Frequently Asked Questions

This is a rare chance to be a founding member of the first Plum Village centre in the UK: a truly historic moment for the practice community. You’re not joining an established system, you’re helping to create it. Your energy, insights, and presence will literally shape how Being Peace Centre develops. There’s both vulnerability and beauty in this initiating role, and the significance of being part of establishing the UK’s first dedicated Plum Village practice centre cannot be overstated.

Beyond that, living your practice in community for an extended period is profoundly transformative in ways that week-long retreats cannot match. The daily rhythm of practice, the challenges of living with others, the opportunity to integrate mindfulness into every aspect of life: this is where practice deepens from understanding to embodiment.

You’ll develop practical skills, receive training and mentorship, and be part of creating something that will support countless practitioners for years to come. Most importantly, you’ll have the precious gift of time, time to practice, to heal, to grow, and to discover what emerges when you truly commit to the path. 

We’re inviting community members to commit to between 8 months and 2 years. For this first intake starting in January 2026, some members may stay for 8 months, with the opportunity to extend if it feels right for both you and the community. Once the community is established, we’ll have regular intake cycles in January, May, and September each year. We ask that you come with an intention to stay for at least 8 months.

This is a voluntary role without a formal contract, which means you are free to end your volunteering at any time. We deeply understand that life brings unexpected changes; whether personal, family, health, or other circumstances. If you find you need to leave, we simply ask that you communicate openly with the Community Practice Mentor and give as much notice as possible so we can support both you and the community through the transition. There’s no penalty or judgment; we want what’s best for your practice and wellbeing.

We’re looking for practitioners with genuine commitment to and experience in Plum Village practice. This typically means you’ve attended multiple retreats in the Plum Village tradition, have an established home practice, and feel a deep connection to Thay’s teachings. You don’t need to be an “advanced” practitioner, what matters most is your sincerity, openness to learning, and willingness to live the practice daily. During the Discernment Weekend, we’ll explore together whether this commitment feels right for where you are in your practice journey.

We are looking for people who can live well in a community and can deal with meeting new people regularly. You may have lived in a community before or work well in a team. You will need empathy, flexibility, patience, self-awareness and generosity. It is not easy to live in close proximity with other people. You will need to exercise compassion regularly. Other practical skills such as cleanliness, flexibility and good time management will be very important too to harmonious living. You will need to be inclusive and patient in your attitude: you will be meeting new retreatants regularly who may come from all backgrounds and may require a lot of support. 

Every four months, you’ll move into a new role area, allowing you to develop diverse skills and experience different aspects of running the centre. The rotation includes:

• Household and Office (2 people): You’ll support the administrative team with tasks like managing bookings, correspondence, and scheduling, while also caring for the household spaces, keeping living areas clean, welcoming, and harmonious.
• Kitchen (1 person): Working alongside our part-time chefs during retreats, you’ll support meal preparation and service. Between retreats, you’ll prepare breakfast for the community and help coordinate self-cooking arrangements.
• Maintenance (1 person): Supporting our part-time maintenance coordinator, you’ll help care for the buildings, grounds, and facilities, from minor repairs to seasonal upkeep. This role cultivates practical skills and a deep relationship with the physical space.
• Flexible Role (1 person): This vital position provides coverage when other community members take their week off every six weeks. You’ll move between roles as needed, which helps you develop versatility and a comprehensive understanding of how the centre functions.
• Garden (1 person): This is the one exception to rotation, one community member will focus on gardening for a full year, helping to develop our “Happy Farm” mindful organic growing space. We’re seeking someone with strong gardening skills for this role.

Every four months, the community will meet to discuss the next rotation, considering everyone’s preferences, developing skills, and the community’s needs. This collaborative approach ensures the rotation serves both individual growth and collective harmony.  There may be times when you are asked to do a role that is not your preference which we would ask you to approach with grace.

