Holiday School 2023 Epistle
Theme: Community
Anyone who has been to Holiday School will agree in their adoption of the trademark Quaker way that every year has been equally special. Despite this, celebrating a birthday is certainly an occasion. Our theme this year was community, conveniently in the same year we celebrated this community - one which has been significant in so many people’s lives. Our sessions this year maintained this theme of community, all while we continued to build and morph our own.
We were treated to sessions from both staff members and external speakers, all of which allowed us to understand each others’ opinions on the important questions: Should social media be uninvented? Under 18’s having the vote? Tea or coffee? Is a hotdog a sandwich? Within nest groups topical conversations arising from these sessions took place.
On Tuesday Pat and Pat from ‘Love Music Hate Racism’ shared with us the community they have created through anti-racism festivals, focusing on the uniting powers of music residing over hate. Pat and Pat marked a first for Holiday School, dancing to Pat’s own Drum ‘n’ Bass at the end of the session.
Nadia and Neil provoked a more deep discussion in our Thursday session, prompting us to speak frankly about mental health and how we talk about our own feelings, once again in our nest groups.
Nest groups are an opportunity to bring us closer to those within HS that we wouldn’t necessarily have a close relationship with - someone from a different year group or who may be less comfortable in larger groups. This group becomes like immediate family, an important dynamic to have when we have been blessed with so many newcomers this year.
Our extended family on the other hand, is every person who has left their mark on Holiday School, who has been heartened by the inclusivity and individuality that Holiday School nurtures. Celebrating Holiday School’s 90th birthday showed us the overwhelming truth of this. Even with a large group of ex-HSer’s and current participants who don’t necessarily know each other, the feeling of a tight-knit community remained.
Looking at archival photos, playing HS bingo with one another and having a large group social with all ages was a welcome rarity.
Despite numbers dwindling in the past few years, HS has felt far from empty, in fact it has never felt fuller. Through secret friends, nest groups, getting wet together in potted sports, opening deep discussions, dancing, and being together in silence, the love that this community is based upon has flourished. Every person who has attended HS can agree that you leave with a fuller heart, a nourished mind, and friends for life.
This quote from a participant is the perfect summary of what HS community is like; I am part of so many communities but this is the one I belong to.’