Voices from Our Community
At OurPlace Learning Community, we believe that every voice matters. Our community is shaped not only by our learners and their families but also by the local people and businesses who support and inspire us. Here, we share some heartfelt messages from individuals who understand the value and uniqueness of our provision.
Camille Phillips performing with The SubwaysCamille Phillips
“It’s incredible that a space like OurPlace exists today, and the sheer dedication that has gone into this to make it possible.
It feels like it’s finally not being taken for granted that we are all individual, and that we all learn differently. Having struggled with my mental health for most of my adolescent life having to keep up with the rigid expectancy of education in ways that were simply not serving me, I can only say that I wish somewhere like this existed for me at the time. Perhaps I would not have wasted so many years reaching my destination!”
Camille Phillips – Female drummer based in Brighton
Website: camillephillips.com
Aaron Fletcher
“I see OurPlace as nothing short of vital. It’s so rare to find a space today built with such dedication, where individuality and different ways of learning are truly respected. The rigid education systems didn’t work for me, I got through it ok…but can only wish something like this had existed back then. It’s refreshing, essential, and long overdue.”
Copyright: @gianpaolomarioEliza Fricker
“In my work, I meet so many families who say they just haven’t found the right fit for their children. What young people need are real options that are flexible, supportive, and designed to meet them where they are.
OurPlace provides exactly that: a warm, welcoming environment where learning is tailored to the individual, not the other way around. It’s a unique space where young people feel safe, valued, and excited to learn in ways that work for them.”
Eliza Fricker, Author and Illustrator
Instagram: @elizafricker_missingthemark
Website: missingthemark.co.uk
Ross Harris
“Self-directed learning isn’t a luxury - it’s a necessity for so many young people that simply can’t conform to an outdated model of schooling. Times have changed, therefore the number of alternative options should have grown alongside this, as the need for a different way of learning is in more demand than ever.
I spent years trying to fit in with groups I never truly connected with, always wondering why. Mainstream schooling stifled my creativity and left me searching until I was almost 40 to find what makes me happy.
Every youth deserves access to this way of learning - for their well-being, to be listened to, find their own path and learn life skills along the way. Only then can they discover who they truly are and what excites them.
Learning should always be enjoyable.”
Ross Harris, Reverse glass gilder in Brighton, UK Instagram: @ross_tasty