The Barn Retreat People

Tasha Bassingthwaighte

Barn Retreat Manager

Tasha was interested in spiritual practice from a young age and did her first Buddhist meditation retreat at the age of 18. She lived in Nepal, spending time with Tibetan Buddhists, and later moved to a dharma centre in France, deepening her experience and practice of Buddhism.
 
She has lived in various intentional communities in Canada, the USA, and the UK, and has worked in the realm of social services and social justice for the past decade, including community-building while working with refugees, immigrants, and women in poverty.
 
Tasha's inspired in her role by how The Barn works its magic on people. "In one of the early retreats I witnessed at The Barn, on the second day, a retreatant said that it was the most important thing they'd ever done in his life. He repeated it on the last day. The Barn touches people like that, myself included."
 
She lives in Totnes with her partner and her children.

Nina Jankelson

Assistant Barn Manager

Nina began practising mindfulness in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, attending retreat in Northern India and Nepal and later drawing inspiration from the Insight Meditation tradition and the teachings of Zen monk Thich Nhat Hanh.

A former residential coordinator at Sharpham's Barn Retreat, Nina has been facilitating meditations, ceremony and retreats for the past five years. Her practice is grounded in a connection to the land and in contacting moments of ordinary beauty and grace in the every day.

She is interested in exploring how contemplative practices can open up our experience of the world and is passionate about creating opportunities for others to do the same. 

Ben Murray

Volunteer Coordinator

Ben, 36, has been interested in philosophy and community for a long time and has experience living and working at retreat centres on Holy Isle and at Plum Village in France.

"It's probably one of the main reasons I was attracted to The Barn role, he said. "It's really quite similar to what they offer at Plum Village in terms of the nature connection, a big emphasis on community and, of course, the mindfulness"

Ben worked on the Happy Farm within Plum Village and therefore he'll be well suited to working and practising in The Barn's gardens. When he's not writing, drawing and crafting, that is.

Ben plays guitar, writes songs and has written and performed a show at the Edinburgh Free Fringe. 

The show was a children's story about a girl living on a remote island visited by nature spirits who lead her towards greater wisdom. 

He self-published and illustrated a book version of the story too, enjoys painting and drawing and has continued playing his guitar and songwriting since arriving at The Barn. 

"My creativity comes out more when I'm living in community," he said. "My wellbeing and practice is strengthened by being in community. I get a lot back from volunteering and giving."

Luciana Edwards

Barn Gardener

Luci first took up gardening aged three, when she had a carrot patch on her mum’s allotment. Since then she has gone on to train in permaculture design and has a MSc in Sustainable Agriculture focusing on soil health, which is her number one passion.

Luci has worked on organic and agroecological farms in Portugal, Nepal, Thailand and the UK. She has worked at The Barn as a kitchen gardener since January 2019, and enjoys producing food in close harmony with nature.

Luci also has experience of mindfulness, having undertaken an 8-week mindfulness course, as well as longer retreats at Sharpham, and continues her own practice at home.

Luci loves all things natural, so when she’s not in the garden you can find her exploring wild spaces with her family.

Hannah Cavender

Volunteer Coordinator

Hannah was introduced to meditation through an 8-week mindfulness course during her undergraduate degree. This sparked a curiosity which led her to attend her first retreat at The Barn a few years ago.

Her powerful experience on retreat opened the door to a regular meditation practice, further retreats, and delving deeper into Buddhist teachings and Insight Meditation. She also completed a 10-week counselling skills course in 2023.

Now joining The Barn as a coordinator, she is excited to support others on their journeys of self-discovery and connection through meditation.

Hannah is really interested in how mindfulness, community living, and connection to nature support wellbeing and mental health, particularly in the context of healing from trauma.

Emily Smith

Retreat Admin Assistant

Viren Jeram

Volunteer Retreat Coordinator

Viren is stepping away from his job as a manager in the National Health Service to become a Volunteer Coordinator at The Barn in September 2024.

He visited the Barn first in 2019 and has visited regularly as a retreatant.

“The Barn has become a spiritual home for me over the past few years and I’m really excited to be able to support others to experience the wonders of the practice and be nourished by it,” he said.

Viren is passionate about Indian classical music and plays the tabla.

Sophie Anna Gibbings

Volunteer Retreat Coordinator

CHANGESophie was introduced to meditation and living in community through an 4-week work exchange program with the Findhorn Foundation on Erraid in Scotland. This experience planted a seed to continue a regular meditation practice and an interest in Buddhist teachings.

Sophie is also an artist, with a creative practice that connects people to nature. “I have a longing for co-creation and seek a sense of oneness. I work with materials that can be returned to the Earth, without any harm to the Earth. I walk, observe, collect, and I listen to my materials instead of trying to control them. I see no separation between my creative practice and my spiritual practice, which for me is about letting go of control. My process is about connecting my inner landscape with the outer landscape.”

Now joining The Barn as a support coordinator, Sophie is hoping to help support others on their journeys of finding creativity within and connecting to nature through each individual’s spiritual practice.