Join our vibrant Buddhist community in Leeds, UK
Last activity
: 9 Jul 2025
Profile information
Usually responds within 5 days
Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks
Workawayers needed
Possibility that workawayers are needed
No availability
Details
Host ref number: 811488536978
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Feedback (14)
Left by Workawayer (Dana) for host
I volunteered at the meditation centre during May and part of June, and I truly loved my time there. One of the most valuable aspects for me was being able to join the meditation classes, I learned so much and deepened my interest in this beautiful practice, which I definitely plan to keep studying.
The centre is a calm and peaceful place in the
… read more heart of a vibrant city like London, which I really appreciated. It felt like a perfect fit for me. I also had the chance to meet people from all over the world while helping out, which made the experience even more enriching.
My tasks included housekeeping, flyering, and assisting in different classes and events. I enjoyed all of it and always felt that my help was appreciated. Rob is a lovely person to work with, kind, understanding, and full of positive energy.
I’m very grateful for this experience and highly recommend volunteering here.
Left by Workawayer (María) for host
Sorry it has taken me so long to write this feedback :( It wasn't because I didn't enjoy my experience in Leeds; on the contrary, it exceeded my expectations! I spent around two weeks there in July of 2024, and I keep truly fond memories of that time. The best part was the people I met there (Vincent and Katherine, Natalie, Lin, Tumo, Luna, Dan,
… read more Rebecca...); everyone was kind and open. I felt very welcome, both at the center and at the house where I stayed. I had a small bedroom of my own and the house was very quiet at night, which I appreciated. I cooked my own meals at night, but there was always food in the kitchen that the center shared with the people staying at the house.
Vincent was very helpful and patient with me, giving and repeating instructions. He would either drive me to the center downtown, or pay for my bus rides there.
I worked the hours I was supposed to, but I also had plenty of time in the afternoons and days off to explore Leeds and nearby places, like Harrogate or York.
At the center, I was invited to take part in meditation and teaching sessions, for which I am very grateful.
At the end of July almost everyone went to the International Buddhist festival in Ulverston (Lake District) and I joined them for a few days. I hand't planned on it, and I am so glad I went. Dan and Rebecca took me there in their car, and they also lent me a tent, so that I could camp with other people from the center and/or the house. It was a beautiful event, with people from all around the world, and the location is breathtaking. I would recommend it to everyone. In fact, I hope I can go back at some point, so that I get the opportunity to participate in the teaching sessions of the festival. If I returned to Leeds on a workaway, I would repeat this experience. No doubt about it! :) Thanks so much to everyone.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by Workawayer (Isabella & Jorge) for host
This was our First Workaway Expirience, and we felt really glad with this opportunitty. Vincent, Luna, Joseph, Katherine, Jude, Sandro, Gen donyen, and every person that we have the opportunity to share were really amazing, all of them helped us a lot with our English.
We also enyojed each the class, that we could joined!
I can recommend this
… read more experience for everyone that want to be a part of a truly community.
Thanks for all Vincent!!You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Isabella & Jorge)
Isabella and Jorge are some of the best helpers we had in 3 years! Very happy people, very helpful, generous and flexible. We wish we could have them for longer! And we would have them again anytime!
Feedback
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(4.9)
Left by Workawayer (Dana) for host
I volunteered at the meditation centre during May and part of June, and I truly loved my time there. One of the most valuable aspects for me was being able to join the meditation classes, I learned so much and deepened my interest in this beautiful practice, which I definitely plan to keep studying.
The centre is a calm and peaceful place in the
… read more heart of a vibrant city like London, which I really appreciated. It felt like a perfect fit for me. I also had the chance to meet people from all over the world while helping out, which made the experience even more enriching.
My tasks included housekeeping, flyering, and assisting in different classes and events. I enjoyed all of it and always felt that my help was appreciated. Rob is a lovely person to work with, kind, understanding, and full of positive energy.
I’m very grateful for this experience and highly recommend volunteering here.
