Today’s youth are the most disillusioned generation in living memory. Everything feels too relative or absolute to imagine real change. Young bodies and souls in a self-terminating system are often out of touch with that spark that makes life worth living, with where and whom we belong to. 

Politics is about navigating our individuality and togetherness in the pursuit of human flourishing. In a society that is obsessed with breaking things down to the smallest possible units, we have a politics where we are driving ourselves all together, while looking straight into our lanes, off the edge of the world. Beyond electoral politics, beyond parties that are two sides of the same coin... 

It is time for those of us who haven’t given up to embrace political economy again. We must remember our non-separate (and thus inherently political) selves as a key to collective agency. For if we don’t, we give up on living, together.


Want to read more about the next Political Generation? See here.

This is a week-long gathering for 18-35 year olds who, like us, are grappling with these questions and long for a space to explore them with depth, honesty, and connection. We will gather for five days, in a space of restoration and brave inquiry for people aged 18-35 who are wandering off the beaten track to find our place in this stormy world. During this time, we will hold dialogues about what it means to be political today, in the deepest sense of the word. We will also explore practices like ecstatic dance, tai chi, beathwork; all while learning how to live together in community by camping, cooking, gardening,  cleaning, and living together.

Over five days, we will gather in nature to:

  • Share – stories, silence, song, and sacredness.

  • Embrace mystery – How do we stay whole in a time of unraveling? How do we navigate both beauty and illness in this world? How to live meaningfully in a rapidly changing world?

  • Face the mess we're in – Honouring our feelings about the world in times of crisis and possibility.

  • Reconnect – With land, lineage, with ourselves and each other, with the practical and creative skills we need to traverse these times

  • Imagine – the wisdom of the past can unlock possibilities ahead: What kind of future do we long for? What can we learn from both ancient traditions and emerging ideas? What pragmatic steps can we take in our lives today?

  • Get our hands dirty! Learning and volunteering on a land regeneration project a few hours each day. Yes, this includes hanging out with goats.

No particular background or belief system is required—only a willingness to step together into the unknown.

When? September 3-8

Where? Furnace Brook, Kent

Who? People aged 18-35

Cost: £260 early bird, £240/person for couples and friends, £300 full fee, £400 supporter rate (if you are sponsored by an organisation or able to give more)

Organisers: Jadzia Tedeschi and Liam Bureau

Deposit: to secure your spot, we will ask you to make a £50 non-refundable deposit

Room & Board

We’ll be camping and mostly cooking on an open fire and using compost toilets. Eco hot showers are available as well as hot water for tea, etc. There are 6 bell-tents on site which can hold up to 4 people each, though we are defaulting to 2-3 people per tent. If you have issues sleeping, you can bring your own tent but unfortunately we cannot provide single room solutions. The total group size we are aiming for is 20-25.

More about Furnace Brook

It was crucial for us this year to gather in a place where we could witness and support people who’ve taken risks to ‘walk the talk’. Apart from the grazing goats on premises and on-site tap-room (providing real ales brewed by none other than our host Di!), just a few hours South of London, Furnace Brook will greet us with eighty acres of farmland, lakes, meadows & old farm buildings that are becoming a home for thriving wildlife, regenerative farming & a growing family of nature-based enterprises. Its vision is to connect people of all ages with nature & with each other. Furnace Brook partners with local farms & schools to help children understand where their food comes from, supports local residents to grow produce for their community & facilitates a Community Gardens Network to engage older adults, isolated individuals, young people & those navigating mental health challenges.

We want to create a space that is safe, supportive, and nourishing for everyone. By joining, you agree to:

1. Respect for the Group & Space

  •  Engage with kindness, openness, and confidentiality—what is shared in the group stays in the group.

  • Respect different perspectives, backgrounds, and spiritual traditions.

  • Participate to the best of your ability, while honouring your own boundaries.

2. Wellbeing & Responsibility

  • This residency is not a therapy space. While deep emotions may arise, you are responsible for your own wellbeing.

  • If you are struggling, please reach out to a facilitator, but know that we are not trained mental health professionals.

  • You are responsible for your own physical and emotional safety during the retreat, including any time spent in nature or engaging in activities.

  • This is a drug free space.

3. Logistics & Practicalities

  •  Accommodation and meals are included, and we will do our best to meet dietary needs - you must let us know of any allergies in advance.

  • You are responsible for arranging your own travel to and from the retreat.

  • Deposits are non-refundable, and cancellations within 14 days of the retreat will not be eligible for a refund (unless in exceptional circumstances).