Step into our vibrant community of the heart and bring your presence, curiosity, and care to the daily life of Leela.
Step into our vibrant community of the heart and bring your presence, curiosity, and care to the daily life of Leela.
Volunteering here goes beyond tasks. It is an invitation to explore a conscious way of living, working, and relating, where contribution, connection, and mindfulness flow together.
Our volunteer programme grows from our values of authentic connection, love, totality, co-creative community, and personal evolution. A central part of volunteering is Work as Meditation, where every task, from cooking and cleaning to gardening and preparing spaces for guests, offers a chance to bring attention, care, and presence into action.
Volunteers support Leela to thrive, while experiencing community as a living practice. Work, meditation, relationships, and shared contribution come together to nourish both you and the wider 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.
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:
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Join two community meditations each day
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Enjoy three freshly prepared vegetarian meals daily
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Take part in sharing circles twice a week
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Join evening activities and optional workshops
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Have 1 day off per week to rest, reflect, or explore
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Learn new skills across kitchen, housecare, gardening, grounds, and other areas
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Experience how your contributions weave into the life of retreats, workshops, and events
16 – 23rd March
13 – 20th April
5 – 11th May
8 – 15th June
14 – 21st September
12 – 19th October
9 – 16th November
7- 14th December
In turn, we ask you to bring your attention, presence, and willingness to contribute. Tasks may include:
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Supporting the kitchen and meal preparation
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Caring for communal spaces and guest rooms
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Gardening, grounds care, and occasional maintenance
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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.
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.
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.
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
Helping with various tasks to support the day-to-day running of Leela.
Working in the kitchen supporting the cook 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
- Opportunity to join two 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
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.
“The experience is amazing. I’m making some really deep connections and learning a lot about myself.”
“The experience is amazing. I’m making some really deep connections and learning a lot about myself.”
If you’re ready for the next step then please fill in this form and a member of our team will be in touch to discuss your application.
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