COMMUNITY RETREAT 2023
D0RSET, ENGLAND, UK
Thursday 7th September - Sunday 10th September 2023 (4 days, 3 nights)
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Join us for our Wanderers of Colour Community Retreat 2023! This year we are heading to Dorset.
You asked, and we listened! So the theme of this year’s retreat is Water!
Our Community Retreat is an action-packed 4-day and 3-night adventure that will unite BPOC in an unforgettable experience. No matter your level of outdoor experience or expertise, you are warmly welcome to join this event. With a strong focus on rest, wellbeing, and belonging, this trip offers a beautiful opportunity to explore new activities and develop existing skills within a supportive and welcoming community.
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You do not need to know how to swim to participate in the planned water-based activities. The water-based lessons have been devised by qualified instructors to cater to different skills levels. For beginners lessons will take place in shallow water, where you'll be able to stand up.
So, get ready to conquer the waves with exhilarating water-based sessions such as paddle-boarding and kayaking, explore stunning hiking trails, challenge your limits with thrilling climbing activities, and engage in epic games and community activities.
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Thanks to the generous support of Sporting Equals and YHA we have been able to put on this trip at a heavily subsidised rate. We’re so excited for you to read more about what we have planned!
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Read the information document below for more details about the trip, and sign up below.
Community Retreat Leaders
Meet the awesome team behind the community retreat 2023!
What to Expect
Community Driven
Our Community Retreats are by and for you the community! The retreats are not-for-profit and we run the event collectively and as peers meaning all attendees volunteer to make this trip happen, for example running a workshop or joining the cooking team.
Water-based Activities
All attendees will get the opportunity to participate in two water-based lessons such as kayaking, surfing, paddle-boarding. All activities are led by qualified instructors who provide gear.
Hiking
Over the course of the weekend, there will be two hiking opportunities. One of these hikes will be along the Jurassic Coast to Durdle Door, and specifically tailored to hikers of all abilities from complete beginners to experienced hikers.
Climbing
For climbing we are heading to Portland, a climber’s paradise and a beautiful Island in Dorset. For those new to climbing or wishing for extra support there will be instructor led top rope climbing sessions. For people who are experienced outdoor climbers there are independent social climbing available (we support in finding you a belay partner).
Social Activities
Our retreats centre joy and community, so there will be lots of social and well-being activities during the weekend including games night, communal meals (for all diets), camp fires, meditation, and karaoke.
Accommodation
We'll be staying in the beautiful Lulworth Cove, by the coast at the YHA. There will be a bunkhouse and camping available, with access to shared facilitates including bathrooms, toilets, kitchen, well-being and prayer room, dining room and lounge.
Accessibiilty Information
For the accommodation access information please click here.
For a virtual tour of the YHA please click here.
We will have a dedicated prayer and well-being space in the hostel. Please read the Information Booklet for more details.
All meals will cater to all allergies and dietary needs. Please indicate when signing up what your needs are.
If you have any medical or access needs you're welcome to add this to the dedicated section in the sign up form, so our team can try their best to support you throughout the weekend.
If you have any questions regarding medical, dietary, or access needs please contact us.
Ticket Prices
Without funding this trip would cost nearly £250 per person, but through the generous support of our funders Sporting Equals and YHA, we've been able to put on this incredible event at a heavily subsidised rate.
BURSARY
TICKET
£0
SUPPORTED TICKET
£65.95
STANDARD TICKET
£95.95
TICKET + PAY IT FORWARD
£125.95
All attendees on a bursary place will have their retreat fully funded and be reimbursed for travel up to £40.
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The paid ticket categories will cost £10 less than the above price if you select the camping accommodation option.
What is Included?
The following is included in all ticket tiers:
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Two water-based lessons with equipment and instruction by qualified instructor
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Two Hikes
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Social climbing (Only for experienced climbers)
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Hostel (shared rooms) and camping accommodation with facilities including toilets, and showers.
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Meals- Dinner (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday), Breakfast (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday), and Packed Lunch (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday). Meals will cater to all diets.
