A Workshop Leader's story
Hi my name is Chantal Lowe and I’m the newest Workshop Leader working in the newest workshop, “Textiles”. In the past I have worked in the production of textiles for Jaeger Tailoring, Coats Viyella and Marks and Spencer. However, in the last 10 years I have worked as a Support Worker, specialising in learning disabilities for 3 years – – this is what brought me to Camphill Blair Drummond. It was while working as a 1:1 Support Worker that the opportunity of Workshop Leader arose. To me this was my ideal job, bringing together my love of textiles and that of working with people with learning disabilities. Have I found my vocation? I think I may have!
The workshop which is situated in a bright spacious room has been running since February 2009. It offers an opportunity for the students to socialise and learn new skills in a therapeutic, non-pressured environment. These are skills which can be transferred to home life i.e. learning how to do minor repairs and alterations. We are presently working on a ‘Bags’ project. Each student, no matter what their ability, has had the chance to make a bag (or 3!) using their own designs and ideas on how it should look. This has been an extremely successful project, the individual ideas and quality of work has been fantastic which I’m sure you will agree after seeing the pictures on the website.
This workshop will continue to develop and evolve along with the students and we hope to continue making products that are both beautiful and practical.
– Chantal Lowe, Workshop Leader