PLACES FOR LIFE INTENSIVES

In 2025 Really Regenerative CIC published 3 important studies into the Enabling Conditions for Place-Based Community-Led Regeneration, the Capabilities for Transformative Change and The Relational Edge.  All three studies showed the way to build vital regenerative design and development capacity as a way to enable this transformative moment of unparalleled opportunity to lay the groundwork for a resilience, living systems based future for our economies, ecologies and cultures.

For the past 6 years Really Regenerative CIC has run online learning journeys in many different aspects of regenerative design but our signature learning journey Power of Place has stood out as the most successful at actively shaping not only theory but also practical application of that theory in times of complexity and uncertainty. Real systems change programmes have emerged from Power of Place: food systems transformation on the island of Jersey, bioregional economic transformation in Chanthaburi in Thailand, rural community cohesion in the Lake District, community land ownership in Minneaplolis to name just a few. It is a 9 month intensive learning journey.

We know that transformative change of our inner selves to be able to act regeneratively in the world is a long-time project. We have been asked consitently if we could offer shorter experiences.  Until now we have resisted that idea.

But things have changed. Evolution happens. There is much wider understanding of regenerative potential in the field of place-based work now than there was even 6 years ago. 

So in autumn 2025 we experimented with intensive group retreats over 3 and 4 days to see what could be achieved if we worked with groups who had enough shared purpose, were from an organisation that had a reasonable degree of regenerative readiness to learn and act, and could be held in a place with power to support intensive learning. 

We took the most powerful theory, practice and frameworks from Power of Place’s three core modules and wove unique experiences with the evolving intelligene from our three studies.  

We seek place-based organisations – whether single organisations, membership or collectives, community groups who urgently want to build future-fit resilience and regenerative capability this year. 

PLACES FOR LIFE – EVOLUTIONARY POTENTIAL OF PLACE.

A 3.5 DAY RESIDENTIAL INTENSIVE

The Capabilities Your Team Will Build

• How to identify the evolutionary potential of your ‘place’
• How to map and understand the underlying dynamics of separation in your ‘placeand their impacts
• How to design programmes that create ripple effects across the different nested systems in which you are situated for maximum regenerative effect and impact
• How to design and implement regenerative culture and practice
• Why and how working with evolutionary potential creates transformative change beyond problem-solving.

Additionally, they will:-

• gain an introductory understanding of the 7 foundational living systems design principles for Places For Life
• build understanding and capability in pattern literacy, framework thinking for creative innovation
• go away with practical ideas and processes they can implement immediately to catalyse the process of transformative change
• develop and practice collaborative co-mutual relationality

PLACES FOR LIFE: DESIGNING SYSTEMS EVOLUTION.

A 3.5 DAY RESIDENTIAL INTENSIVE

The Capabilities Your Team Will Build

• How to design long-term complex programmes that realise the regenerative potential of your Place
• Understand the role of Centres For Life and Regenerative Innovation Systems in creating Places For Life
• Understand how to shape regenerative developmental cultures, including social infrastructure such as communities of place & practice
• How to identify critical systemic nodal acupuncture points for transformative change in both urban and bioregional contexts

Additionally, they will:-

• gain an in-depth understanding of the foundational living systems design principle Nodal Acupuncture (for Transformative Change)
• learn from place-based transformative projects from around the world that Really Regenerative has supported including food systems, urban culture, urban regenerative enterprise programmes
• build understanding and capability in framework thinking for creative innovation
• go away with practical ideas and processes they can implement immediately to catalyse the process of transformative change

PLACES FOR LIFE: THE RELATIONAL EDGE

A 3.5 DAY RESIDENTIAL INTENSIVE

The Capabilities Your Team Will Build

Key principles and practice for Regenerative & Right Relationship

• How to convene fields of energy in across multiple stakeholders
• How to design and implement regenerative culture and practice
• How to design and embed regenerative social infrastructure that keeps regenerative culture fresh, active and emergent
• How to use participatory inquiry as culture-building
• How to effectively make room for relationship-before-task and why it adds transformative value
• How to work effectively with resistance, dissent, disagreement, fear and anger

Additionally, they will:-

• gain an in-depth understanding of the foundational living systems design principle Vitalise Fields of Energy (for Transformative Change)
• build understanding and capability in framework thinking for creative innovation
• go away with practical ideas and processes they can implement immediately to catalyse the process of transformative change
• develop and practice collaborative co-mutual relationality

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Who are these programmes for? Who will benefit?

Organisations who are ready to develop a regenerative role in the evolution of the ecological, economic and cultural systems in which they are embedded.

Organisations who want to build future-fit leadership capabilities for senior and emergent talent will benefit. 

How can we join one of these programmes?

Unlike our online open learning journeys, these programmes are for place-based organisations who want to commission and in-house learning and development programme in regenerative design. We will customise content to your specific stage of readiness and needs in a consultative pre-intensive process.

If we are an association or membership organisation, can we co-host a programme with you for our membership?

Yes we would be delighted to welcome membership organisations. One of our first pilot programmes was with the National Landscapes Association in the UK who brought together up-and-coming leaders from their different landscapes.

How many people can join a programme?

We can discuss this in our intitial consultation. We recommend groups of between 12-50 max.

Who leads and participates in the programme from Really Regenerative?

Each programme has a programme leader who is supported by the appropriate number of regenerative resources who support individuals and groups during the intensive. We bring one regenerative resource to support group work for each 10 people who participate. Programmes are lead by Jenny Andersson and Dr Al Mathers.

What are the options for venues?

Luckily there are many wonderful venues across Europe that have energy and power to host transformative gatherings all of which have different facilities, energy and cost. We will work with you to find the right one. We have worked with Hawkwood College in Stroud, Falkland Estate in Fife, Santuari de Lluc in Mallorca, a privately owned farm in northern Denmark.

What additional capabilities will our participants need to work on after these intensives? How will their development be on-going? Will they leave with capabilities they can implement with immediately?

There will be many practices they can implement immediately. But regenerative learning is by its nature an ongoing process that never ends. We would be happy to discuss an ongoing support programme for you at any time.

What do these programmes cost?

Each programme is tailored to your specific needs. The investment will depend on the number of people you want to bring and the location we choose together.