Mini-break

Living NVC Together Retreat

North Pembrokeshire, Wales

Monday 3rd - Saturday 8th June 2024

Do you need time to restore your soul and your sanity and have space to be heard without judgment or unsolicited advice?

Would you like to spend meaningful time away from home with other people dedicated to learning and living NVC?

Are you wanting a space to find creative ways to think about your current life and how to change things for the better?

About the Retreat

The group will be deliberately small to support trust being built between us.
My aim is to create and hold a safe-enough container for you to:

name and explore challenges and stuck-places in your life
get empathy and support with aspects of NVC that you struggle with
feel touched and inspired by people’s life experiences, pain and joy.
experience the incredible and touching privilege of being witness to others’ stories
ask for what you want and need by way of NVC learning and practice
To bathe in our shared humanity

It is a space for us all to meet as equals in our shared humanity and enquire together and where you can bring live situations from home to explore through the lens of NVC.

My style of group holding

I do my best to ‘draw out’ rather than ‘push in' learning. My experience tells me that we all have our own well of wisdom inside us that we can tap into with the right support. I would describe my style of leadership as being a combination of holding a compassionate space for you to begin to articulate the challenges you are experiencing; asking gentle deepening questions to help you deepen your own understanding and to help you unearth fresh insights so that you find your own forward movement.

Nearly everyone from these retreats in the past have gone away feeling a combination of being ‘un-burdened’, inspired, kinder to themselves and others and with a sense of restored connection. I trust and hope that this will be the case for you too.

My wish is that you will return home with restored strength to face what you need to face, feeling
fuller-hearted and with more creativity than you arrived with.

Bookings opening soon…

Click here to register your interest

What do you need to know about NVC?

To support the intentions and vision of the retreat, I ask that most if not all the participants have a prior knowledge of NVC, having done the equivalent of a 2 day foundation training. If you are drawn to the retreat and yet have never done any NVC training, please contact me to discuss

I ask us all to be in the spirit of accepting each other for who we are as well as taking responsibility for our own feelings and needs. The invitation is for us all to connect so that natural giving to one another is possible - this will be an opportunity to extend in both directions - both stretching to say no to others’ requests when we would habitually say yes out of duty; as well as stretching to say yes to others when we might habitually say no out of fear.

Practical Information

Starts: Mon 3rd June 2023. Arrive from 12 noon

Finishes: Saturday 8th June 2024 - 11.30am

Location: Boncath, N Pembrokeshire. Come by car or train (Carmarthen Station). I can arrange to pick you up from station if needed.

Cost: £300 - £500 depending on your means and willingness to contribute

Accommodation: not included - You will need to find your own accommodation as I don’t have the space to put people up. I can help you find local B&B if needed.

Food: To keep the costs down and support group cohesion, we will take turns to prep. lunches and dinners together. I am a vegetarian household so I am requesting no meat or fish in the house unless you really can’t manage without it (in which case please discuss).

Rhythms of the day: The exact format of the days will be decided by us together. It will likely include daily group times to learn and share deeply, time for walks and rest, journalling and fun as wanted!

Numbers: There will be a maximum of 9 of us including myself

Testimonials

“ I want to acknowledge the big part you have played in my growth Penny. You provided a safe “holding” space I could lean into, and gave me trust, until I developed enough trust in myself. I could not have achieved this on my own. Thank you for believing in me, seeing past / through the spikiness! ”

— Therese B, Retired school teacher

It is very powerful to observe how Penny enables people to get in touch with themselves - staying with them in a truly empathic, supportive way”

— Jan, Retired Accountant

“ Thank you Penny, I hugely appreciated your presence, calmness, skill, persistence, integrity, warmth and and and... I really was blown away by how the call unfolded, and it felt such a privilege to see where we had all come to by the end of the call. ”

— Alice S, Author

“ I found Penny just as I was deciding to leave my marriage of twenty years. I was so sad and lacking confidence in myself. The clarity and relfection that she helped give me has helped me build a new life and learn much about myself on my way. I now trust my values and live by them. This has given me huge strength and courage.

I recommend Penny from the bottom of my heart and have nothing but huge praise, gratitude and admiration for her ability to empathise and guide one on one's way.

— Amy, Mother and Humanitarian

SOME OF THE BEAUTIFUL PLACES TO VISIT

Just 20 mins away there are beautiful ancient woodlands and waterfalls

Bookings opening soon…

Also within a 20 min drive there are various local beaches where we could have a stroll or a paddle

Click here to register your interest

Retreat Facilitators

I’m Penny Spawforth

I love holding these small retreats as it is so rewarding to watch people dare to be more themselves and to feel deep connection with people after such a short time.

Over the last 10-15 years I have run small Living NVC groups. Five days seems to be an optimum time for people to drop day-to-day stresses, recuperate some of themselves, explore what they need to and experience what it is like to be amongst people committed to living from a place of compassion and authenticity.

Bookings opening soon…

Click here to register your interest

FAQs

We will be meeting in a timber-framed eco house powered by solar in Boncath, Pembrokeshire. Our group time will be spent in a South-facing light and airy room and our meals will be held together round the big Oak table in open-plan kitchen.
All food will be vegetarian. Vegan and gluten-free diets are easily catered for. Any other dietary needs, please contact me to discuss
Yes, there is a ground floor toilet and no stairs needed to be negotiated through the day
There is no pressure for anyone to say anything they feel uncomfortable about sharing in the group. Sometimes people they feel they get enough by witnessing others speaking. That said, anything you chose to share will be welcomed and he’d with great respect
If you are needing to pay in instalments, please discuss this with me.
The nearest train stations are Carmarthen and Clunderwen. Both would need you to take a bus from the station - I could then pick you up from the bus stop (at no extra cost). Alternatively, at an extra cost, I may be able to pick you up from the train station and drop you back to it at the end provided I can coordinate this in one trip with all who want it.
I welcome any questions you may have. Please contact me here