There are multiple ways in which Gaia House can promote accessibility to Insight Meditation retreats. A prerequisite for meaningful discussion is firstly, the creation of a Code of Ethics which provides a foundation for wise communication; and secondly, leadership of the organisation by trustees who have a personal interest in Insight Meditation and are therefore motivated to promote accessibility.
When these two prerequisites are in place, it becomes possible for many options to be considered to increase opportunities to go on retreat for people who cannot currently afford to do so. The following suggestions are just a brief snapshot of some of the many possiblilities:
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To ensure that all people requesting the FAB fund are provided with this support. To remove restrictions which currently ration the number of places per retreat for those who cannot afford the usual charges.
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To investigate ways in which Gaia House can facilitate the creation and development of other charitable organisations providing Insight Meditation retreats in hired venues. Gaia House retreats are full and have waiting lists and clearly there is an unfulfilled wish by many people to go on retreat. New organisations providing retreats could be developed if financial support was available for them. Gaia House could use its considerable financial reserves to do this. Gaia House could also enable these organisations to fundraise by publicising their work. Guidance on collaborating with other charitable organisations is given at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/choosing-to-collaborate-how-to-succeed/choosing-to-collaborate-helping-you-succeed
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To end the long-term practice of increasing retreat charges in excess of inflation. If there is a continuing wish for continuing improvement to comfort and convenience in Gaia House, then for the costs of this to be covered by fundraising rather than by increasing charges.
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When inflation is high, to increase retreat charges at below the rate of inflation and use Gaia House’s considerable financial reserves to balance the books.
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To encourage retreatants who cannot afford to go on retreat to apply for financial support by (a) Being transparent about the fact that Gaia House has considerable financial reserves available and is not under financial pressure. (b) Making the FAB application form available as a download so that the psychological barrier of having to write to request it is removed.
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To encourage retreatants to feel permitted to pay the more affordable rates offered by Gaia House by amending the layout and wording of the 'Rates' section below each group retreat description on the trust's website. Firstly, to reverse the order of the rates offered so the lowest rates are at the top. Secondly, to amend the 'Basic' rate back to being defined as 'Standard' and to amend the 'Standard' rate back to being defined as 'Sponsor'. These changes will enable people to feel more comfortable paying the reduced rates and to feel a greater sense of entitlement to going on retreat.
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To encourage retreatants who cannot afford the FAB fund rate to request additional support by providing information on the website about the process of requesting additional support and how their request will be managed. As with the recommendation above to make the FAB application form freely available, this reduces the psychological barrier of claiming a reduced rate which most people in our society experience.
These changes would address the following concerns. Over the last twenty years opportunities to go on retreat at Gaia House have increasingly been restricted on the basis of ability to pay and Gaia House is increasingly exclusive. Charges for going on retreat have more than doubled in real terms, that is, in excess of inflation. Many people who cannot afford these charges do not feel comfortable claiming financial assistance and support and the availability of financial support is limited. The funds raised by increasing charges in excess of inflation have been used to increase comfort and convenience. Gaia House therefore provides an ever more comfortable environment for an ever smaller proportion of people in our society. For Dharma practice to bring meaningful change in our lives, it is necessary to have the opportunity for lifelong practice and this has been progressively eroded for many people.
Update:
In 2020 Gaia House made a financial surplus of over £100,000.
In 2021 there was a further surplus of over £20,000. The annual report for 2021 used the word 'business' to describe Gaia House, which is possibly the first time ever that an organisation set up as a Dharma centre has been described in this way.
In 2022 there was a deficit of about £80,000 due to significant reductions in retreatant numbers as a result of Covid.
In 2023 rates increased by 12.5% for group retreats and 13.5% for personal retreats, though inflation (as measured by the CPI, Consumer Price Index) for the previous year was only 9.0%. Gaia House rates for 2023 were probably set in autumn 2022 but even at that point inflation was 10 - 11%. So though inflation was higher than it has been in the UK for 30 years, Gaia House continued to increase rates in excess of it. In 2024 rates have increased by 6.5% for group retreats and 7.0% for personal retreats. Annual inflation in the previous year was 7.3% and in the early autumn of 2023 was 6.6% so increases in rates do appear to have been in line with inflation.