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Be a Volunteer Retreat Coordinator

Could you live in community at Sharpham for 12 months practising and supporting retreats?

 

It's rich, it's wonderful...all the ways in which it stretches me at times, gives me opportunities to deepen, it's amazing, I love it. It's my practice

- former Coach House Volunteer Retreat Coordinator

 

The Barn has given me so much - a space to really meet myself in body, mind and heart. So much healing and growth plus polishing some rough edges. As long as I live I will be grateful for what The Barn has offered me 

- former Barn Volunteer Retreat Coordinator

 

A Volunteer Retreat Coordinator is a 12-month voluntary position at either The Barn Retreat or The Coach House. The role offers a unique opportunity to live here on the beautiful Sharpham Estate whilst learning to lead retreats and giving the gift of service to those who attend our residential courses and retreats. 

Martyna, Volunteer Coordinator
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Martyna Raczka spent a year giving service to The Coach House, and talks about the positive effect on her and her practice.

There are six postings each year (three at The Barn, three at The Coach House), with start dates usually at the beginning of January, May and September.

You will live in community and volunteer alongside three other coordinators and a manager to support the day-to-day running of the centre and receive accommodation, full board, living expenses based on receipts and donations from retreatants.

Read on for much more useful information and if you're interested in volunteering at The Barn email [email protected] or for The Coach House, email [email protected] 

We recognise the positive value of diversity, promoting equity and celebrating inclusion. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds.

Giving of service in the role of a coordinator can be a hugely enjoyable and rewarding experience,  and often a rich learning opportunity.  However it also a big commitment and therefore as part of the application process we will have a conversation with you to ensure it is the right time for you to take up this role.

Sharpham Trust Coach House Retreat

Being a volunteer coordinator could be for you, if you...

  • have a regular mindfulness meditation practice
  • have self-awareness and emotional intelligence, particularly in terms of recognising your own emotions and how these emotions may affect others
  • have an interest in people, including skills in active listening and empathy, in addition to a sense of curiosity and open-mindedness
  • have a willingness to learn and ability to self-reflect
  • respect diversity and working with diverse populations
  • want to work as part of a team and show equanimity towards all others
  • are commited to being of service and supporting others

Sharpham offers you the opportunity to...

  • take a year out of your life and live in a beautiful setting - with accommodation included
  • give service by coordinating the running of our regular retreats
  • have a deep-dive learning experience of living with others in a like-minded community and the joys and challenges this involves
  • attend mindfulness and dharma talks and discussions with visiting teachers
  • develop your facilitation and group skills, including how to guide meditations
Volunteer coordinators at The Barn meditation retreat centre at The Sharpham Trust

Equal Opportunities

We recognise that celebrating diversity and difference is at the core of creating healthy workplaces and we are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds and perspectives.

If you would like more information:

Note: it is important that you have spent a week on retreat at The Barn Retreat or The Coach House before interviewing for this position.

Frank Gillett 04
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Frank has extended the year's service he's given at The Coach House, and he says in this video why he loves the natural setting of Sharpham and why he likes being stretched by the multi-aspect role of Volunteer Retreat Coordinator.

Charlie Ivermee, Volunteer Coordinator
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Charlie Ivermee gave a year of service as a Volunteer Coordinator at The Barn retreat centre at The Sharpham Trust.

He supported participants who come to The Barn's Buddhist-inspired retreats, living together, working the land and meditating daily.

Martha, Volunteer Coordinator
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Martha Wright gave a year of service as a Volunteer Coordinator at The Barn retreat centre at The Sharpham Trust.

Not only did she join a warm community of fellow coordinators, she developed her own ability to hold space for retreatants - and she grew as a person too.

Will, Volunteer Coordinator
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Will Evans gave a year of service as a Volunteer Coordinator at The Barn retreat centre at The Sharpham Trust.

Here he talks about the fulfilment of putting Dharma practice into practice when supporting retreatants at The Barn.