spring retreat 2026

Who We Are
Ritual + Ceremony
In-Person Events
song circles
spring retreat 2026
Online Events
Donations
- Who We Are
- Ritual + Ceremony
- In-Person Events
  song circles
  spring retreat 2026
- Online Events
- Donations

Spring Retreat 2026
SING A NEW SONG
Wiltshire, UK | April 23 or 24-26 2026
we currently only have 6 spaces remaining for this retreat so we encourage you to sign up soon!
At Yelala, we have always loved singing.
From the moment we arise, our tradition encourages us to encourage to sing praise-songs as a way of finding the flow that comes so easily to the more-than human beings of this world.
Join us for a rich weekend in which we will meet our own voices, and hear those of our ancestors as they rise up through sacred text, anthropology, folklore, and the power of song itself.
Ability to sing in tune is not required!
Please note, if we have not met you before, we may ask more detailed questions, so we can be sure we are a good match for you
How to apply:
Read the FAQs below to find answers to the most common questions
Click the button below to fill out form 1
If all is well and there is room, we will then send you an email with Form 2, which will confirm that you have been offered a place on the retreat.
:
Click here for Form 1
TESTIMONIALS FROM PREVIOUS PARTICIPANTS
I have enjoyed every part of this retreat and appreciate the care and thought put in by Rachel and Yael.
***
The weekend was restful and joyful. It has been good to make new friends, and meet old ones in person...Eat and drink wonderful food. Sing so much that my throat hurts, but my heart is so full with love and community - witnessing and caring for each other however we show up.
***
This weekend has given me tools to reflect and protect myself, sharing in a caring community which has felt like a home...I have felt held, and supported, and met.
***
I enjoy all the singing and practices around how this is led have helped me to heal my relationship with singing...Thank you for making a queer-friendly space.
***
This weekend was wonderful. I had time and space to be just me with no obligations. I met friends joyfully and made new friends and connections… I found peace and relaxation and a quiet mind…I felt truly free to be my unmasked self
Click this button to be first to hear when bookings open:
expression of interest form
Spring Retreat FAQs
About this Retreat
We are gathering again, and will celebrate Shabbat, and the return of Spring! We will make ceremony, sing songs, share meals, learn folklore and ritual, and enjoy being in the presence of each other. We will also learn some ritual skills to take home and make our own. We welcome Jewish folk and allies of all genders.
Time and Dates
The retreat will begin with lunch on Friday 24 April 2026, with an option to arrive on Thursday 23 April and will end after lunch on Sunday 26 April 2026.
We encourage participants to attend for the whole retreat, but:
If you have to arrive a little after lunch on Friday 24 April, we will save you a plate - please arrive by 1.45pm latest, as our first session begins at 2pm.
If you need to take your lunch away with you for your journey homewards on Sunday 26 April, that will be fine.
Please let us know if you want to arrive on the 23 April, as we can arrange bed and breakfast accommodation at the farm, and there is a guest kitchen where you can prepare other meals during the day.
Accommodation
Most rooms will be shared between 2-3 people. Before assigning you a room, we will check on any preferences you have, so that you are matched with a room-mate that suits your needs.

There are a few single rooms available, as well as rooms with double beds, and you will be able to request these. Cots are available for babies.
There is a supplemental charge for requesting a single room for yourself, and there are limited numbers available.
*SINGLE ROOMS ARE CURRENTLY FULLY BOOKED*

We will let you know if we have not been able to arrange your room as requested.
You can also stay off-site, and will be responsible for any transport to and from the Farm.
Costs
When you book the retreat, we ask only for your payment towards the farm's accommodation and catering.
After you fill in the sign-up form, we will send you details for how to pay us.
Your place on the retreat is confirmed when we have recevied that payment.
This payment is refundable at the discretion of Lower Shaw Farm, who depend on this income, and will be ordering food in advance of the start date.
This advance fee does not cover any of Yelala's time, accommodation, or labour, which we will request from you after the retreat has ended.
We hope that splitting up the payments makes it a little more manageable for you to join us.
At any time, Yelala and Lower Shaw Farm both reserve the right to right to refuse admission to the retreat to anyone who registers for the retreat. If this is done after a participant has made a payment, you will be refunded in full.

*2026 costs have not yet been released by the farm, so here are the 2025 costs as a guide*
2025 Costs For Staying On-Site:
In 2025 standard rate for food and accommodation for one person was £185 plus optional bedding at £20 per bed (i.e. if a couple shares a double bed, you will be charged £10 each).
In 2026 we know that the farm will switch to include bedding as standard, so the standard rate will be around £205
An additional Thursday night at the farm is £35 per person, which includes bedding, so the bedding charge above would be removed from your total cost.
There is an additional supplement for:
Requesting a private room (subject to availability): £80 additional (in total)
Additional adults who are not participating in the retreat (e.g. co-parents, carers, or dependents) will need pay the same fees, since this rate is for accommodation and food only.

Costs if you are Staying Off-Site:
The total cost from the farm for joining us Friday-Sunday staying off-site was £140, to cover food and some care of the farm. If you need to stay off-site for accessibility reasons, please contact us directly and we will help with costs if we are able.

Payments for Yelala are made after the retreat:
After the retreat, we will send you a link to make a contribution towards the cost of Rachel and Yael's work organising, designing and holding the retreat. Below is a suggested guideline. Please note that if even the lowest supported rate is a struggle, you can be in touch with us to arrange a payment plan spread out over time. Here are the 2025 rates.

Supported: £160-225
Standard: £225-350
Abundant: £350-550 (or more!)
Food
The meals provided by our venue are vegetarian (and delicious!)
We are also able to offer vegan, dairy free and gluten free options.
If you have more complex dietary requirements, let us know and we'll find out if / how the farm can accommodate your needs.
There is a kitchen you can use if you need to prepare some foods yourself.
Can I bring my child / co-parent / carer / pet?
Pets and informal support animals are not permitted at the farm.
Trained guide dogs, hearing dogs, and medical alert dogs are permitted.

Babes-in-arms can join retreat sessions, but we encourage you to bring an additional adult with you, so that you can have some time to yourself.
Children and other adults can join us for kabbalat shabbat, havdalah, meals, tea breaks, and social time.
We are keen to be accessible for those with dependents
On request, we and the farm can help parents and carers to find a local, qualified childcare professional, in order to share some childcare support, so that you can enjoy the retreat and trust that your children are well-cared for. Please contact us directly if you are interested in this.

All additional adults who are staying on-site will need to pay the standard rate of accommodation to the farm.
The farm's rate for children aged three and over is 50% the standard adult rate.
Families will not have to pay any additional supplement for having a room to themselves!
All additional adults who are staying off-site will need to let us know in advance which meals they will eat on-site and make a payment towards the farm costs, which the farm will calculate for us.
Children aged 2 and under stay on-site at no cost.
Accessibility
Our venue has an accessible toilet and shower, and accessible dining room / room for gathering, and some bedrooms that are wheelchair accessible, but no 'changing places' toilets, or beds with hoists or other adaptations for disabled users.
If this means that you need to stay offsite please speak with us so that we can contribute towards your costs if we are able to.
We will arrange all activities to take place at groundfloor level if participants' needs require this.
There are local cab firms with wheelchair accessible cabs available and we can help you to book them.
If you need to stay off-site

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Spring Retreat 2026

SING A NEW SONG

Wiltshire, UK | April 23 or 24-26 2026

TESTIMONIALS FROM PREVIOUS PARTICIPANTS

Spring Retreat FAQs