests their head on your shoulder because they are feeling sad, and sometimes it is simply knowing they are seeking you out because they trust you. Those relationships are what make this place special.

One of the biggest lessons I have learned during my time here has been to stop fighting against things and start finding ways to make them possible. "To go with the flow."

Rather than asking why something cannot happen, I now find myself asking how we can make it work. How can we adapt? How can we support someone to get what they need? How can we make it possible?

That change in thinking has shaped me both personally and professionally.

The community itself has changed enormously too. When I first arrived, the community was much smaller. There were fewer houses, fewer people and smaller groups. "Things were easier. It was less rushed."

While growth has brought many opportunities, I still remember the quieter days when there was more time to spend with smaller groups of people.

At the same time, I have watched the community create new houses, new activities and new opportunities for residents, students and volunteers.

Each person who has come through the community has left their mark and played a part in shaping both the community and the person I am today.

Something that really resonates with me is our Advent Sale. The excitement starts building weeks beforehand: decorations to put up and products being created. Seeing residents, students, families, volunteers and employees all coming together reminds me what community is really about. "It's probably the most beautiful time”. As much as I love summer, there is something magical about Christmas here. “It is like nothing you'd experience anywhere else."

There are also the moments that are completely unexpected. Where else can you hear the monkeys from Blair Drummond Safari Park, see the giraffes in the distance or have a peacock wander into your day?

Where else do you find yourself singing in a choir with colleagues when you never imagined you would do such a thing?

Sometimes we are making textiles. Sometimes we are picking berries. Sometimes we are helping at the Highland Games. I remember thinking during Highland Games: "I'm getting paid for this?"

Of course, what we are really doing is creating experiences and memories for the people we support, but there are days when you stop and realise just how unique this place is.

The friendships I've built along the way have been just as important. I have been fortunate to work alongside some incredible colleagues over the years.

"Working with Lynsey and Gigi, that's massive. It's quite special if you get that in a workplace." We support one another, we laugh together and we somehow manage to communicate with little more than a glance across a room when someone needs support. That sense of teamwork is something I never take for granted.