The project.....
We are raising funds to enable the purchase of land on which we can host and run community and subsidised educational, wellbeing, youth, cultural and permaculture projects for both the local community as well as a wider audience.
North Devon is both a stunningly beautiful part of the UK, blessed with both Exmoor national park and the Atlantic Ocean, but it is also very geographically isolated and in many parts economically deprived.
Therefore for local residents we aim to provide a community space and to offer diverse opportunities such as:
- community gardening project where we all share the labour and the fruits of the work in the gardens
- outdoor educational skills such as permaculture, alternative energy, gardening and green living;
- collaboration with local youth associations such as the local kids circus and performance clubs
- mental health opportunities: meditation and mindfulness;
- physical wellbeing events
For those from further afield we want to provide an opportunity to escape the noise and hustle of the cities and towns and retreat to a quiet, scenic and peaceful part of the world to partake in activities such as meditation, yoga permaculture and well being. This would be both affordable and in addition it would help us to fund activities for the local community within the space.
Obviously there is some entanglement of the need to still have our own home and the space to do great things at the same location. We will sell our current home, use our own existing savings and borrow as much as we are able to (but not from the banking system!) in order to find the perfect place. However to afford a home with an attached piece of land of adequate size and nature for such a project we will need some additional help!!
We are raising funds to enable the purchase of land on which we can host and run community and subsidised educational, wellbeing, youth, cultural and permaculture projects for both the local community as well as a wider audience.
North Devon is both a stunningly beautiful part of the UK, blessed with both Exmoor national park and the Atlantic Ocean, but it is also very geographically isolated and in many parts economically deprived.
Therefore for local residents we aim to provide a community space and to offer diverse opportunities such as:
- community gardening project where we all share the labour and the fruits of the work in the gardens
- outdoor educational skills such as permaculture, alternative energy, gardening and green living;
- collaboration with local youth associations such as the local kids circus and performance clubs
- mental health opportunities: meditation and mindfulness;
- physical wellbeing events
For those from further afield we want to provide an opportunity to escape the noise and hustle of the cities and towns and retreat to a quiet, scenic and peaceful part of the world to partake in activities such as meditation, yoga permaculture and well being. This would be both affordable and in addition it would help us to fund activities for the local community within the space.
Obviously there is some entanglement of the need to still have our own home and the space to do great things at the same location. We will sell our current home, use our own existing savings and borrow as much as we are able to (but not from the banking system!) in order to find the perfect place. However to afford a home with an attached piece of land of adequate size and nature for such a project we will need some additional help!!
We have a large community of supporters from within the yoga community across the whole of the UK. We also have past experience in running affordable retreats for those on low income to benefit from as well as organising charity events for both local and national causes.
We have many contacts working within local youth, music and arts groups as well as workshop leaders in the fields of mental and physical wellbeing, alternative energy, art, permaculture, gardening and traditional outdoor skills. Our own children are also well connected to local youth groups who we hope to support with provision of space and opportunities to host events.
Inspiration has come from projects such as Mount Pleasant Eco Park and Chyan community field in Cornwall and especially how these have been so successful in creating community cohesion, cultural and educational opportunities within otherwise isolated areas and communities.
We are running a variety of fundraisers including Dans recycled surfboard sculptures that are up for auction (see images below) as well as our September retreat.
We hope that with this extra capital we might be able to finally reach those occasional properties that come to the market with not only accommodation but also the extra land that would potentially provide such great opportunities.
Although we have our eye on somewhere that fits the bill perfectly at the moment, we do understand that by the time we raise enough capital it may have already gone. Any money raised will be kept totally separate from our own funds until a similarly appropriate property arises.
We have many contacts working within local youth, music and arts groups as well as workshop leaders in the fields of mental and physical wellbeing, alternative energy, art, permaculture, gardening and traditional outdoor skills. Our own children are also well connected to local youth groups who we hope to support with provision of space and opportunities to host events.
Inspiration has come from projects such as Mount Pleasant Eco Park and Chyan community field in Cornwall and especially how these have been so successful in creating community cohesion, cultural and educational opportunities within otherwise isolated areas and communities.
We are running a variety of fundraisers including Dans recycled surfboard sculptures that are up for auction (see images below) as well as our September retreat.
We hope that with this extra capital we might be able to finally reach those occasional properties that come to the market with not only accommodation but also the extra land that would potentially provide such great opportunities.
Although we have our eye on somewhere that fits the bill perfectly at the moment, we do understand that by the time we raise enough capital it may have already gone. Any money raised will be kept totally separate from our own funds until a similarly appropriate property arises.