Our Story
Our community, like many others around the world, was badly impacted by Brexit, Covid, and the energy crisis.
On top of this, two of the key buildings at the heart of community life - the community centre and sanctuary (our meditation hall) - were burnt down.
It is more than three years since the fires and one year since the Findhorn Foundation Trust paused operations, before stopping altogether in Nov 2023.
The winding up of FF has been devastating to our local economy, with the loss of all 150 jobs the Foundation provided, and the £5 million a year of economic impact we formerly had across the region.
The buyout - with full community ownership, oversight and democratic leadership - is using the power of community to get us back on our feet and regenerate our economy soon!​
It is time to get the community back on its feet, bringing our magic back to the world!
The Buy Out Story​
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In May 2023, aware of the financial struggles of the FF and fearing the worst, John Talbott, Durten Lau, Maria Cooper and Michael Shaw, founded Ecovillage Findhorn Community Benefit Society. The NFA (our community association) then appointed Rupert Davis as their community buyout coordinator, leading community education and engagement on the topic, creating belief in the possibility, and growing membership.
The founding Directors conducted a deeply engaged community nominations and election process for the inaugural election in November 2023, each of them gracefully stepping down, and a new board of six were duly elected. Over the next months Rupert & Mari Hollander, as Co-Chairs of EF, negotiated a deal with Terry Gilbey (FF CEO)and Mark Anderson (FF Chair) and the rest of the FF Trustees in a collaborative, friendly process, focused on the good of the whole .
The EF team grew the membership base further; initiated subscriptions; conducted a series of presentations, polls and major votes from members on the buy out (which elicited huge support with over 90% agreed); engaged two sets of lawyers ; and raised over £415,000 of community investment through a 5% community bond issue, loans and donations.
This combination of community democratic backing and community democratic finance allowed the first two stages of the purchase to be completed on Nov 18th 2024 - sixty two years and a day after Dorothy, Eileen, Peter and the Caddy family arrived in the Park (click here for that story!)
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After a one year term, as promised, this first elected board stepped down in November 2024, having run a similar nominations and election process to the prior year, but making sure non-Resident members also had representation on the Board and allowing a wider talent pool to be drawn upon. A new board of eight were elected, included three previous members for continuity. ​
As of December 2024, we are busy partnering with Moray Council, the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) and the Scottish Government (Scottish Land Fund); as well as building our young team.
Soon we will open our doors again so that students and guests from around the world can return to learn from our sustainability demonstration campus (Outer Action), as well as continue the non-denominational spiritual and nature-connective practices we are famous for (Inner work).​ We are really looking forward to hosting you again soon!
Page last updated 12th Dec 2024