Camp Organisation

Pre-camp work is done by the Organising Team, which is a group of 10 volunteers. Work areas include communications, logistics, finance, covering legal requirements, programme and workshop planning, kitchen, and ensuring that the event is held within the spirit and ethos of NVC. Most if not all of this team will attend the camp and become the Holding Team taking on these work areas and whatever else is needed to support the smooth running of the camp. The Holding Team will meet daily during camp and work collaboratively with the intention of embodying the spirit of NVC in all our processes.

 

During the camp we rely on participants’ help to cover the practical aspects of community life. We aspire to listen to people’s needs and see whether they can be addressed. We also aim to include participants in decision-making where practical, especially in planning themes of workshops and other activities through the week. We value interdependence, with the intent to both give and receive support within our capacities.

 

The Organising Team for 2026 is a group of 10 volunteers consisting of both relatively new and regular/annual Rainbow Mill-ers this year!

The 2026 ‘Organising Team’ in alphabetical order:

  • Amy Wilson 
  • Barney Phillips 
  • Clare Palmer 
  • Josef Pearce 
  • Kate Benton 
  • Kirstin Heidler
  • Lesley Grannon 
  • Ozge Altinkaya 
  • Richard Matthews 
  • Tom Hitchman 
 
 

At camp there will be a designated ‘Holding Team, that will meet daily to help camp run smoothly. This could be dealing with practical problems, making sure that people feel able to speak up, supporting anyone who needs help, and anything else that needs attending to.

The current confirmed Holding Team for 2026 are:

  • Amy Wilson 
  • Barney Phillips 
  • Clare Palmer 
  • Josef Pearce 
  • Kate Benton
  • Lesley Grannon 
  • Ozge Altinkaya 
  • Richard Matthews 
  • Simon McKibbin / Sinhaketu
 

The confirmed CNVC Certified Trainers that are supporting the 2026 camp are Clare Palmer and Sinhaketu / Simon McKibbin. 

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

  • Mindfulness teacher for University of Cambridge
  • University of Cambridge Mindfulness Associate
  • Breathworks Mindfulness-Based Pain Reduction (MBPR) Trainer 
  • DOT B  Mindfulness Teacher (MiSP Mindfulness in Schools Project) 
  • CNVC  Nonviolent Communication  (NVC) Trainer 
  • Focusing Practitioner & Teacher (British Focusing Association)
  • Samaritan volunteer
 

Find out more about Sinhaketu / Simon McKibbin here:

https://www.living-presence.co.uk/

I am really pleased to be part of the team for the 2026 camp. I attended almost all the Rainbow Mill camps in the first decade or so, with my family, and for several years was part of the Core Team.

 

The camp was an important part of our lives and contributed so much to my learning in living NVC in community. I became a certified NVC Trainer in 2013 and have remained inspired by the power of this process and philosophy to transform lives and social systems.

 

I love sharing NVC whether it’s the basics for beginners, supporting through mediation, working with conflict, grief, deep empathy and more. I’ve held and supported many other camps and residentials over the years, and in recent years I have also been part of the Death Awareness Space team at the Buddhafield festival. 

 

For more information and links to other events I am holding, please see https://nvc-uk.com/member/clare-palmer/