Left by Workawayer (María) for host
Sorry it has taken me so long to write this feedback :( It wasn't because I didn't enjoy my experience in Leeds; on the contrary, it exceeded my expectations! I spent around two weeks there in July of 2024, and I keep truly fond memories of that time. The best part was the people I met there (Vincent and Katherine, Natalie, Lin, Tumo, Luna, Dan,
… read more Rebecca...); everyone was kind and open. I felt very welcome, both at the center and at the house where I stayed. I had a small bedroom of my own and the house was very quiet at night, which I appreciated. I cooked my own meals at night, but there was always food in the kitchen that the center shared with the people staying at the house.
Vincent was very helpful and patient with me, giving and repeating instructions. He would either drive me to the center downtown, or pay for my bus rides there.
I worked the hours I was supposed to, but I also had plenty of time in the afternoons and days off to explore Leeds and nearby places, like Harrogate or York.
At the center, I was invited to take part in meditation and teaching sessions, for which I am very grateful.
At the end of July almost everyone went to the International Buddhist festival in Ulverston (Lake District) and I joined them for a few days. I hand't planned on it, and I am so glad I went. Dan and Rebecca took me there in their car, and they also lent me a tent, so that I could camp with other people from the center and/or the house. It was a beautiful event, with people from all around the world, and the location is breathtaking. I would recommend it to everyone. In fact, I hope I can go back at some point, so that I get the opportunity to participate in the teaching sessions of the festival. If I returned to Leeds on a workaway, I would repeat this experience. No doubt about it! :) Thanks so much to everyone.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by Workawayer (Isabella & Jorge) for host
This was our First Workaway Expirience, and we felt really glad with this opportunitty. Vincent, Luna, Joseph, Katherine, Jude, Sandro, Gen donyen, and every person that we have the opportunity to share were really amazing, all of them helped us a lot with our English.
We also enyojed each the class, that we could joined!
I can recommend this
… read more experience for everyone that want to be a part of a truly community.
Thanks for all Vincent!!You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Isabella & Jorge)
Isabella and Jorge are some of the best helpers we had in 3 years! Very happy people, very helpful, generous and flexible. We wish we could have them for longer! And we would have them again anytime!
Left by host for Workawayer (Workaway member)
Kane was helping us to clean the temple, do some diy and maintenance. He was always on time and reliable to do the work we asked him to do and doing it well. He showed a real wish to do things with care.
He also showed a real interest in our meditation classes. A good worker and a good guy overall.
Left by Workawayer (Workaway member) for host
Leeds is an amazing city. Had some amazing experiences with the other working visitors and house guests as well as many of the outside religious community. Vincent and Catherine are great hosts. I went back to this place on more than one occasion. The house is in a quite and safe part of the suburbs with many trendy restaurants nearby. The temple
… read more is beautiful, very modern, in a city centre location, hope to see the new extension completed, at this point it may be unbeatable, Cheers.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
It was a good experience, Vincent is very kind, clear to give you all the recommendations to do the job and to moving on the city. My work was basically clean the temple when I finished is early afternoon and go around jn the city. One day they inviting me in a lovely dinner of their group. The room was clean, tidy, and warm. Furthermore all
… read more people who live in the house are friendly, it is nice knowing all their personal history. I was in April. For practice your English is so so because cleaning is a lonely job, just you and the uber... Thanks Vincent for the opportunity
Left by host for Workawayer (Sergio)
Sergio is helping us on a weekly basis to clean the temple. He is always on time and reliable to do the work we ask him to do and doing it well. He shows a real wish to do things with care.
He also shows a real interest in our meditation classes. A good worker and a good guy overall.
Left by host for Workawayer (Mariamm)
Having Mariam with us was great fun! She's very curious and positive and takes on any job you ask her to do. She was a brilliant addition to the centre for the three weeks she was here and we will miss her!
Left by Workawayer (Mariamm) for host
Thank you Vincent for this amazing experience.
