Sophy (she/her)
Education Coordinator & ResidentCould you tell us about your role and responsibilities at Braziers Park?
I work as Braziers Park’s Education Coordinator, holding the day-to-day shape of our education programme and helping turn ideas into lived, shared experiences on site. My role sits between people and practice: listening to what’s emerging within the community, working with facilitators and residents, and bringing together a programme of courses, workshops and gatherings that reflect Braziers’ values and ways of living and learning together.
Braziers’ education programme is diverse and evolving, as we move into our second year guided by the theme of ‘Soil, Soul, Society’, spanning practical skills, reflective and spiritual work, social inquiry, creative practice and community dialogue. I’m involved in everything from researching and shaping the annual programme, to working closely with tutors, supporting residents to share their skills, and coordinating the many practical details that make events run smoothly - from bookings and communications to being present during education weekends to support both facilitators and participants.
A large part of my work is relational: building long-term connections with tutors and guests, collaborating with the Education Team and wider community, and creating spaces where people feel welcomed, supported and able to engage deeply. Alongside delivery, I gather feedback, reflect on what’s working and help guide the ongoing direction of Braziers’ educational life, ensuring it remains responsive, inclusive and rooted in the spirit of the place.
Have you got a special place at Braziers – if so, could you tell us what makes it so special?
The woodland surrounding Braziers is very special to me. I often enjoy asking people which landscape they most identify with and find that many tend to gravitate towards immense, kaleidoscopic landscapes such as mountains or seascapes. But I have always been struck by how exposing these landscapes are, the intensity of the experience they inspire. Personally, I have always felt softest beneath trees, held and drawn into the rhythm of the forest in a way which feels instinctual and almost primal. I enjoy that the pace of the forest is slow but it still has a pace. There are extensive wooded areas both within Braziers’ estate and in the surrounding countryside, which I recommend exploring; watch out especially for the huge old oak which lies just behind the vortex and bears signs inviting you to cast a wish at its feet.
How do you envision Braziers in the future?
Living and working in this environment has deepened my appreciation for spaces that foster non-didactic learning through conversation and creative exchange. I hope Braziers continues to exist as a space uniquely conducive to celebrating the spoken word, amplifying diverse voices and expanding worldviews. I also strongly hope that we can grow into a space which is increasingly accessible to a wider range of people. I believe Braziers’ unique power lies in its ability to model a hopeful alternative for how we might reconnect to our communities, our land and our more deeply aligned selves; our mission moving forward should thus be to open our doors for people to experience these benefits who have previous experienced barriers in accessing these kinds of third spaces.