A Festive Celebration of our Community

We’re rounding up another fantastic year at Coda by celebrating the people who make this place so special.

We sat down with just a few of the many wonderful people behind Coda - including music leaders, studio artists, creative wellbeing facilitators, volunteers, our building team, and Bramble Hill Café - to ask them some festive questions, and share a bit more about what they do here.

This is only a small snapshot of the wider Coda family (we’re lucky to have so many amazing facilitators and supporters!), but we hope you enjoy getting to know this joyful mix of people who help shape our community every day.

Chris Hopgood, Music Group Leader

Folk Orc, Campfire Sessions, Blues Orc, Beautiful Sounds, and 1-1 Strings Tuition

I moved to the area when I joined a local band in 2005, about the same time one of the guitar teachers left Coda and I got the job of replacing him!

My favourite thing about Coda is the variety of work I’ve able to do - teaching adults with disabilities, running workshops, groups and courses, children and adults. My most memorable moment would probably be the Folk Orc 10th Anniversary gig we did at Forest Arts.

My favourite festive treat is a Full English breakfast with pigs in blankets.

Emily Stracey, Sculpture Club facilitator

I first got involved with Coda after bumping into Heidi (who was holding a couple of HUGE paintings!) at an open exhibition. She invited me to a meeting at the barn that was to become Coda, where I had the first exhibition in the gallery with my travelling beach hut. This then led to workshops, including the now term-based After-School Sculpture Club.

My favourite festive treat is a small sherry, which reminds me of happy moments with my Grandma.  My festive tradition is getting out our little ceramic nativity I made with my kids when they were young and looking at the funny wonky animals!

If Coda had a Christmas soundtrack, I would have to add my beloved 80's Wham favourite, 'Last Christmas'.

Karen Blake, Creative Wellbeing facilitator
(Club Create, Creative Wellbeing, Art Therapy)

I became involved with Coda when it merged with the art therapy charity hArt. I run creative wellbeing sessions to help people who struggle with their mental health and anxiety. I also have the pleasure of running Club Create which is an art group for adults with learning disabilities. Most of the people who attend these sessions are unable to access many other creative/ therapy groups, so it is a fantastic part of Coda’s offering.

What makes each session memorable, is seeing smiling faces, and feeling the positive energy in the room. The sessions have such a positive impact on those attending - forming vital support networks, and simply enjoying the therapeutic process of being creative.

I think a good song for Coda’s festive soundtrack would be, 'As long as there's Christmas', only renaming it, 'As long as there's Coda!’

Debbie & Molly, Bramble Hill Cafe

We got involved with Coda through Martin (Coda’s Creative Wellbeing Manager), who Debbie knows through tennis! We run Bramble Hill Cafe at Coda, where we serve hot drinks, lunches, and homemade cakes and baked goods.

Our favourite thing about Coda is that there is always something to look at and listen to. There’s a lovely sense of community in everything that goes on.

Mulled wine is our favourite festive treat, and our favourite tradition is listening to Michael Buble’s Christmas album whilst decorating the tree. 

Nancy Beardall (Sew Mrs Bee), Studio Artist and Workshop leader

I learned of Coda when I was working as a Visiting Tutor for Costume Students at AUB, where I met Heidi. Two years on, I now have a studio here where I make costumes for theatre, re-enactors and others who love wearing historical dress. I also run sewing and pattern drafting classes for all ages here at Coda, under the guise of Sew Mrs Bee!

One memorable moment here was looking out the window during a sewing class to see a pair of deer wandering through the meadow. More recently though, was the Christmas Fair - a lovely mix of music, art, food and craft with a fantastic atmosphere.

My favourite festive treat is bite size stollen. We don’t allow any festive food in the house until December and the first thing I buy is stollen, and it has to be the bite size ones!

Stuart Jebbitt, Music Group Leader

Beautiful Sounds, Memory Band, Ukulele Band & Rusty Rockers

I came to Coda in 2010 when a Youth Work colleague asked if I could come and help to run a music workshop, as the leader was stuck in London. I only had a few hours notice, but we pulled it off! And I've been here ever since. Originally I helped with youth projects, which expanded into working with our learning disabled service users and performing in care homes. 

A memorable moment I’ve had here was being at Coda overnight, when we did the 24 hour ukulele performance. I had a very long sleep afterwards!

My favourite festive traditions are making Rum Truffles, and watching The Late Late Toy Show - it's a big seasonal TV event in Ireland, which you can watch online in the UK.

I would add "I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas"  to Coda’s soundtrack, because we all need to think BIG sometimes!

Lucy Reynard, Coda Cleaner

I first got involved with Coda 15 years ago, when my son was having guitar and drum lessons. Having showed interest in music, we found this helped with his Autism and ADHD. I began volunteering after receiving the amazing Coda Bursary, which funded our music lessons. I then ran our Coda Social Cafe for a few years, before becoming the Coda cleaner for the past 5 years, which I love.

The best thing about Coda is our amazing team, who I get fantastic support from with my Autism/ADHD. Our talented tutors are also kind, helpful, and caring. I have even had the pleasure of going to local gigs where they perform in their own bands!

For Coda’s soundtrack, I think the tutors need to gather and make the ultimate Christmas song together! Maybe even with a video...

Lynda Hutchins, Coda Garden Volunteer

I’m the volunteer gardener at Coda, and have been working on the garden since June 2024.

I’m a member of the Ukulele band, and I first got involved with volunteering after seeing a call-out in one of Coda’s newsletters.

My favourite thing about Coda is the community feeling of all those involved. I’ve met really lovely people, both in the band, and whilst working in the garden - often with my dog Missy.

I feel lucky to have been involved, and love helping to create a space for all to enjoy.

My memorable moment at Coda was finishing the digging, and weeding, of the beds - when I could finally start planting!

Amie McAndrew, Centre Manager

I first got involved with Coda when a friend of mine was working as the Centre Administrator. A job opportunity came up in 2018 to job share and, luckily, I got the job as Part Time Centre Administrator. Over the years my job role has changed, and I am now the Centre Manager.

My favourite thing about Coda are the people. I work with a variety of talented, hard-working, kind-hearted tutors and artists, and I meet lots of interesting parents and students every day. 

My first memorable moment was when my daughter attended Meherunisha's Toddler group. Later, I went into my daughter's bedroom and found her pretending to be Meherunisha, playing teacher with her teddies and instruments! She knew all the instrument names, hand actions, notes, and songs. Music obviously caught her attention, and she's been loving Coda and the staff here ever since.

My favourite festive tradition (currently) is Elf On The Shelf. As much as Elfie drives me mad, I also love the joy she brings.

A HUGE thank you to our amazing team and community - those featured above, and those we are yet to feature - Coda wouldn’t be the special place that it is without you.

A very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all - we look forward to seeing you in 2026 for another fab year!