Powered by Joy: Reflections from our Recent Sharing Ceilidh
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I only moved to Scotland 18 months ago, but in that short time I’ve learned that attending a ceilidh typically requires one to arrive with a good night’s sleep, a full bottle of water, and an appetite for learning on the fly. I’ve been part of the Regenerative Futures Fund for an even shorter period, but in that brief span I’ve learned that working in the third sector usually demands that one bring a large supply of post-it notes, a calendar, and a relentless can-do attitude. A water bottle helps too, actually. In late September, our celebratory “sharing ceilidh marked the start of our funded programme and broke the norms for both ceilidhs and the third sector in many ways, encouraging me, my coworkers, our funders, our residents’ panel, and members of our funded cohort to congregate to celebrate our hard work, forge friendships, and cultivate joy.
Prior to our sharing ceilidh, Aala (the Regenerative Futures Fund co-head) explained that this event would take inspiration from our friends at the Science Ceilidh, asking attendees to bring “an object, a piece of work, or something from your life that opens up a story, and maybe sparks a conversation with someone in the room.” Some walked down the Royal Mile with stained-glass artwork wrapped carefully in soft clothing; others hopped off the 35 bus with stalks of rye full of earthy fragrance; and still others made their way up from the City Art Centre with a tune in their head, happily chatting about the art exhibit they’d just seen. Regardless of what they shared, everyone brought stories, vulnerability, and care. As a result, the room was filled with laughter, smiles, hugs, music, a few tears, and many choruses of “oohs” and “ahhs.”
In the face of incidents of racist violence, the spectre of an affordability crisis, and a third sector that is stretched to its breaking point, events like these are – perhaps counterintuitively – more important than ever. By carving out space for joy and open connection, the Regenerative Futures Fund is building a resilient, deeply human community. The bonds formed during events such as these might not appear to have any direct bearing on our ability to support vulnerable communities in Edinburgh, but we believe they are essential to powering our movement. Peeling off yet another post-it note to add to a growing to-do list is much easier when you know your coworkers well enough to know that they recently took up painting as a hobby, and that their garden is full of a beautiful palette of reds, greens, and greys. Adding a fifth meeting to your bursting calendar feels hopeful rather than daunting if you have heard a community organiser tell you about how film festivals allow them to see the world when borders and travel restrictions keep them in Scotland. Saying “let me do a bit of research and get back to you” at the end of a long day becomes invigorating when the melody of a resident’s music is echoing through your head.
We don’t pretend that smiling, showing one another our artwork, or listening to music together will create a just Edinburgh overnight, but sharing joy and building truly human relationships with one another is an essential part of cultivating a community capable of changing systems of inequality. As we work, therefore, let us not only work together, but also from a place of joy and belonging.