by Jules Bueno

Stay and work with one of these communities for a more soulful escape from the rat race

According to most people, the whole point of a holiday is, surely, to indulge oneself - either doing nothing at all but slapping on sun block or pursuing a passionate interest.

But there is another way to fill these precious breaks, which could have a profound effect on your personal development and test you in a different way.

Scores of individual communities dotted around the UK are happily getting on with life outside of the rat race and many throw their doors open to non-community members to join them for various lengths of time. In exchange for general mucking in to keep the show on the road, you get to sample their particular brand of co-operative living, and perhaps pick up a few tips about other spiritually-enhancing things too.

Here's only a handful of what's out there for any nascent caring-sharer. One thing is for sure, it has to be one of the cheapest ways to holiday.

Richard Glyn Foundation at Gaunts House

Ethos
Set in stunning parkland on a grand Dorset estate (dating from the 14th century), this small community is dedicated to the development of spiritual and personal life in a non-denominational way. It runs a series of courses for the outside world throughout the year, including Tai Chi, shamanic studies, and 'sweeping leaves retreats' - which should give you an idea of their eclectic/holistic approach. There are group hugs and emotional honesty aplenty here.

Who can join?
'Students' (17-29 yrs) can join the community for 1-6 months (often with a view to joining on a more permanent basis). Adult volunteers can join on a day or longer basis in exchange for free access to courses.

What's the deal?
Students get free bed and board in return for a half-day 'energy-exchange' (mostly simple chores around the house and garden) as well as £10 a week pocket money. Volunteers can exchange labour on an ad-hoc basis in exchange for free access to a course, and are actively sought for the annual big Summer Gathering event in August (setting up and clearing up). In exchange for six hours help per day, you get free entrance to the event and access to two of its workshops (of a holistic/personal-development bent), camping accommodation and vegetarian meals. A 'Community Experience Weekend' is another way get an instructive taste of community life (£105/Non-residential £65). Couples are welcome, but kids do pose a problem. Community life includes twice daily meditations; regular sharing and discussion groups and evening activities such as 'dances of Universal Peace', yoga, videos and community meetings. Perhaps not for the truly shy or cynical.

Richard Glyn Foundation at Gaunts House, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 4JQ
Email: admin@rgf-gaunts.demon.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1202 841522
http://www.rgf-gaunts.demon.co.uk

Atlow Mill Centre for Emotional Education

Ethos
A registered charity, this industrious community in Derbyshire offers a programme of courses designed to develop emotional literacy - including victims of domestic violence and children at risk of exclusion from school. Set in a beautiful tranquil spot, living here means respecting their work, the environment, and being prepared for a high level of emotional honesty.

Who can join?
Anyone willing to participate with an open heart and mind. Couples welcome, and those with kids considered too.

What's the deal?
Much depends on when you join. If there's a course going on, you may be working very hard to provide back-up in the kitchen or on general cleaning duties. This could be for over 12 hours a day. You may even get roped into assisting the course leaders (for example, mentoring groups of children). If there's no course on the go, there are plenty of general chores to keep life going, such as chopping wood or digging the garden. In exchange you get food and lodging and a unique taste of emotional literacy.

Atlow Mill Centre for Emotional Education, Hognaston, Derbyshire, DE6 1PX
Tel: +44 (0)1335 370494
E-mail: centre@atlowmill.ndo.co.uk
http://www.atlowmill.ndo.co.uk/

Madhyamaka Centre

Ethos
This is a living, breathing Tibetan Buddhist community of about 40 monks and lay residents housed in a beautiful 18th-century English Heritage listed building near York. Surrounded with all the impressive green trimmings anyone would expect from an old English aristocratic home, it's an incongruous mix of the worldly and non-worldly. It hosts meditation and other Buddhist-inspired courses throughout the year, as well as offering 'working holidays'.

Who can join?
Anyone fit and able to muck in - couples included. Families with small children are not suitable for a long stay, although all applicants are considered. There's no need to be Buddhist as there's no pressure to join in the spiritual life of things.

What's the deal?
In exchange for 35 hours work (usually spread over 5 days) you become a part of the community - with lodging, three good vegetarian meals a day and free access to any teachings going on at the time. The house needs constant upkeep (much of it is still being restored) so some tasks can be quite physical, although there's endless cleaning and kitchen work for the less robust. Some stay for a few weeks, and others have even become residents over time. Summers get busy.

The Madhyamaka has many other sister communities in the UK that offer similar 'working holiday' deals - such as the Manjushri Centre, Ulverston, http://www.manjushri.org.uk/; the Tara Centre, Derby, http://www.taracentre.org.uk/; and the Losang Dragpa Centre, Todmorden, http://www.losangdragpa.com.

Madhyamaka Buddhist Centre, Kilnwick Percy Hall, Pocklington, York, YO42 1UF
Tel: +44 (0)1759 304832.
E-mail: info@madhyamaka.org
http://www.madhyamaka.org/

And if it's Buddhism you are particularly after, another option is to join as a volunteer at the celebrity-endorsed Samye Ling Tibetan community near Lockerbie, Scotland. A working monastery (with a stunning temple), it also works to preserve the Tibetan culture and houses a therapy centre. Summers are very popular.
Tel: +44 (0) 138 73 73 232
Email: scotland@samyeling.org
http://www.samyeling.org/About/about.htm

Findhorn Community

Ethos
Perhaps one of the best known (and largest) communities in the UK, Scotland's Findhorn has paved the way for sustainable co-operative living. It originally forged itself a reputation in the 1960s with its 'different' spiritual work with nature - in short, it believes that nature has intelligence and is part of a much greater plan. It now has an international reach and is involved with UN work. It goes without saying that everything is eco-friendly.

It is now a major centre of adult education (with over 4,500 visitors each year), attracted to the seven 'core programmes', and 60 week-long workshops. It is supported by a growing number of 150 community members who live between two campuses - other associated members live nearby.

Who can join?
The Findhorn is a tightly operated outfit and anyone interested must be wholly committed to entering the community vibe and all that goes with it. Members stress that they are not guided by any formal doctrine - the only emphasis is on meditation. Buddhists live alongside Christians and atheists- toleration is a guiding principle. Families are welcome.

What's the deal?
Unless you can pop in for a day and hang out, the first step for any interested person is to join an 'Experience Week', which has been running since 1974. It offers an introduction to Findhorn's spiritual principles (such as 'attunement' and 'group work') and presents many of the major aspects of life there through discussion, meditation, sacred dance, nature outings and community members' sharings. The important bit is the help you give in the gardens, the kitchens, the home or with general maintenance, as this is when most spiritual guidance takes place. There are tailored 'Experience Weeks' for youth, families, gay men and women, and for those with a particular interest in the satellite ecovillage (as well as some for non-English speakers).

(It's not free, although there's an income-related pricing scheme: £325 low income /£390 medium income/£485 high income).

The Findhorn Foundation, The Park, Forres, Grampian IV36 3TZ, Scotland.
Tel: +44 (0) 1309 690 311
Email: enquiries@findhorn.org
http://www.findhorn.org