Is your child struggling with anxious or unwanted thoughts? This summer, enroll them in our mindfulness sessions and give them the gift of calm and focus. Mindfulness is a powerful tool that helps children become more aware of their thoughts and feelings without judgment, fostering emotional resilience and self-regulation. Our sessions include activities like deep breathing, guided imagery, and mindful movement, all designed to reduce stress and improve concentration. Plus, mindfulness nurtures empathy and compassion, enhancing your child's relationships with themselves and others. Invest in their well-being and equip them with the skills to navigate life's challenges with confidence and ease. Book now!
Our daughter has had about five sessions so far with Lee and in the past she's never connected with anyone to help her manage her anxiety and depression. She's always felt others to be too Clinical. Lee's approach is very relaxed, calming, and outdoorsy. Allowing her to express and open up in a trusting environment and in a way that her mind and her brain has never been able to.
She's now accepting new ideas and embracing them to help her coping mechanisms. Lee is ultra understanding and patient. He concentrates on the individual for their specific needs and, as a parent trying to help our daughter since the age of 12, she's now 20. We'd given up hope. Hope of anyone outside the family unit being able to help her.
After seeing many people, Lee has been the breakthrough and almost like a key unlocking a huge door that's had much creativity hidden away inside. With Lee's powerful help and guidance, we see positive changes happening now. We just want to thank you, Lee, from the bottom of our hearts.
Here's what Headteacher Steve Jeffery had to say:
Dear Lee,
I am writing to express my deepest gratitude for the warm and thoughtful welcome we received at Ellasfield today.
From the moment we arrived, I was profoundly moved by the atmosphere—it carries a truly special energy.
The greeting from the pigs was nothing short of glorious, and the sign reminding me to breathe was a much-appreciated invitation to presence.
Our young people felt at ease and, more importantly, safe. That matters.
The walk to the Yurt marked the beginning of a deeply mindful experience, and stepping into that space felt momentous.
Seeing Thay’s The Way Out is In stopped me in my tracks.
Osian, one of our students and a devoted follower of Plum Village teachings, felt the same.
Sitting in a circle with these young souls was a privilege. I could sense their quiet engagement—though their reflections on the journey home were anything but quiet, as they eagerly shared their experiences with you:
"I will never eat a raisin the same way again…" "I am definitely going to try eating my lunch mindfully…"
Knowing them as I do, I cherished witnessing their responses as they absorbed the depth of what they had encountered.
As an avid listener of The Way Out is In podcast with Brother Phap Huu and Joe Confino, and as a musician deeply moved by the recent Plum Village album, I felt an immediate resonance with today’s experience.
I was saddened to hear of the recent fire in France and can only imagine the impact on the community.
Thay’s teaching have been instrumental in enabling me to survive on a planet that has never felt like home.
I also deeply appreciated you sharing part of your own journey with us.
It is vital—especially for young people today—to hear that even when life unravels, we can endure, rebuild, and emerge with grace.
If we are rooted in the present—in what is—the storms may rage around us, but they cannot consume us.
That message came through so powerfully today, and I cannot thank you enough for it.
There is so much more I would love to share, reflect on, and discuss, but I will resist the urge to say too much in the hope that my gratitude speaks for itself.
Thank you for creating this sanctuary. Thank you for welcoming us so warmly. Thank you for teaching us.
And, of course, thank you to the cat.
There is an urgent need to educate for peace.
While there may never be peace on Earth, we can each strive to be peace.
With love, light, and blessings,
Steve Jeffery
Mr Steven Jeffery
Headteacher
