10 years ago – I remember it so well. I was at the end of my first year on my diploma at Brighton University. I felt so nervous going along to that meeting and it didn’t help that my supervisor and tutor were there too. It was so ‘person-centred’!!  I didn’t know who was ‘in charge’, there was no-one telling me what was going to happen, a great big silence at the start and I remember thinking ‘oh no, what have I let myself into?’.

There must have been around 20 – 25 people there. Then they all starting introducing themselves – everyone seemed to me to be so much more worthy than I of being there. I was the only student and felt like such a baby compared to all of these ‘qualified and experienced’ people. I said as much, in my own introduction and the response was so warm and accepting. Within the next three months I even volunteered to become ‘secretary’ and soon immersed myself within my new community.

Over the years, I then went on to become a co-ordinating group member of BAPCA and have since met so many people involved with the Person-Centred approach. Because of work ,further studies and health issues, I no longer have the time to be so involved in the community but I continue to follow it with interest and passion.

I think that is what ‘community’ is all about .It is continually evolving. We may step in and out, depending on what is going on for us. It carries on regardless.

I very much enjoyed going along to Mick Cooper’s workshop recently – he was my tutor I mentioned above. We have had some amazing people come to talk with our group, many of whom have since become friends to us.

10 years on, I have to say a special thank you to Paul who has continued to stay involved and invited the finest of Person-Centred speakers to our group. Paul has, I think, been the back-bone to our group. These speakers all have a huge sense of humility and warmly embrace everyone involved , even lowly students( as I considered myself back in 2001). I have invited a couple of speakers myself: Ernesto Spinelli and Windy Dryden, who although not person-centred, have given much food for thought.

So, long may the community continue. It needs people to volunteer to help with various jobs. There isn’t a leader; the whole point of community is that we all join in and offer what we can. This Person-Centred Community is based on volunteers. Di has been sending us regular emails to keep us interested, Antonia has been available to book places on courses, Sandy has been involved with the website and I am sure there are others who I am not aware of. I know there are other groups within the community such as the book group and the ‘whinge and binge’ group!  

I’m reminded of our friend Peter Schmid; he who loves to break down words into original meanings. So what does community mean? I did a google search: in biological terms, a community is a group of interacting organisms sharing a populated environment. In human communities, intent, belief, resources, preferences, needs, risks and a number of other condition may be present and common, affecting the identity of the participants and their degree of cohesiveness. Old Latin derivations include ‘with/together +gift’.

And so I end my thoughts. I have very much enjoyed my involvement with our Person-Centred Community and long may it continue.

Love Karen

Posted at 2:27 PM on November 21, 2010