Update to Voirreys position at Schumacher College

Voirrey is such an essential person in the Schumacher college. In many contributions to the college, I has been helped by her with my English writing. I know that she has helped many international students with their assignments. As Voirrey bakes breads in the evening in the kitchen, she has made a intimate relationship with students and everyone loves her very much. I have had wonderful experiences with Voirrey when she offered informal cooking workshops for the community after supper. Voirrey doesn't ask anything in return. I can't think of any other person who suits as a member of community.

Voirrey is a true connector at Schumacher College. Through her, I started friendships with other people and the world of fermentation. To be a masters student and learn how to make bread with her in our lovely kitchen was top5 of my most important learnings. She is also a wonderful company and I learned a lot about food with her. I admire and am inspired by her lifestyle and her amazing energy, cause she is always helpful and in a good mood and this helped me grounding. She is friends with everyone and I cannot conceive the college without her. Much love to her!

If this petition is for Voirey to stay working at the College and keep giving her vast love, deep intelligence, kind heart, endless generosity and inspiring integrity then I could also say that I would like to see the college give her a permanent elder position and home where she can rest . She might want to have apprentices . It is time to honour and support our elder so they may transmit their precious knowledge and wisdom. Voirey is loved and valued . I don't really know what is happening but this petition is a sign that justice matters to many . You are loved voirey. Xx azul

It's so important to have someone living residential, really connecting and understanding students and volunteers. Voirrey, I have enjoyed all the late hours in the kitchen having critical conversations and learning how to make bread, and you bring so much love and inspiration to Schumacher. You truly embody the head, hearts, and hands philosophy.

Voirrey is the true heart of the college. Reaching all people with real open hearts, caring and attentiveness, she is the glue that creates true community in schumacher. Always being there at nights, she is a place for people to talk, laugh and cry with, without judgment and complete acceptance! She is the one consensus for everyone agree to be the most pure and beautiful part of bwing part of a community

When I think of Voirrey I think of love, care and diligent attention. The care and mindfulness that is in part what creates Schumacher college. The invisible threads that bind us together. I see her as a living container for these qualities. She has felt to me supportive, interested, and engaged in my, and countless others I've witnessed, interests and welfare. She is an elder in all respects within the college, a dimension needed in society; of generations living and working alongside each other. I thank Voirrey for modelling the kind, ethical, attentive person I aspire to be. You are an inspiration, and someone to be truly honoured for all the immeasurable work you do.

Vorrey is a treasure. Important part of schumacher college. Always inspiring and supporting students and volunteers. Miss you dear vorrey you are always in my heart. Thank you

Voirrey's place in the college is essential. She is one of Schumacher's only elders. I mean that to be seen with the depth of understanding of the role of an elder in any indigenous community... To hold the thread of knowledge and experience through time, from generation to generation. Voirreys is one of the only staff members that engages with the community at all levels. She does this well, precisely because she is a member of the community. She lives in the community, for the community, with the community. It is no wonder that year after year people come to her to confide in her, she is the unspoken 'safe space' that the community relies on to function. I can not imagine Schumacher college without Voirrey. Regardless of what is said on the tin, she is the community heart, and it would be devastating for all current and future community members if she is taken away from the college.

Voirrey was a true anchor for my time at the college, calm, humble, incredibly open.

I enjoyed working in the community kitchen with Voirrey while studying for an MSc in Horticulture at Schumacher. She was very good at engaging with students and sharing her knowledge of traditional practices of fermentation as a means of preserving food. These practices are vital for those who wish to live close to the earth.

The evening aromas of fresh baked bread, the kind words just as the evening is ending, the constant supportive presence reminding us to come back to mindfullness presence and humbleness. For me vorrey is the living beating drum of schumacher, the mindfulness bell, the heart warming the kitchen and the calm spring that flows gentle but constant. May she continue to inspire future students as she inspired me. Thanks vorrey for you presence.

For me Voirrey is the quintessence of Schumacher College. Without a doubt my experience as a student in Holistic Science at Schumacher College would have been far less meaningful without Voirrey being an integral part of college life. She truly embodies many of the ideas that are being taught at the college, and in that way she brings the teachings from theory to an embodied understanding and practice. Aside from the vast experience that she shares so generously, Voirrey is the main sourdough artisan baker at the college, and an artist at fermenting and preserving foods. In my opinion Schumacher College and Dartington Trust gain immensely from having Voirrey on-site, and the Trust would be wise to look at ways of making sure that she remains indefinitely as staff, and that she feels rewarded and recognised for her role.

She is always ready to listen and understand all the students. She can nurture all the Community not only with amazing bread and tasty food but also with just a smile and a nod. She is the great encourager person when we have a bad day. Sending love and light to Voirrey! Xxx

Voirrey is the main presence at the Schumacher College Community, She is a reference for everyone who arrives and have no idea where things are, who do what or how and what to do, she is always ready for a talk, to listen, communicate and say a kind word. Only a few members of the staff is really care about how we run our lives at the community and for sure Voirrey is this person.

I simply can't imagine Schumacher without Voirrey. She is part of the very soul of this community. She watches and listens with her heart and mind and she is always there for us. More than just making delicious bread, she could help the college to understand better what is going on with the students with her privileged point of view. It will be a great loss if she's gone.

I will never forget voirrey making cheese with raw milk from the Perkins, fully Embodying the Schumacher spirit of living a simple, soulful and natural life within her surroundings. Much love to voirrey and her deep knowledge of food. I wish her well and hope she is able to follow her ambitions at the college.

In a single word - Hearth. (The centre of the Village, the place of welcome, nourishment, safety, peace and restoriation). My time at Schumacher as a volunteer was greatly enhanced by Voirrey. Her warm and open heart as well as knowledge ofsourdough breadmaking is invaluable to this place. She is always present for a chat when you go into the kitchen in the evening. Some of the many chats with her have helped pull me through when I felt lonely or isolated and knowing that she is there almost as an elder figure gives me comfort. In any community, there is a strong need for a balance of life stages in the staff, to ensure that all perspectives are heard and contributing, which I know Voirrey does her best to do. Her opinions and thoughts about many matters are based on her life experience and observation, which she has plenty of! This is invaluable to the running of the place and to the learning and experience of all those who pass through. Voirrey has supported Schumacher for a long time compared to how long many of us have been there. It is time now support her in return.

She is a vital part of the Schumacher College community and a home maker. Voirrey was key in my experience at the college and I loved sharing the moments with her in the kitchen, learning from her and most importantly her warm and kind presence.

The whole community loses if Voirrey is not there, she connects students from different years and Schumacher culture together year after year, one of the few staff members that actually takes the effort to know all of us, very important as a grounding presence!! Voirrey acts not only baking the bread, an essential part of Schumacher culture, but as fermentation itself within the community! She should be promoted to Head of Community in my opinion.

Describing Schumacher to people who have not visited is very difficult. I have tried many times and have found that one of the best ways to express what the college exists for is to describe Voirrey - the Spirit of Schumacher - holding space in the kitchen and welcoming all who visit with deep kindness, gentle wisdom and firm integrity. I believe that she is a part of the soil in which Schumacher should be rooted.