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Founders
Darren Brady Co founder
Why do you do this work?
Throughout my life I have always created project that involved LGBTQI people, so when I became a coach and facilitator I naturally wanted to continue this path. The healing involved for my clients and the participants lies in parallel with my own. There is something essential about the stories we get to explore, unpack and understand and the possibilities this work then offers. In many ways this group of people is the family I never had and the community I never got to experience as a child.
What has doing this work taught you?
That growing up as an outsider and without authentic validation is trauma and that it requires sustained curiosity, support and investigation to recover from. That sharing our stories creates healing and within that healing is the potential to be a gift to the world.
What experiences have helped you do this work?
Firstly collaboration. Working alongside Ade has enabled a vision to become manifest – it would not have happened if I had been alone. Secondly professional support -therapists, practitioners and facilitators whom I had the good fortune to work with all helped me to understand myself better. And finally the vulnerable and courageous participation of my clients and program attendees whom have helped me to grow through the sharing of their stories, wisdom and challenges.
Favourite Quote
“When in doubt, be human”– Anon
What I Do For Fun, Rest, and Restoration
Being playful is very important to me – it is a way of viewing the world that helps me to handle the inevitable challenges, anxieties and sadnesses that life throws my way. I like to bring playfulness into the language I use, the way I see things and the ‘take’ I can create on situations. Externally play looks like travel, writing, dancing, snorkelling, intimacy, cycling and Tik Tok! All of this playfulness is restorative to me and often restful too. Additionally I love to sleep and along with early nights I also regularly take mid day naps that sometimes develop into full blown snoozes.
Ade Adeniji Co founder
Why do you do this work?
Working with gay, bi, and queer men often feels like a core part of my own healing journey. When I came out at 27 I longed to find a compassionate and benevolent community of like-minded gay men who were willing and able to come together and bear witness to each other’s stories of strength and struggle, light and shadow, but found no such place. At the end of each session I facilitate with gay, bi, and queer men, I feel that unmet need of the younger part of me and that of many others soften and heal.
What has doing this work taught you?
Bearing witness to each other’s life stories is empowering and liberating. I continually get to appreciate the common humanity that lies at the core of our life experiences – regardless of our visible and invisible differences.
What experiences have helped you do this work?
My ongoing commitment to excavate and confront the stories and experiences that have negatively impacted me, combined with my dedication to releasing old wounds, pain and unhealthy patterns allows me to continually cultivate the capacity and capability to consciously meet each person that comes into a Quest gathering.
Favourite Quote
“Although no one can go back and make a brand-new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending” – Carl Bard
What I Do For Fun, Rest, and Restoration
I am slowly learning the practice of ‘doing nothing’ – which is a huge challenge, as I often find myself in the ‘doing’ mode and less in ‘being’. I am learning to simply sit in the chair in my study and ease into the moment by staring out at the trees. In those quiet moments between doing and being, I can be found with my head in an audiobook or podcast. I am also a big fan of binging on any ‘good’ series on any of the streaming platforms – and yes I know, ‘good’ is so subjective!! Travel – to new and old places – is another key way for me to rest and restore.
