A Quaker Retreat with Woodbrooke

From Monday 17^th to Wednesday 19^th June, four students in Lower Sixth joined schools from across England to develop their understanding of Quakerism and its practice.

The Quaker retreat which took place in Birmingham is part of Woodbrooke’s learning programme to nourish spiritual development, strengthen the Quaker community and encourage work towards a peaceful and just world.

After a warm welcome complete with introductions, a tour of the site and evening meal, the group got to know one another during Ceilidh.  The next morning began with a session on Quaker history and testimony. In this whistle stop tour students looked at how Quakers try to apply their moral and ethical values in business. Students were able to ask the question, ‘what might it mean for us to do the same?’ The ways that Quakers make decisions and what informs these were thought about in the context of school life and students provided examples of how these might apply to themselves.

Students later had the chance to stretch their legs on a walking tour of Quaker Bournville. Here they were able to see the setting which George Cadbury helped create as well as visit the free exhibition and chocolate shop at Cadbury World.

The afternoon workshop at Woodbrooke encompassed the value around ‘discovering together.’ A culture of achieving tasks as a team was encouraged, whilst Lower Sixth learnt about leadership in work. The students were asked to contemplate an issue they were currently facing and would soon have to make a real decision about. These issues were then shared and worked through in small groups, amongst peers. The schools were afterwards given the opportunity to have all their burning questions answered by a panel of Quakers.

That evening, to reflect on the retreat and what would be taken home from it, students shared stories and enjoyed each-others company around a bonfire.

On their last day, after meeting for worship, the students discussed the leadership roles they currently hold as Sixth Formers within the context of Quaker guidance. Before a final lunch and departures these ideas were developed further as the schools worked in groups to consider what they would share with their fellow peers and school community upon return.

Lower Sixth student Jasmine said “I think the most valuable thing I took from the trip is an appreciation of silence. Whether in meeting for worship or sat outside in the centre of Birmingham, silence as a Quaker value was meaningful to me before, but now I can see the value of silence in other places in our lives.” She reflected that “The retreat has allowed me to understand more about why Quakers are Quakers and the very varied ways that different Quakers practise their religion.”

The retreat not only developed students understanding of Quakerism but changed some conventional ideas around the faith. Klara said the thing that she valued most from the retreat was “Meeting people from other Quaker schools and learning how they follow the same values but differently to Leighton Park.” She also noted the difference that being able to experience and truly live in Quakerism made to her practice.

Jasmine said “I recommend this trip to everyone. The timing is perfect as it acts as a perfect retreat in which you can truly reflect and learn a lot about Quakerism, as well as about yourself as a student at a Quaker school.”