A Place to be Real Together

Blog

Explore Our Programme of Events
by Tony Jaques
Saturday 31st August 2024

Here's a link to our current programme. Have a browse!

We have a range of events including family events, quiet retreats, walking, working together, creative and musical activities, nature and environment focused, space to question and explore - and more!

 

Othona West Dorset is...

A beautiful seaside spiritual retreat...

combining the experience of community life...

with the arts, nature, contemplation & relaxation...

and, as we say, "the natural place to be real together".

 

You're new to Othona?

We hope you'll enjoy finding your way round this site. It's still being added to -... Read More

2024 Summer season - just a few of the lovely moments
by Robin Shaw
Saturday 31st August 2024

Wow! The 2024 summer season has just come to a close. What a beautiful time. Thank you to all who shared in it - visitors, vollies, facilitators, core. Thank you for making such a nourishing and fun community together. Following are just a few moments from the events...

(Photo: Picnic before Green and Easy event)

 

Supper before Counter Tourism event

Counter Tourists at Corfe Castle

... Read More

Othona AGM 2024
by Tony Jaques
Friday 30th August 2024

Our 2024 has now passed. But you can read reports and see videos of 2024 AGM and previous years by visiting this page: Participate as an Othona member.

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You are very welcome to attend our Annual General Meeting held in September each year - whether you are a member or not!
Currently the AGM is held online. See details of this year's AGM below.

 

AGM 2024 ONLINE

Sat 21st Sept 2024

10.30am to 12noon

Log in from 10.15am.

Join Zoom Meeting... Read More

Welcome to our new deputy warden!
by Tony Jaques
Sunday 30th June 2024

We are delighted to welcome Kathryn Brooks as our new deputy warden! Many of our regulars will have met Kathryn over the last couple of years. She has been with us as a vollie many times, so knows us well. We are excited to have Kathryn with us full time. More info will be shared in an upcoming newsletter. (If you would like to be on our mailing list, sign up here!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Othona Deputy Centre Manager - could this be you?
by Tony Jaques
Friday 15th March 2024

Photo: Young adults event to build the new stone fire circle!

Use your energy and drive to support our very experienced centre manager/warden to further develop the business and renew the buildings and facilities of our Christian retreat centre in Dorset.

At our centre we provide fun and restorative times for individuals and families.

You will live on the Dorset coast, overlooking The Chesil beach and Lyme Bay, in a 2 bedroom flat, with all meals and household bills provided. 

Salary £16,520.00, 20% employer’s contributory pension, 28 days leave including bank holidays and statutory days.

The centre is staffed by a small resident community who live by a simple rhythm of life described by our founder Rev. Norman Motley as “... Read More

A Guardian Reader's Wellness Tip: OthonaWDorset!
by Robin Shaw
Monday 20th November 2023

We are featured in the Guardian Newspaper's Readers' Best Wellness Breaks! Thank you so much to Charlotte Marples for your appreciation and recommendation. We hope to see you again soon.

If you are one of the Guardian readers who found your way to us via Charlotte's recommendation, and would like to be the first to hear of our upcoming events...

Join Our Newsletter :-)

We'd love to tell you about our events programme - from retreats to family holidays. But not all of it is published yet. Our events until May are here... Read More

Othona Community AGM - Saturday 23 September
by Liz Howlett
Wednesday 30th August 2023

This will be an online meeting, 10.30-12.30, on Saturday 23rd September

Papers will be circulated by email by 9th September

Written questions to Trustees to be emailed to communitysecretary@othona.org.

A link to this meeting will be made available nearer the time.

We hope to see you there.

New Digital Horizons for Othona
by Tony Jaques
Sunday 13th August 2023

We've begun a project to renew our websites and we're looking to refresh all of Othona's online presence. This means more people with interest and skills getting involved - not just staff members at the two Othona centres. Whether as part of the Website Development Working Group (even as project leader), or in other ongoing roles around social media and marketing, photo and video curating, or Google Workspace admin.

This one hour video presentation (passcode: r#YR316! to access), with Q&A, was recorded on Saturday 12th August. Do have a look if you're interested.

After... Read More

OthonaWDorset's New Chapel Heating Reduces Our Carbon Footprint!
by Tony Jaques
Wednesday 14th December 2022

Great news about our continuing bid to reduce Othona's carbon footprint. We have replaced the gas boiler heating the chapel and library by two types of air-source heat pump.

Within the same project we've also installed an Eddi energy diverter. This makes smart use of power generated by our photovoltaic panels. It will enable expansion of this renewables technology at Othona in the future.

Our project has been part funded by Low Carbon Dorset as part of the European Regional Development Fund and will save over 5.3 tonnes of CO2 each year. Thank you so much to these organisations for their support!

Pot Wraps! Energy Saving!
by Robin Shaw
Thursday 10th November 2022

Thank you to our Roll Ups gang for our new energy saving insulated thermal cooking bag (also called a wonderbag, or pot wrap). Enables us to cook porridge etc using a lot less energy.

A real community creation. The idea from Kathryn, the pattern by Eleanor, the sewing by Roll Ups crew, the cooking by chefs!

Boiling water and porridge - no further heating required

After 30 mins wrapped up.... Yummy porridge!