Acorn in Scotland Open Day - 12th September 2009

Listening can be “more than you imagine” was the theme for our Open Day in Scotland. It is also the slogan for Clackmannan, the smallest county in Scotland, where Alloa is to be found. People of Alloa are living through a time of change with the town centre regeneration programme “promising quality of life and securing prosperity.” Clackmannshire listeners have been very much involved in the local debate as the council listened to the community about their hopes for the future.
 
The minister of the church in Alloa, Rev Elizabeth Clelland, and one of our tutors welcomed us all. Derek Stewart the Provost of Alloa and Keith Brown MSP also attended and added their welcome. As they shared their personal stories both spoke most sincerely of the importance of listening for quality of life within all aspects of community and offered words of thanks and encouragement for all that we were doing not only in Alloa but also in the different parts of Scotland.

Rev Andrew Bradley Acorn National Co-ordinator greatly inspired us with his key note address based on our theme for the day and highlighted with powerful images on Power Point. One phrase which struck a chord with many was “we all need to tell our story at least once”

What did the day offer for those who attended?  It provided the opportunity

• To experience works-shops on “the importance of listening “and  “listening to difference”
• To browse through the market place where different organisations with listening at their heart had information displays
• To explore the book stall
• To view the “Just Listen” and “Log In Listen In” DVDs
• To have time with a trained listener to tell their own story
• To enjoy the listening garden for young people and double- decker Playbus parked out in the street which provided a variety of activities for children.
• To take time for listening in the labyrinth
• To experience the “Listening Seat” in which people could sit in and listen to music and words from different faiths – a great introduction for the workshop on Listening to Difference.

We were fortunate to enjoy good weather enabling people to sit and enjoy the outside spaces as they met with old friends. There were many new encounters with the opportunity to make connections through a shared interest in listening and the helpful exchange of experiences, ideas and information.  

Perhaps one of the highlights of the day was a space provided by the artist
Déirdre Ní Mhathúna, who brought the listening seat. She knew very little about Acorn before the day but together with a family of four young people who attended, created two beautiful works of art which visually reflected the theme of the day.

In this news page you will have the opportunity to read Deirdre’s most moving personal thoughts on the day entitled “The art is in the listening.”

The day finished with the “Closing Experience.” The Lord’s Players, a local music group of adults and young people, led us in singing. Rev Andrew Bradley summed up by expressing his positive impression of all that the day had brought.

We paused for a time of quiet to reflect on the quality and depth of our own listening and to think about three questions

What’s the most important thing for you from the day?
Is there anything you want to do about it?
How are you feeling now?

About a hundred people shared in some part of the day and Acorn in Scotland felt very optimistic that we achieved the aims we set ourselves.

• To raise a greater awareness of Acorn in Scotland
• To answer the question, what is this “listening” - what is its unique quality?
• To show the adaptability of this listening for use in many different areas of life
• To reach more than church and Christians – to be open to everyone
• To be an experiential day
• To promote ourselves as providers of high quality training in listening in Scotland
• To have fun!

Personally I am most grateful to Acorn in Scotland’s great team who worked so hard both in the nine months of preparation and on the day itself. My special thanks go the team in Alloa who worked tirelessly to ensure all the publicity and practical arrangements were in place and for the warmth of their welcome.

Rev Maureen Wilson 
Regional Co-ordinator
Acorn in Scotland