Hello and welcome to the website of Vérène Nicolas.

I am located in Glasgow, Scotland and define myself as a transformative educator. I am presently establishing a self-employed practice after years of coordinating the Centre for Human Ecology's masters degree in human ecology at the University of Strathclyde.

The focus of my work is twofold. First of all, I am interested in transformative approaches to learning and their role in opening consciousness and mobilising action. In this, i am particulary inspired by the ideas of brazilian educator Paulo Freire who coined the term 'popular education' and by the work of Sally Timmell and Anne Hope who developped "Training for Transformation" in South Africa.

For the past 12 years, my transformative learning practice has primarely taken place through the Centre for Human Ecology (CHE). I used to co-run its Community Programme and worked with various communities in Scotland, including black & ethnic minority communities, to empower, conscientise and inspire folks to take action in their locality. I then took on the role of coordinating the CHE's master's degree. This allowed me to work with a group of highly motivated students who, year after year, strived to understand the root-causes of suffering, what might transform it and how they could contribute to bring about a better world. Now that the MSc is no longer available, i am working with colleagues of the CHE & the board of directors to shape a new vision for the organisation.

My second interest, which constitutes the core of my present work, is to teach the skills and practice of empathy through dance, Compassionate Communication and conflict coaching & transformation.

My dance practice is called Biodanza, a form of creative expressive dance which uses music and movement to re-awaken our ability to feel joy, find vitality & deepen relationship with self and others. It's fun, energising and deeply transformative. I graduated from the Edinburgh School of Biodanza last September and teach two weekly classes in Govan, where i live. I also deliver occasional workshops in other parts of the Uk.

Compassionate Communication, also called Nonviolent Communication (NVC), was developed by Marshall Rosenberg and is an active practice of empathy to enhance relationships & overcome conflict. I deliver training events to community groups and individuals. I have also established two regular practice groups to enable people who have been trained in the basis of NVC to practice with a supportive group and improve their 'fluency'. I also offer one-to-one conflict coaching sessions as well as conflict mediation.

My husband, Alastair McIntosh and I live in Drumoyne, part of the Greater Govan area of Glasgow. This is the former shipbuilding area and has many social problems but great cultural richness. We chose it because, amongst other things, we already had strong connections there through our involvement with the Govan-based GalGael Trust. Alastair is a founding director and the honorary treasurer. I am involved with the woollen crafts group on a voluntary capacity and have close links with the staff team.

Alastair and I work closely together as our areas of interest are in synergy. Over the years, we have both been involved with the MSc in Human Ecology and have run courses together in various locations, including Schumacher College, the Eden Project and the Greenbelt festival.

I originally come from France but spent my childhood in Africa where my parents where involved in medical and adult training work. I studied agriculture and rural development in Toulouse, South West of France. Before moving to Scotland twelve & a half years ago, I spent some time in Ireland where I formed meaningful connections with the Celtic land and traditions.