I spent 3 weeks with the community and I had the chance to share really interesting conversations about Bouddhisme but also about various subjects.
The work was mainly about cleaning the center, in exchange I had my own room in a lovely house and the opportunity to enjoy the meditation classes, wich
… read more were amazing.
I recommande 100% this experience.
Left by host for Workawayer (Santiago)
Santiago is a wonderful person, very positive and caring and we were lucky to have him with us. He's very open minded and his energy radiated throughout our community. He's also very keen to do any task from cleaning to diy or even computer skills and I would recommend him to any host. We hope to see him soon again!
Left by Workawayer (Santiago) for host
I'm so thankful for being able to volunteer in that special spiritual place in the center of Leeds with a beautiful Buddhist community learning incredible life lessons for the rest of my life as the meditation taking and giving, understanding how the mind works and how to develop my spiritual path taking the magical energy and teachings from the
… read more Guru into my heart and living from compassion and wisdom.
I will definitely come back one day, this is my spiritual home because my religion is love and compassion is a pillar that this unique community lives with, thanks Vince, Katherine, Gen Rabten, Joseph, Nathan, Dan, Danny, and all the people that was part of my experience.
If you experience this volunteering I recommend you to go to the classes from the spectacular spiritual leader Gen Rabten, I got many life lessons in his classes, and it would be great if you can learn from his wisdom.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Nathan)
Nathan is a great workawayer. He's willing to take on anything from diy to cleaning to gardening etc. He's very reliable and he fitted really well in our community. I would recommend him to any host and his interest in our meditation classes was a proof of his openness of mind and wish to improve himself. Very good experience overall!
Left by Workawayer (Nathan) for host
Vincent is a super host. He is clear and concise about the daily work routine and always there to help if needed. My duties were mainly cleaning the centre, leaflet distribution and a small amount of shop and cafe work where I was able to speak to the guests and gain some wisdom from the residents and other staff members. The teacher gen Rabtan
… read more was great and I was able to attend all the Tuesday night classes which I enjoyed greatly as my first taste of Buddhist meditation. I would highly recommend this place to anyone wishing to visit Leeds. It's a vibrant city with a nice cool feel about it and decent vibes. Cheers guysYou can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Colin)
Colin is a five star workawayer! Always willing to do anything from diy, to cleaning, to gardening and even making great coffees!
Colin fitted really well within our community and we will miss him. Very gentle and open-minded we would recommend him to any host.
Left by Workawayer (Colin) for host
I've stayed here twice and had very interesting stays both times. I've learnt much about Buddhism from great people who've been more than happy to share with me their pearls of wisdom, though I left still wanting to know more. I've been allowed to participate in 2 evening classes each week and some lunchtime meditations, which have been both
… read more inspiring and enriching.
The work has been varied, which i've enjoyed. There's been leaflet drops in Leeds city, helping in the cafe, cleaning, and diy jobs round the centre. Vincent and Catherine are great hosts and take a lot on, running the Buddhist centre and the seperate shared house where the workawayers, and many others stay.
If you want to learn about Buddhism or discover this beautiful part of Yorkshire, then here is a great place to start
Simone was a great volunteer for us. She brought her smile and light heartedness to us all and everyone will miss her very much here. She's also a good worker in that she can turn her hand into anything and one of her main quality is her constant wish to learn new things on a practical and a personal level.
We hope she'll be back one day :)
A wonderful 2.5 weeks !
Although I only stayed with Vincent, Catherine, and all the others for 2.5 weeks, I enjoyed every single day surrounded by lovely company and inspirational teachings.
The work I did was mostly covering the reception, cleaning, handing out leaflets in shops, running errands, helping out in the shop/cafe, and other ad hoc
… read more jobs around the meditation centre. The chill work was interwoven with the mediation classes I had the chance to attend - and how I wish I could have stayed to finish the courses hehe.
