Buddhist retreat for young people at The Barn at The Sharpham Trust

Mindfulness for Young People: 6-night Barn Retreat

Summary

7 Reviews
6 nights - Annually
Any meditation experience
Single
Short periods of silence
Max. Spaces: 11

Overview

A retreat for people aged 18-30 offering nature connection and mindfulness practices.

 

"We need the openness, creativity, and skillfulness of the youth"

  - Thich Nhat Hanh, peace and mindfulness activist in his Message to the Youth

The Barn is offering young people a safe space to come together to share the retreat experience and nurture our capacity for joy, compassion and connection.   

You'll be cared for full-board, with plenty of time for rest, reflection and nature connection in the very special location of the Sharpham Estate.

  • you want to explore the benefits of nature-based mindfulness and mindfulness meditation
  • you will benefit from spending time in our wonderful heritage gardens
  • you need to rest and rejuvenate
  • you want to deepen your connection with nature and learn about Rewilding
  • you want to experience periods of silence
  • are aged between 18 and 30
What is Mindfulness?

What you'll experience on this retreat:

  • be living in community with like-minded people, sharing experiences and tasks, including cooking and eating together and helping in our gardens
  • experience guided meditations and periods of silence and quiet contemplation
  • community sharing
  • mindful movement
  • finding connection with nature
  • have a single-occupancy room and your own space in which to rejuvenate, with free time to deeply rest and reconnect with yourself
  • have access to 24-hour hot teas, coffee & infusions in the kitchen
  • be able to explore the beautiful Sharpham Estate, set within a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty close to nature, amid breath-taking scenery on the banks of the River Dart
Buddhist retreat for young people at The Barn at The Sharpham Trust

What you'll need to know:

If you decide to stay with us, we’ll send you a list of what you need to bring for this retreat in your Welcome Letter that we send out after you've booked.

You can also find out more about staying with us on our Frequently Asked Questions page, including:

  • accessibility information
  • why we encourage you to come on your own and not with partners or friends
  • what the difference is between our retreats
View our FAQs

Schedule

Note that we hold silence from 8.30pm to 9.00am each day, and all day Wednesday.


Sunday

Afternoon
2.00pm to 4.00pm – Your arrival
4.30pm – Welcome talk, introductions and tour
5.30pm – Guided meditation
6.30pm – Light evening meal. Then settling in
8.30pm – The Barn goes into silence until 9.00am the next day
 


Monday to Friday:

This is a typical schedule.

Mornings Afternoons
6.20am – Wake up 12.20pm – Meditation (some guided) 
6.50am – Movement and meditation 1.00pm – Lunch
7.30am –  Household tasks 2.00pm – Personal time
8.00am – Breakfast 4.30pm – Teaching 
9.00am – Morning sharing and meeting 6.00pm – Light supper prepared individually or in groups
 10.00am – Gardening  7.50pm – Meditation (some guided)
  8.30pm – Barn moves into silence until 9.00am the next day
   


Saturday:  

As above until 8.00am. Silence ends at breakfast. After that, there is time to clear your room and depart between 9.00am and 11.00am.

Reviews

Beautiful and peaceful place where you can just slow down. Every sound, smell and touch received in total bliss. The Barn coordinates a comfortable, nurturing and informative stay for all. It’s a really special and I will definitely return!

Linda Emmanuel
July 2023

Beautiful location, inspirational facilitation by leaders on the retreat theme and heart warming community building within group.

Benefits included deeper recognition & appreciation of all the wisdom acquired during life journey and sense of increased resilience and positivity about being an 'elder'. Especially enjoyed daily Qi Gong exercises, supportive presence of co-ordinator & Felice Rhiannon's sessions.

Came away with increased energy, new tools to draw on to enable me to live my senior years in accordance with my values, pursue activities which bring me joy and contentment & face life's challenges.

retreat participant

The Barn is the most wonderful place, they hold you with Care and Love when it’s most needed, Lindsay & Armel guided me through Meditation practice with kind patience for a anxious novice.
When l needed the community and help to heal my heart and mind in a safe queer space or for anyone who feels the pull towards some retreat healing, the Barn Team and the natural beauty of the Barn location is truly unbeatable. The Cats held me with their warmth and the nature held us all together for the whole time together. Deepest Thanks & Love to everyone l had the privilege to spend this time with. Simon x

Simon Holman
June 2023
See all Reviews

People in a ring outside The Barn Retreat at Sharpham

The Barn Retreat Centre

Our popular meditation retreat venue in the Buddhist tradition is where up to 11 people join together living in community for weekly retreats, including a variety of themed retreats - scroll on to see them all.

You'll be staying within a friendly atmosphere of fellowship, sitting together in daily meditations and mindfully tending our organic vegetable gardens.

You'll have your own single room, you'll get to eat produce from what's grown on the land here and you'll also get time to explore the wonder of the beautiful and contemplation-inspiring Sharpham Estate.

Get Directions View Venue

Leaders

Barn Coordinators
Barn Coordinators Read more +
Hannah, Barn coordinator
Hannah Cavender Read more +
Lucy Chan
Lucy Chan Read more +

Costs

Participants at The Barn can select which rate they pay according to need:

Supported Rate £195

The Sharpham Trust is committed to ensuring that retreats at The Barn are accessible to all - regardless of income. The Trust therefore offers a heavily subsidised Supported Rate for those unable to pay the Standard or Benefactor Rate.

Standard Rate £300

Paying the Standard Rate means you will be contributing towards our running costs, supporting the work of The Barn and helping retreatants of lower incomes to access our retreats.

Benefactor Rate £495

If you are able to pay the Benefactor Rate, that means that you'll be supporting others who cannot afford to benefit from a Barn retreat on The Sharpham Estate. Your choice to pay this rate will help us with the running costs of The Barn, enabling us to continue our charitable work connecting people to nature and fostering mindfulness and wellbeing, as well as caring for the land, wildlife and wider estate.

DANA

Dana is the Pali word for generosity or donation. The volunteer coordinators are receiving only a small payment for expenses whilst living at The Barn and are generously giving their energy and understanding to us all. If you are able donations are welcome.

There will be a maximum of 11 participants on this retreat.

All rooms are single occupancy, giving you your own space in which to relax.

Book easily and securely online or by phoning 01803 732542

Terms & Conditions

Please click here to see our booking and cancellations policy

Room Types

Click here for more information on our types of bedrooms and facilities.

All rooms are comfortable single rooms, with a shared bathroom. All rooms are randomly allocated, unless you have medical needs relating to your room allocation. If you have such a need, let us know on your booking form before the retreat begins. 

Bursaries

This retreat is already discounted but limited 50% bursaries offering reduced-price retreats are available for those experiencing financial hardship on our other retreats. Please contact the Programme Administrator at least 4 weeks in advance if you wish to apply.

Our bursary fund relies on donations. If you’d like to help another to go on retreat here through our bursary scheme, you can give online quickly and easily by clicking here

Available dates

We don't have any dates currently scheduled but subscribe to hear FIRST when dates become available