On this page you’ll find the topics for each module. At the end you can also see the daily programme. In between modules, we support and maintain our connection with Community Calls. Elsewhere, find out about the venue, self-catering and fees or go straight to the online application form.

Topics by module, 2023-24: Building Community

All modules start with a meal at 6.30pm on the Thursday and finish at 4.0pm on the Sunday.

Module One: Setting up support systems
5–8 October 2023.

• The Tree of Compassionate Connection
• Embodied NVC: exploring fight, flight, freeze and self-empathy.
• Self-empathy.
• How to empathise: the Empathy Archery model from Shantigarbha’s book I’ll Meet You There: a practical guide to empathy, mindfulness and communication.
• Setting up Empathy Home Groups and finding an empathy buddy.
• Introduction to Nonviolent Communication.
• Being in groups / regulating intensity.
• Giving and receiving feedback.
• Community Gift Culture conversation.
• Next steps

Module Two: Group decision-making by consent
7–10 December 2023.

• The principle of consent.
• The basic elements of Sociocracy. 
• Decision-making when there is a proposal present.
• Decision-making when there isn’t a proposal.
• Varying the consent threshold.
• Selecting a person for a role.
• Community Gift Culture conversation.
• Next steps.

Module Three: Healing past pain
29 February – 3 March 2024

• Transforming anger with the NVC Dance Floors.
• Exploring guilt, shame and depression.
• NVC Trauma healing background.
• Steps to Mourning and Healing process.
• Community Gift Culture conversation.
• Next steps.

Module Four: Conflict transformation
25–28 April 2024.

• Exploring our purpose as a community.
• Understanding conflict and your conflict history.
• Restorative Circles, a community dialogue process developed by Dominic Barter and associates in the slums of Brazil. More info.
• Discover different ways of being with, or even moving towards conflict.
• Inner conflict: learning from your limitations without losing self-respect.
• What agreements you need in place in order to respond effectively to conflict when it arises?
• Setting up a basic Conflict Transformation system for the rest of the modules.
• Community Gift Culture conversation.
• Next steps.

Module Five: Access and Resource Allocation systems
27–30 June 2024.

• Setting up a different economic system.
• Gift Culture or Giftivism. More info.
• “Do what you love and ask people to support you to continue!”
• Your money story.
• Taking money off the table.
• Giraffe juice: gratitude.
• Setting up an Access (on-boarding) system.
• Community Gift Culture conversation.
• Next steps.

Daily Programme

• 7.30–8.30 Breakfast
• 9.00 Remembering our collective intention and planning the day.
• 9.30 Morning session, including tea break at approximately 11.15.
• 13.00 Lunch and integration time.
• 15.00–16.00 Empathy Home Groups.
• 16.15 Afternoon session, including tea break at approximately 17.15pm.
• 18.30 Evening meal.
• 19.30 Harvesting the day’s learning.
• 20.15 Optional space for fun and games, including singing and dancing!

Staying connected

You will be invited to join an Empathy Home Group to meet daily during the modules. We will encourage these to meet (face-to-face or online) between the modules to foster community and for ongoing support. We will also offer a community call between modules to support learning, integration, and connection.

Further information

Contact Gesine Schrader via our email contact form, or phone her on +44 (0)7840 056 289.