Your days will flow with the rhythm of practice. Mornings begin with sitting meditation, followed by breakfast and morning chores. You’ll then move into your working meditation period, whether in the office, kitchen, garden, or maintenance work, approached with mindfulness and presence. Midday brings lunch and rest, followed by more work practice in the afternoon. Evenings include dinner, possibly walking meditation, and evening practice or community time.

During retreats, the rhythm shifts to support retreatants, you might be serving meals, holding space during Dharma sharing circles, or ensuring the physical environment supports deep practice. Between retreats, the pace is generally gentler, with more time for personal practice, community building, and the ongoing work of maintaining the centre.

You’ll have one “lazy day” each week for rest and renewal, plus a full week off every six weeks to recharge, visit loved ones, or simply be.

In Household and Office, you might find yourself responding to retreat enquiries, updating the website, managing the booking system, cleaning shared spaces, preparing rooms for new arrivals, doing laundry, or creating a welcoming atmosphere for guests.

In the Kitchen, you’ll chop vegetables mindfully, support meal service during retreats, prepare simple breakfasts, wash dishes, maintain kitchen cleanliness, help plan menus with the chefs, and perhaps explore creative ways to nourish the community.

In Maintenance, tasks could include basic repairs, painting, gardening support (distinct from the dedicated garden role), setting up retreat spaces, monitoring heating and water systems, seasonal preparation of the buildings, and responding to immediate practical needs.

The Flexible Role means you’ll learn aspects of all these roles, stepping in wherever you’re needed most. This variety can be wonderfully enriching, helping you discover unexpected skills and preferences.

Accommodation is in gender-separated shared rooms with 3-4 people per room, located in a private area of the retreat centre away from guest spaces. The rooms are simple and comfortable, designed to support practice rather than luxury. Sharing a room is considered an essential part of the Plum Village practice; it’s an opportunity to practice interbeing, to learn patience and consideration, and to support one another’s practice journey.

We understand that some individuals have essential needs related to gender identity, health conditions, or safety that make standard shared accommodation challenging. In these cases, alternative arrangements may be requested and will be considered compassionately on a case-by-case basis. However, we cannot accommodate preferences based purely on comfort or habit; part of the practice is learning to be at ease in community.

If you’re unsure whether your needs would qualify for alternative arrangements, please discuss this openly in your application or contact us at roles@plumvillage.uk. We want to support everyone’s practice while maintaining the integrity of community living.

Unfortunately, the facilities don’t allow for pets of any kind. We know this can be a difficult consideration for animal companions, and we encourage you to make arrangements for their care before applying.

Regarding visits from family and friends, during your week off every six weeks, you’re welcome to leave the centre to spend time with loved ones. While we want to be accommodating, the centre’s primary purpose is as a retreat space, so having personal visitors stay on-site would need to be discussed with the Community Practice Mentor and would likely be very limited. The discernment weekend is a good time to discuss your specific situation.

The £50 weekly stipend is yours to use as you wish. It might cover personal items, phone bills, transportation for your weeks off, gifts for loved ones, savings, or occasional treats when you venture into town. Since accommodation and all meals are provided, this amount is intended for personal expenses rather than living costs. Some community members may find it ample; others may supplement it with personal savings depending on their needs and circumstances.

We’re committed to creating robust support structures, learning from established Plum Village centres worldwide and UK retreat centres with residential communities. Your support includes:

• Community Practice Mentor: Bi-weekly one-to-one meetings to support your practice, discuss challenges, and celebrate growth
• Weekly Sangha meetings: For community connection and harmony
• Monthly Beginning Anew sessions: To address difficulties and refresh relationships
• Monthly Dharma teachings: Deepening your understanding of Buddhist practice
• Conflict resolution support: When challenges arise between community members
• Opening retreat: In January 2026 with Michael Schwammberger to build strong foundations
• Various training opportunities: Including first aid, food hygiene, racial awareness, Plum Village practice, and facilitation skills

You’ll also have access to the beautiful estate for nature connection and can attend on-site retreats during your weeks off.

