We are a team of 8 weird and wonderful humans who love to create, dance, sing, be in nature and learn about ourselves in a deep and honest way. We run a wellbeing hub and cafe space and are looking for those who wish to help our community grow and flourish. We have a huge 8000sq.ft. old methodist church, set over three floors that we have renovated into a space which holds a cafe, shops, sauna, floatation tank, a huge studio space and many therapy rooms.

We are looking for help in general maintenance, cleaning, painting the walls (murals and funky art needed!), tidying, organising and general running of the centre. There is a lot to do and we have many ideas for the growth of the space. This includes wanting to build an outside veranda where we can have a hot tub and sober bar. We also want to build a few more veg boxes around the outside of the space for growing our own food. We are looking for confident people who are good at using their initiative, we have set schedules for general daily jobs but once they are done we generally see what other creative things we can get to!

We are looking for an exchange of 5 hours work per day, 5 days a week, for food and accommodation.

We currently have a smaller downstairs studio which is currently being transformed into a dormitory which can sleep up to 6 workawayers. (We need help building bunkbeds)

Wether you stay a night or a few weeks, we want people who are looking for a fair exchan ge and for that be reflected in your request.

We also have a few therapy rooms which are not currently occupied which could also be accommodation for workawayers who are wanting to stay for longer periods.
Our main cafe/chill out space is a great space to work from your laptop, we have a few regulars who work from their computers in the space.

Our hub holds weekly classes of yoga, singing, meditation, dance and weekly men's and women's circles. Workawayers are welcome to take part in any of the classes for a reduced price if they are from outside facilitators or for free if the facilitators are part of our staff team. We have an abundance of interesting musical instruments that we love to play when we get the time in the evenings. The Calderdale valley is a place of natural beauty, with many wild swimming spots and hikes within a 15 minute drive. We also have people from all walks of life enjoying the space, there are always interesting conversations happening and creative projects being birthed in the space.

Everyone working at Sotapanna has experience of workaway in other countries, and we thought it would be a great addition to our growing space to invite people from all over the world to come hang out with us, create with us, sing and laugh and dance with us!

There is a bus stop right outside the building which can take you into the main town Halifax, where you can get the train to anywhere in the UK. Manchester and Leeds are within 1 hour on the train. The artsy town of hebden bridge (some call it the Glastonbury of the north) is 20 minutes on the bus, and the start of the Yorkshire dales are within 1 hour drive.

Fast wifi throughout the building.

We have a large carpark at the side/back of the building for campervans. No electric hook up though.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I have both surfed and hosted.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

so far, all good

Interests

I am seeking to know myself, through relationship with others, contemplation, meditation, plant medicine, experiencing.

• arts
• writing
• drinking
• crafts
• technology
• reading
• opera
• sports
• business
• science

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

The birth of my first child, the night sky in the unpolluted southern hemisphere, monkey the opera on acid.

Teach, Learn, Share

I know a bit about wood carving (from selling, not my own), japanese theatre masks, native american carving, balinese etc
I've ran a bar and have my own business selling wood carving and art/crafts. I have started to run workshops at my community centre, we are doing Sacred Rage through the Haka at the moment

What I Can Share with Hosts

truth, love

Countries I’ve Visited

France, New Zealand, Switzerland, Turkey

Countries I’ve Lived In

Philippines