We’re so glad to be here!
Its been a long journey and to end up in such an amazing place – The Waterside – and doing what we love, is an incredible privilege.
Both of us are ‘connectors’ so we delight in seeing the patterns and threads that come together here – both in our work and this place, and in those we work with.
Sue Heatherington FRSA
Sue is a former NHS chief exec and qualified professional coach with an unusually wide background, working with experience and skill across boundaries to creatively enable people to see the bigger picture and think better together.
She is at home working in and between different worlds, and her clients extend from academics, computer scientists and engineers, through to architects, artists and performers. She works across all sectors and is very comfortable building bridges so that very different people can think and create together.
Steve Heatherington
If Sue is the ‘see-er’ then Steve is the ‘be-er’, empathetically bringing people together and making them feel comfortable.
His previous life was in environmental health and the charity sector. He is now best known as The Alpaca Shepherd, but also knows how to shepherd people and projects (and he’s pretty good at technology).
As well as being directors of Collective Headspace, Steve and Sue trade as the Red Dragonfly Partnership covering The Waterside, Felindre and Welsh Valley Alpacas.
Collective working
One of the delights of nimble, smaller scale working is that you can draw in brilliant people with particular talents to work with you – like Alastair Duncan of StillWalks and Janet Russell. It also enables us to work with others as their need arises.
The Waterside, Felindre
Hidden in a private valley in the hills north of Swansea in South West Wales, is the site of the former Blaenant Ddu Victorian reservoir, just 3 country miles from the M4 (junction 46)
This was a hugely ambitious and innovative venture bringing fresh water to the growing city in the 1870s. Its impact on the public health of Swansea was immense and whilst it ultimately failed because of underground mine workings, the mantle of providing what is urgently needed now – fresh thinking – still rests on the land.
The comfortable and spacious lakeside building is well equipped for small to medium sized groups and we serve simple, fresh and local food, including award winning Coaltown Coffee, welsh cheese and charcuterie, and homemade cakes.
The lakeside and whole valley is beautiful and quiet, with plenty of green paths, brooks and woods to explore. Do remember that this is Welsh Wales, so come prepared for the weather and the fact that this is a working alpaca farm!