The first eight weeks are a mutual exploration period. You’ll receive regular feedback and support through one-to-one meetings, and we’ll work together to ensure the role is truly right for you. This isn’t about testing whether you’re “good enough”, it’s about honestly discerning whether this particular path serves your practice and whether you’re finding joy and meaning in the community. If either you or we feel it’s not the right fit, we can part ways with kindness and without judgment. If all feels well, your service is confirmed and continues.

Living in community inevitably brings challenges, sharing rooms with others, supporting retreatants, working in community daily, it’s all part of the practice! We approach difficulties as opportunities for growth rather than problems to avoid. When conflicts arise, you’ll have support from the Community Practice Mentor trained in conflict resolution. We’ll use practices like Beginning Anew, compassionate listening, and mindful communication.

The key is bringing awareness, honesty, and kindness to difficulties rather than letting them fester. We’re creating a culture where it’s safe to be vulnerable, to acknowledge mistakes, and to work through challenges together. Your emotional intelligence and willingness to engage with discomfort mindfully are essential qualities we’re seeking.

A UK/EU driving licence for manual transmission with fewer than three points is desirable but not essential. The centre is in rural Gloucestershire, so having drivers in the community is helpful for errands, emergencies, and transportation needs. However, if you don’t drive, you can still apply—we’ll work it out as a community.

As this is a voluntary role, you’ll need to maintain your own health insurance (or access to NHS care as usual). You should register with a local GP once you arrive. The centre will arrange for enhanced DBS checks as part of the onboarding process since the role may involve contact with vulnerable adults.

You’ll remain responsible for any personal debts, phone contracts, or other financial obligations. The stipend and free accommodation are designed to support a simple lifestyle during your service, not to provide income for external commitments.

We may be able to manage the visa requirements for non-UK citizens to become residents at the Being Peace Centre, however we cannot commit to this for all cases. This is likely to be more possible for future intakes.

The centre provides vegan meals in line with Plum Village tradition. We can accommodate common dietary requirements such as gluten-free, or allergy-related needs, please let us know in your application.

During retreats, meals are prepared for the community and guests. Between retreats, food is provided for the community to self-cook together. You’re welcome to bring your own additional food items if you have specific preferences or dietary needs beyond what’s provided, though please be mindful of shared kitchen and storage space.

Regarding health conditions, we want to support practitioners with diverse health needs while being realistic about what we can accommodate in a community setting. The role does require good physical and mental health, as you’ll be doing varied physical work and living in close community. If you have health conditions that require specific accommodations, please discuss these openly in your application so we can explore what’s possible together.

Applications close on 7th November 2025 (midnight). During the application period, we’ll be holding an informational webinar where you can learn more about the role and ask questions, please sign up for our newsletter to receive details about when this will take place.

We’ll review applications and invite a limited number of people to a Discernment Weekend on 28th-30th November 2025. This isn’t an interview; it’s an opportunity for you to experience the site, meet other potential residents, practice together, and genuinely explore whether this commitment feels right for you.Unfortunately we are unable to invite all candidates to the Discernment Weekend, so if you aren’t invited and are still keen we do encourage you to reapply to join the community at a later date. 

Only you can answer this question, but here are some reflections that might help:

Does your heart say “yes” even while your mind lists all the practical challenges? Have you been longing for deeper immersion in practice? Are you at a point in life where you can step back from career or other commitments? Do you feel called to service? Are you genuinely willing to live simply, share space, and work through difficulties with patience and kindness? Are you genuinely interested in living in community and do you think you have the skills needed to cope sharing a room and space with others? 

If these resonate, we encourage you to apply and come to the Discernment Weekend. Trust your practice to guide you toward clarity about whether this path is calling you.

