Becoming Friends

Becoming Friends, the partnership project from Woodbrooke and Quaker Life that will provide a flexible learning package for newcomers together with support from ‘companions’ in local meetings, started with a very fruitful period of research and networking, including a successful Writer’s Day at Woodbrooke. We are now getting on with writing the Becoming Friends learning materials.

A small number of meetings from around the yearly meeting have generously agreed to take part in trials of the learning materials – trials should be completed by mid July.

On 3 March we held a preparative day at Woodbrooke for 15 Friends acting as Becoming Friends companions – supporting newcomers – during the trials. This was a very inspiring day and emphasised the importance of involving our spiritual community in this way as an integral part of the Becoming Friends learning process.

We plan to have a final draft of the learning materials by early autumn 2009, and will then put this online using Woodbrooke’s Moodle online learning facility. We’re hoping that a full launch of the online course will take place by early 2010. A paper version will also be available.

There will be courses at Woodbrooke and Swarthmoor Hall from September 2009 onwards to prepare Friends who will be serving as Becoming Friends companions around yearly meeting. These will be as follows:

• Woodbrooke, 28 – 30 September
• Swarthmoor Hall, 20 – 22 November
• Woodbrooke, January/February 2010 (date to be confirmed)
• Woodbrooke, April/May 2010 (date to be confirmed)

If you, or anyone you know, might be interested in attending one of these courses, please do get in touch with project developer, Ginny Wall, or check out the Woodbrooke brochure and website.

Contact:

Ginny Wall
ginny.wall@woodbrooke.org.uk
016977 41686
(part-time Mon-Weds)