Volunteer at Leela
Take part in the daily life of Leela through shared work and community living.
Volunteering is a way of becoming part of the daily life of the centre while supporting the work that keeps Leela running. Volunteers contribute to areas such as the kitchen, house care, gardens and preparation of spaces for guests.
Alongside practical work, volunteers share in community life through meals, daily practice and time on the land. Tasks are approached as Work as Meditation, bringing attention, care and presence into everyday activities.
Volunteering offers a grounded way to experience community while contributing to the spaces that support our events and gatherings.
Is Volunteering Right for You?
Volunteering at Leela works well for people who enjoy shared living and taking responsibility for practical tasks as part of a community.
Volunteering includes shared meals, daily responsibilities and participation in the rhythm of community life. It suits people who are curious about experiencing community in a grounded and practical way.
You may find the experience particularly supportive if you:
• are comfortable living in a shared community environment
• enjoy contributing through practical work and teamwork
• are open to meditation and group activities
• can communicate openly and respectfully with others
• are able to take care of your own wellbeing while living in community
First-time Volunteers
For those new to Leela, your journey begins with a Volunteer Induction Week, a supported and conscious entry into community life. This first week gives you space to:
Learn the rhythm of community life and the flow of Work as Meditation
Connect with the values, culture, and practices that guide Leela
Experience Leela medicine and daily meditations
Reflect on whether longer-term volunteering feels aligned
Receive practical, emotional, and social support to help you settle in
After the induction week, there is the possibility to stay longer, depending on availability and mutual fit.
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Minimum stay: 7 days (7 nights)
Arrival: Monday morning
Induction begins: Monday afternoon
Departure: Following Monday morning
Cost: £75 for the induction week
Includes:
- Full community & Leela medicine induction
- Dedicated volunteer sharing space
- 1:1 check-in with a volunteer team member
- Thursday afternoon personal development session
- Food, accommodation, meditations, and community life -
During your Induction Week, you will have the chance to:
Join two community meditations each day
Enjoy three freshly prepared vegetarian meals daily
Take part in sharing circles twice a week
Join evening activities and optional workshops
Have 1 day off per week to rest, reflect, or explore
Learn new skills across kitchen, housecare, gardening, grounds, and other areas
Experience how your contributions weave into the life of retreats, workshops, and events
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16 – 23rd March
13 – 20th April
5 – 11th May
8 – 15th June
14 – 21st September
19 - 26th October
9 – 16th November
7- 14th December -
In turn, we ask you to bring your attention, presence, and willingness to contribute. Tasks may include:
Supporting the kitchen and meal preparation
Caring for communal spaces and guest rooms
Gardening, grounds care, and occasional maintenance
Any other areas where the community needs support
Every task is an invitation to practice Work as Meditation, bringing care, focus, and awareness into your actions while sharing the flow of community life.
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Morning: Morning meditation, showers, breakfast, Morning Gathering
Work: Two blocks of work as meditation, with breaks and a two-hour lunch
Evening: Evening meditation, dinner, optional workshops or activities
Extras: Jam sessions, healing spaces, conscious dance, sauna, creative workshops, sharing circles, and more
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7.00am - Morning Meditation
8.00am - Showers & Breakfast
9.00am - Morning Gathering
9.30am - Work as Meditation
11.00am - Coffee break
11.30am - Work as Meditation
1.00pm - Lunch & Dishes
3.00pm - Work as Meditation
5.30pm - Finish work
6.00pm - Evening Meditation
7.00pm - Dinner & Dishes
8.00pm - Free time / optional workshops
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Wednesday is a day when community relating and organisation is the priority. The day begins with a slightly shortened version of the AUM (or another release session), a 90-minute social meditation bringing awareness to a range of human emotions.
After breakfast, we have sharing in peer groups or with all the community members.
Once a month in the afternoon, the full community participates in an activity or event to support connection. It can also be a work related activity if needed.
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Age requirement
Volunteers must be 18 years or older.Wellbeing and participation
Volunteering at Leela involves shared community living, practical work and participation in daily activities. For this reason, volunteers need a reasonable level of emotional, mental and physical wellbeing so they can take part in community life and shared responsibilities.If you have health conditions or support needs, you are welcome to share these with us during the application process so we can consider together whether the programme is the right fit at this time.
Community living
Volunteering includes shared meals, shared spaces and respectful communication within a diverse community environment.
Returning Volunteers
For those who have already experienced life at Leela, returning as a volunteer is an opportunity to deepen your connection with the community and continue practicing Work as Meditation in daily life. You can join for flexible stays while fully participating in community rhythm, meditations, sharing circles, and evening activities.
Returning volunteers help sustain the flow of Leela while enjoying the balance of contribution, connection, and rest.
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For returning volunteers
Cost: £40 per week for the first 4 weeks
Includes all usual volunteer elements
Does not include the Thursday personal development session
Returning volunteers may choose to join an induction week at £75 if they would like a deeper refresher
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Helping with various tasks to support the day-to-day running of Leela.
Working in the kitchen supporting the chef with meal preparation
Beautifying Leela in housecare – cleaning, tidying and setting rooms up for guests.
Working in the vegetable garden and on our grounds.
Working with building projects and maintenance
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Opportunity to join 2 community meditations a day
Three beautifully cooked vegetarian meals daily
Sharing circles twice a week
Evening activities
2 days off
A chance to learn new skills in our various departments
Opportunities to support & to join in at many of our workshops and events
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Morning: Morning meditation, showers, breakfast, Morning Gathering
Work: Two blocks of work as meditation, with breaks and a two-hour lunch
Evening: Evening meditation, dinner, optional workshops or activities
Extras: Jam sessions, healing spaces, conscious dance, sauna, creative workshops, sharing circles, and more
-
7.00am - Morning Meditation
8.00am - Showers & Breakfast
9.00am - Morning Gathering
9.30am - Work as Meditation
11.00am - Coffee break
11.30am - Work as Meditation
1.00pm - Lunch & Dishes
3.00pm - Work as Meditation
5.30pm - Finish work
6.00pm - Evening Meditation
7.00pm - Dinner & Dishes
8.00pm - Free time / optional workshops
-
Wednesday is a day when community relating and organisation is the priority. The day begins with a slightly shortened version of the AUM (or another release session), a 90-minute social meditation bringing awareness to a range of human emotions.
After breakfast, we have sharing in peer groups or with all the community members.
Once a month in the afternoon, the full community participates in an activity or event to support connection. It can also be a work related activity if needed.
“I had a fantastic time at Leela. I made wonderful connections with lovely people and enjoyed the variety of meditations. It’s a magical place to experience community life.”
Lucy, Volunteer