Sophia Network

Greenbelt gathering

I really enjoyed meeting up with other Sophia members at Greenbelt. Here we are at the Chai Chapel where we managed to compete with the incessant drumming and make some great connections. (Note to self: choose a different venue for next year.) There were women from Northern Ireland, Australia, the US and England so it felt quite international. Sorry we didn't manage to do similar gatherings at other festivals this summer - if you're a regular at an event and would like to host one next year then let us know.

Interview with Beki Bateson, Greenbelt's Festival Director

What was your route into being Festival Director of Greenbelt? What other jobs have you done?
Before I worked at Greenbelt I was Programme Co-ordinator at the Amos Trust – a human rights/justice charity – which saw me doing a range of tasks from liaising with supporters, drafting communications, organising fundraising tours and trips to projects overseas, leading trips, giving talks and general admin. Before that I worked freelance in video/TV production having been a lay assistant at the Chaplaincy at UWE in Bristol after graduating from Bournemouth in Media Production. I was involved in Greenbelt as a trustee when the director’s role changed and when we didn’t appoint after interviews someone suggested that I was seconded from the Amos Trust part-time to get the festival through that year. I enjoyed the challenge and change and so stayed on.

Greenbelt has some strong women in key roles – chair of trustees, you, the two other senior manager roles. Would you say it was an organisation where men and women worked well together, and how has that happened? Have you had to deal with any discrimination or opposition to you as a woman in your role?
Yes I think it is generally as many of the key roles have been done by women in the past and I think it’s ethos leads by example. There are, however, some people involved who are perhaps used to working or living in more traditional gender roles but you just have to be confident in your own role. Occasionally when some situations have proved tricky I’ve particularly valued the support from trustees and others.

Sod the difference!

Greenbelt was fab. Thanks to those of you who came to the Sophia Network reception on Saturday - it was great to meet you. Sharon and I also ran a workshop exploring the impact of gender on youth work for both young people and youth workers.

Then I did a talk on Monday called Sod the difference! about the 'feminisation of the church' and how we might deal with the difference between the genders debate. If you're interested, you can get hold of a copy from the Greenbelt website here. There are also tons of other fantastic talks you can buy if you weren't at the festival or missed them in the programme.