Faith and Friendships

Faith and Friendships: driving positive change in challenging times: 4th – 10th October 2025

We live in an increasingly polarised world with very few opportunities to get away and spend meaningful time with people of different backgrounds to our own. This Faith & Friendship retreat is for those engaged in the vital, often pressurised, and demanding work of building community, bringing people together across difference and seeking to nurture and implement values related to peace, justice, compassionate leadership. 

Gather with individuals of diverse faiths and backgrounds from across the UK and around the world. This week will be rooted in lived experiences, giving an authentic purpose for the learning by connecting it to a real-world context. We will develop practical skills, opportunities to listen and share wisdom and experiences, renew our confidence, and build new connections.  Together we will explore faith and belief in action, practical peace building approaches, deep listening, compassionate leadership and wellbeing.   

Using a range of practical, creative, interactive processes to facilitate learning we will: 

– Explore the challenges of trying to drive positive change 

– Create space to listen to peoples lived experiences 

– Discuss how the global impacts the local 

– Share insights and practical tools on how to build trust and have “difficult conversations” in communities 

– Take a deep dive into Practical Peacebuilding Approaches 

– Experience time in nature to reflect on individual practice and how individual beliefs inform our work and perspectives 

– Provide space to experience nature and learn how to look after our mental and emotional wellbeing

Programme leaders 
 

Wahida Shaffi has over 20 years’ experience working with diverse communities from across the UK. She is a qualified chaplain, social worker, vocational assessor and trainer, and author of the book Our Stories Our Lives: Inspiring Muslim Women’s Voices. She completed her MA in international politics at the University of Bradford’s Department of Peace Studies. 

Rev Sharon Edwards is a Presbyterian Pastor, Spiritual Director and Yoga instructor. Sharon is currently working with the Iona Community as Deputy Programme Director.  

Costs

6 Nights: £792 per adult, £396 for reduced rate – see our programme page for more information.