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Taxi shuttle on Sunday from YHA Lulworth Cove to Wool Station
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Games and social activities
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What’s not included:
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Additional food or snacks
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Transport to YHA Lulworth Cove on the Thursday (unless on bursary space)
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Transport to and from hometown to Dorset
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Paid climbing instruction (Outdoor top rope climbing lesson from qualified outdoor climbing instructor)
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Extra water-based sessions
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Kit such as swimming costumes and camping equipment
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Full information of what is and isn't included can be found in the information booklet below.
Ticket Tier Structure Explained
All of these tickets have been heavily subsidised due to the generous support of Sporting Equals and YHA.
We make no profit from tickets, and all prices have been calculated to cover the cost of the trip.
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Why we have ticket tiers
We have adopted Alexis J. Cunningfolk’s The Sliding Scale: A Tool of Economic Justice, to create a tiered ticket system, that will help us in supporting those with financial barriers when accessing the outdoors.
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Please read the explanation for each ticket tier before, and select whichever best represents your circumstances.
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Some definitions of terms used below:
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Basic Needs include food, housing, health care, and transportation.
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Expendable Income might mean you are able to buy coffee or tea at a shop, go to the movies or a concert, buy new clothes, books, and similar items each month, etc.
Bursary Ticket and Supported Ticket
This ticket is for you if you identify with the majority of statements below.
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I would not attend this event without this support.
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I frequently stress about meeting basic needs & don’t always achieve them
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I have debt and it sometimes prohibits me from meeting my basic needs
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I rent lower-end properties or have unstable housing
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I do not have a car and/or have limited access to a car but I am not always able to afford gas
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I am unemployed or underemployed
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I qualify for government assistance including universal credit or benefits
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I have no access to savings
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I have no or very limited expendable income
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I rarely buy new items because I am unable to afford them
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I cannot afford a vacation or have the ability to take time off without financial burden
Standard
Ticket
This ticket is for you if you identify with the majority of statements below.
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I may stress about meeting my basic needs but still regularly achieve them
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I may have some debt but it does not prohibit attainment of basic needs
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I own or lease a car
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I am employed
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I might have access to financial savings
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I have some expendable income
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I am able to buy some new items & I thrift others
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I can take a vacation annually or every few years without financial burden
Ticket + Pay it Forward
This ticket is for you if you identify with the majority of statements below.
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I am comfortably able to meet all of my basic needs
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I may have some debt but it does not prohibit attainment of basic needs
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I own my home or property OR I rent a higher-end property
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I own or lease a car
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I am employed or do not need to work to meet my needs
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I have access to financial savings
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I have an expendable income
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I can always buy new items
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I can afford an annual vacation or take time off
Information Booklet
Before signing up it is essential that you read the information booklet below.
Please do not book before reading it.
Booking Information
Bursary and Supported Tickets
Applications are now open to apply for Bursary and Supported Tickets (link below). Once applications close you will be entered into a raffle for a ticket.
Key Dates
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Tuesday 11th July 2023 - Deadline to apply for bursary and supported ticket raffle
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Wednesday 12th July- Notification of application result
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Friday 14th July- Deadline to complete full sign up form and pay deposit (if required)
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Standard and Pay-it-Forward Tickets
The first step of signing up is via Eventbrite. Once you have completed the sign up, you will be emailed a longer Google Form and payment information. The full sign up form takes about 10 minutes to complete.
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Key Dates
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Thursday 13th July- First ticket release. 6pm (for WhatsApp and Facebook group members), and 7pm (for everyone else)
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Friday 14th July- Deadline to complete full sign up form and pay deposit
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10am on Monday 17th July - Second ticket release
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Payment and Deposits
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There is a £35 deposit for the trip which is due no later than 10am Friday 14th July (for first release) or 10am Tuesday 18th July (for second release).
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The final total of the trip is due 10am Friday 4th August.
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If you miss any of these deadlines you will lose your spot and your deposit.
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Refund Policy
If you can no longer attend the trip you have until Friday 4th August to cancel your ticket to be eligible for a full refund. After this time you will not be eligible for a full refund, as payments to services would have been made.
