Can anyone recommend a Christian community retreat-type thing for an 18-year-old on a gap year?

[extratoastwiththat]

Something like this JVC one, only shorter term - maybe from a week to say three months.

It would ideally involve living as a community, and spiritual/personal development.

We are C of E, but I don't think denomination should matter?

Taize in France? They accept people from all over but I've forgotten when it is.

Taize would be good but really only if they have been there before.
Also try L'Arche
or Christian Aid?

Is L'Arche in Scotland?

Thanks for these. He hasn't been to Taize. Christian Aid - yes, they may have relevant info, I guess. He would not be keen to go very far overseas!

Google L'Arche and see - I'm sure they are in Scotland

Thanks, L'Arche doesn't seem quite right for ds.

Anyone got direct experience of such communities, please?

Have just found this: Abernethy Trust.

Look at Findhorn and Iona, both in Scotland.

www.iona.org.uk/island_centres.php

Iona

Oh fantastic, thanks, I'll read that link.

He has a special "thing" about Scotland.

If RC or sympathetic to RCC, Kintbury in Berkshire takes on gappies.

Kintbury link for anyone else who might be interested.

Thanks, that sounds great too. Am asking for brochures from all these people.

We go to Ashburnham Place every year. They also have gappies from all over the world. It's near Hastings.

We pay a fortune to go there, but they only pay their "volunteers" a pocket money of £25 per week, with all living expenses taken care of.

www.ashburnham.org.uk/volunteering

Thanks, have asked them for more info.

All of these sound really interesting and tempting.

I went & volunteered on Iona when I was 18. Was the making of me!

Pilsdon Community for anyone else who's looking...

Can you say a bit more about it, IntheSunshine? I'm thinking this thread will act as a useful resource for other MNers, too, so not just for me and ds!

Iona is amazing.

Another vote for Iona!

I mentioned Iona, because even as a dyed-in-the-wool atheist, it feelt like a really welcoming, nurturing place.

Thanks so much. Iona does sound fantastic. I think I'll have to go, let alone ds! For him, I am hoping he might get personal development/nurturing from it, as well as spirituality.

I've just been on Iona (not at the Community, just as part of a general holiday) and it's really a special place, and it feels very safe and nuturing, yes.

It was my mum who suggested made me go. She found out about it through the church. I wasn't a church goer then ( still not one) but that didn't matter.

I was a volunteer there for 6 months. Looking back it helped me to grow up, taught me some manners, tolerance, gave me some much needed self confidence & I made some life long friends. It taught me that I was lucky to have grown up in a stable family.

I loved the island so much I worked there ( not in the Iona Community) for another 4 summers!

In the Sunshine, snap (without the Community bit...) - when were your 4 summers?

Icouldbeyou from 1995 onwards. What about you?