We’re committed to creating a balanced and diverse community that we believe will work well together. This means that even if your application is strong and you have a wonderful Discernment Weekend with us, we might invite you to join a later intake rather than the January 2026 start date. The next intake after January will be in August/September 2026.

We understand this requires flexibility and patience on your part. If we offer you an August/September start instead of January, it’s not a reflection on your practice or suitability, it’s about ensuring each intake has the right balance and diversity to create a thriving, harmonious community. We hope you’ll understand this approach as part of our commitment to building a truly inclusive space that reflects the diversity of the UK practice community.

That would be wonderful news. Even if we reach £1 million, we would still need to borrow some funds to make alterations and operate the centre. The more we raise in donations, the less we need to borrow—meaning that we will have less to pay in interest payments thus making the centre more financially viable going forward. This would also allow us to offer more bursaries, making the retreats accessible to even more people.

The purchase of the property is also dependent on two other factors, a successful pre-planning application, to give a strong indication that we will be able to convert buildings to form part of the retreat centre in the future, as well as agreement from our key stakeholders that Abenhall is the right site for our Community.  

If the trustees decide not to proceed with the purchase based on either of these factors​​, all of the donations raised will remain in the Being Peace Practice Centre restricted funds accounts and go towards the purchase of another site.

Every donation to the Being Peace project is valuable and will be put to meaningful use. The £1 million figure represents an optimal fundraising goal based on our detailed financial modelling. Reaching this target allows us to minimise debt, which in turn:

• Reduces ongoing financial burden through reduction of interest costs, providing more financial stability.
• Creates more surplus funds which enables us to offer more bursaries, making our retreats more accessible 

Each donation that brings us closer to our goal means less debt and more resources directed toward our mission rather than interest payments.

Should circumstances prevent the purchase of Abenhall specifically, rest assured your contribution will be directed toward an alternative suitable site that fulfills this vision.

While timelines may shift, our commitment to creating this peaceful sanctuary remains unwavering. Your support is creating a foundation for financial sustainability that allows us to focus on what matters most: making the transformative experience of our retreats available to as many people as possible, regardless of financial means.

The council has informed us that there will be a delay in the pre-planning application review process for our project. This delay is outside of our control, and as a result, we are extending the timeline for reaching our £1 million target to ensure we have the necessary time to align all aspects of the project. 

We are now focusing on reaching our goal by the 16th of April, which the council have committed to deliver their response by, and the trustees will make the decision to sign shortly after. We are confident that this additional time will allow us to better position the project for success.

Yes! We are still actively fundraising and every donation, no matter how large or small, will bring us closer to our £1 million goal. We are hopeful that with the extended timeline, we can reach even more individuals and communities who believe in the project. If you’re able to contribute, your support will make a significant difference in helping us achieve our mission.

Please see our major donors page for more details on the different avenues of support you may be able to contribute. If you aren’t able to donate now, but would like to be able to contribute at some point in the future, it is also possible to send us a pledge, which you can also find on our major donors page.

An anonymous long standing member of our community generously came forward to offer to match all donations made between 16th February and 16th April.  This offer came out of the blue when we were approaching the original deadline date and had just found out that we were able to extend our fundraising deadline.

While this delay is unfortunate, it does not change our commitment to the Being Peace project. We are still fully dedicated to the vision of creating a space for peace, inclusivity, and community. The additional time will allow us to continue fundraising and engage with all our partners and stakeholders to ensure the project’s success. We’ll keep everyone updated on progress as we move forward. If you haven’t already, you can sign up to our newsletter here to receive the updates directly to your mailbox.

We are deeply grateful for the support of our community, and to the growing number of major benefactors who have been able to offer substantial amounts to the Being Peace Practice Centre. If you are able to consider offering this kind of transformative benefit, we have several avenues of support available. Among these, we are welcoming friendly loans repayable over 10 years, starting at £5,000. Please be aware that these loans will be unsecured against the property, so it is important that you understand that you might lose your money, although The Community of Interbeing UK (Plum Village UK) will do our best to make sure that this does not happen. Please fill out our form on our major donors page, and one of our team will be in touch with more information.

