New Beginnings for Findhorn Foundation SCIO - A letter from the new trustees
The opening of the Light of Findhorn Sanctuary was celebrated by our community in April 2025, photo: Mark Richards
Dear Friend,
The last time you heard from us was in July 2025 when we passed over the torch of custodianship for Erraid to the Van der Sluis family after we had said goodbye to Terry Gilbey (CEO) and Andrew Powell (Education Manager), paused our educational offerings and closed our beloved retreat house Traigh Bhan on the island of Iona. Since then much has changed and we are aware that many of you have been left wondering what has been happening and very importantly what is going to happen next. We apologise for the long gap in communication which has been a consequence of a deep process which feels like a metamorphosis, taking us into an exciting time of new beginnings. The image which best describes this is that of the caterpillar transforming into a butterfly. There is a time when it has to enter the chrysalis to allow for the process of deep change.
Finally, now that the necessary changes are in place, we are able to update you on the current shape of things and very importantly answer the question many of you have asked:
“What is happening next?”
Many changes are happening at Ecovillage Findhorn, photo: Mark Richards
The Park Ecovillage Findhorn
Around three years ago an Education Circle was formed to share and discuss the ongoing experience of educational offerings in the community. These meetings were open to all, and gave rise to a deeper level of engagement which everyone who attended appreciated. The numbers in our Education Circle continued to grow! What was initially a small group had grown to 80 by the time the SCIO was ending its time on Iona. The trustees of the SCIO made an exploratory approach to the Education Circle focalisers, Jonathan Caddy and Christine Lines, proposing to them that they explore inhabiting the SCIO to give organisational support to what has felt to many of us is a new expression of our longstanding educational impulse.
Over two meetings this was proposed to the members of the Education circle, many of whom are educators, and it was a unanimous YES! The community asked for a pause to the evolving process and asked for a community vote for the new trustees. Although at times this felt like a long and somewhat arduous process, finally on 10th October 2025 our four trustees were appointed to the SCIO Board.
Here we are:
The new trustees of the Findhorn Foundation SCIO from left to right: Sara Trevelyan, Liza Hollingshead, Marilyn Hamilton, Angus Marland
You can get to know us a little bit better by reading our bios here:
And this is the story of our appointment and what we’ve been doing so far.
Erraid and Traigh Bhan
In July 2025 the custodianship of the Isle of Erraid was transferred to the owners of the island, the Dutch family Van der Sluis, who have registered the community as a SCIO and will continue to offer programmes throughout the year. Look here for more information on how to visit Erraid. Following this link you can sign up for the Erraid newsletter and we will also share more information about Erraid in our newsletter and on our blog soon.
Traigh Bhan on the Island of Iona is also undergoing a transformation under the loving care of Roger and Katherine Collis, who were given custodianship of the sacred Sanctuary fifty five years ago by Jessica Ferreira. They accepted the invitation from the Findhorn Foundation to re-adopt the legacy of Traigh Bhan and take it forward to establish a new charity to secure its future as a sanctuary open to all and a place of light and spiritual retreat. If you would like to stay connected, please sign up to the Traigh Bhan Iona mailing list here:
And you can read more about the plans for Traigh Bhan and how to stay connected here on our blog.
Katherine and Roger Collis will keep you updated about the retreat house Traigh Bhan on the Isle of Iona.
Ready to go
Now as we are ready to go - we are focussing not only on the educational activities at the Park but are excited at the opportunities to link with and inspire the global community. As trustees we are called to honour, support and preserve the spiritual legacy of our Founders as it finds a new expression through the living education offered in the ecovillage with opportunities to develop and extend this further afield.
May our global Network of Light shine its light brightly into the future.
We are looking forward to connecting with you as part of our global Network of Light and creating the future of the Findhorn Foundation SCIO together. If you would like to connect with us personally, please write to connect@findhorn.org. Your reflections, questions, and goodwill help us listen more deeply and act more wisely.
As Eileen shared, so many times:
“ When one door closes, another one opens. Expect that new door to reveal even greater wonders and glories and surprises. Always expect the very best from every situation, and see the very best come out of each one.”
With much Love from Findhorn, Angus, Liza, Marilyn and Sara
Interesting links at one glance:
Retreats, workshops and events at Ecovillage Findhorn
Latest news about Traigh Bhan on the Isle of Iona
News about The Isle of Erraid
What the new trustees of the Findhorn Foundation SCIO are up to