The property team has spent years searching for a suitable location, with team members visiting over 20 properties in the last four years and assessing many more online. Viewings were guided by a set of criteria developed in consultation with the Plum Village community and approved by our Trustees.

The key criteria included:

• A peaceful environment, free from noise and pollution (e.g., busy roads or agricultural activity)
• Accessibility via public transport
• A beautiful setting without excessive restrictions from National Park or Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty regulations
• High-quality buildings; including listed properties if they provide the potential to accommodate our immediate and long-term needs within existing buildings
• Sufficient land
• Adequate “oven-ready” accommodation for immediate use, with space for future growth
• An accessible location within the UK 

None of the many properties the team have investigated has come close to Abenhall in terms of what the site, property and local environment offers. Whilst we acknowledge that the site is further South than we would have liked and outside the area of our initial search, when weighed against the other search criteria and assessing the quality of the buildings, site and local environment, Abenhall feels like an opportunity not to be missed. 

Additionally, the current owners have already invested in developing the property as a retreat centre, in a way that aligns closely with Plum Village UK’s ethical and environmental values. Their efforts include:

• Constructing purpose-built, energy-efficient accommodation
• Installing a ground source heat pump and a wastewater treatment plant

In line with Thich Nhat Hanh’s aspiration, we hope that the Being Peace Practice Centre in Abenhall would be the first of several centres across the UK. 

We will continue to keep you updated through our website, newsletters, social media channels and the Being Peace Sunday Evening Online Sangha meetings. You can sign up to our newsletter here. 

We go together as a river, and are committed to providing regular updates on fundraising, planning, and any other key developments. You can also feel free to reach out to us directly if you have any questions or want more information on our Contact Form

Aside from making a donation, there are many ways you can help!

You can spread the word about the Being Peace project to your friends, family, and colleagues, encouraging them to get involved. Sharing our updates on social media, attending any upcoming events, or even offering your expertise or time are all invaluable ways to contribute as a volunteer.

If you have any skills that would be useful to share with the project please reach out to us on our Contact Form. We are so deeply grateful for your continued support in any form.

Yes! For example, it will be wheelchair accessible and with the right set-up to support people with hearing difficulties. As soon as we have identified a building, we will be consulting with the various affinity groups in our sangha to make sure the centre is user-friendly, accessible and welcoming for all comers.

We hope to continue with organised retreats in other areas where the demand exists.

There will be an annual programme of organised retreats, courses and workshops. We are currently looking at around 48 retreat per year – half of which would be weekend and half of which would be week-long. Local sanghas would have the opportunity to run their own retreats and individuals will be welcome to join our general practice and themed retreats. 

A small community of long-term volunteers will live at the centre for up to 2 years, offering continuity of Plum Village practice throughout the year. Visiting teachers will facilitate retreats. The Trustees will be ultimately responsible for the centre, and there will be a small paid team including a centre manager. There will be opportunities for short-term volunteering at the centre and for an engaged wider sangha community in the region. 

The centre will be funded by retreat fees, as well as donations. Our intention is for the centre to be economically self-sufficient (costs are covered by retreat fees) within the first few years.

Our target of £3.7million includes set up and renovation costs that will be incurred in the initial phase of the centre being open.

We expect that the involvement of the widely respected Plum Village monastics will be a significant draw for people wanting to go on retreat.

This will depend on when Plum Village are able to send monks and/or nuns on a longer term basis. The Being Peace project is formally committed to starting a Plum Village monastery in the UK in the long term, however, realistically this may take a number of years. 

Yes! There will be family retreats each year. We hope to also offer retreats for teenagers and several Wake Up retreats for young adults each year. 

Visiting monastics, facilitators and UK and European Dharma teachers, support by the resident practice community and experienced practitioners.