Vincent and Catherine are wonderful hosts, always ready with a helping hand and a smile. Calm, funny, and caring sound like much but do not suffice. The same goes for the rest of the team and the residents at the house, actually. I got the chance to live with both Buddhist monks, Buddhists, and 'laypeople' - beautifully orchestrated in a melody of compassion and openness.
Leeds was amazing as well - with a lovely centre, ballet, a beautiful canal and a wonderful demographical diversity. Full of nice people, both the random people you meet in shops and the guests at the meditation centre.
Thank you !
Left by host for Workawayer (Lucy)
Our time with Lucy was great. She's flexible and enthusiastic in the tasks she's asked to do. She was of great help in general and fitted very well within our community and showing real interest in our classes of meditation. I would recommend Lucy without a doubt!
Left by Workawayer (Lucy) for host
I had a great stay at this place in Leeds :)
You get your own room and stay in a big house in a nice neighbourhood, 15-25min by bus from the city centre of Leeds. I was doing painting, cleaning and distributing leaflets for the Meditation Centre. The people in the house are all really nice and interested in buddhist practice and very open to
… read more meeting new people (if you're nice to them of course ;) You get to go to the lectures on meditation and buddhism in the Centre for free which is really nice and the teacher's I experienced were really good! Good to know is: you get money to buy your own food - you will always be making your own meals and need to pack your own lunch if you want some at the Meditation Centre. You are not allowed to eat meat or drink alcohol in the house which seems to be very strictly followed.
Thank you Vincent!You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by Workawayer (Valentina) for host
In general it was a good experience.
The positive part is that I met really nice people that were living in the house or volunteering too, and I get really along with them, we had our own room (the volunteers stay in the basement ), we get 30 pounds per week to buy our food (which is enough ) we could cook in the common kitchen, and we can join
… read more all the classes at the meditation center. Also I had some problems when I arrived in my first room (it was smelling mold and I´m allergic) but Vincent had a solution about this, so I was glad.
We normally used to go to the meditation center by car with Vincent in the morning and we helped cleaning (mopping and clean the bathrooms), organizing the room for the meditations, hoovering and I also did some painting, the rest of the day you can do whatever you want and if you take the bus to go back home, keep the tickets because Vincent will give you the money that you spend back.
The negative point is that I was putted in a situation that happened in the house, that I was not supposed to be, and I felt really uncomfortable about this, because the community house has around 10 or more people living there and the only probable ´´ guilty ´´ was me and another volunteer, so I felt this was really unfair taking in consideration that there is a lot of people in the house.
Besides that I appreciate the opportunity and the time that I had.
ThanksYou can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Diana)
Diana was a truly inspirational person. Always calm and happy to do anything. We will miss her very much!
May you have a future full of exciting and meaningful experiences! And you're always welcome to come back ☺️
Left by Workawayer (Diana) for host
Hi guys 😊
I have no words to describe the time spent in this center. I left one day ago and I already miss you. Here I found a part of myself, I met wonderful people. I can only be grateful for all this. Vincent and Catherine are very kind and helpful. You will remain in my heart. I hope to see you again one day. I recommended it because for me it
… read more was great. You are all wonderful and I wish you more and more success in your spiritual journey.
I learned new things and it was a pleasure to spend time with other volunteers and residents of the house.
Thank you for this opportunity and I wish you all the best 🤗You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by Workawayer (Nikolas) for host
Happy Days!! :)
I stayed at the Buddhist centre for 6 weeks and would highly recommend this place!
This is a brand new centre right in the heart of Leeds.
While I was there we were working on some final projects before the big opening day.
I got involved in cleaning, sanding and painting a 2-flight metal staircase.
Cleaning the centre, flyer
… read more distribution, wall painting, removing floor tiles and fitting wooden flooring.
Vincent is a very nice young man full of ambition. Very polite, respectful and a pleasure to work with. Great communication skills and always open to suggestions.
We also had some great laughs!
The house is about 3 miles away from the city centre. It’s a communal house with about a dozen residents plus volunteers. I had a spaces private room, with shared bathroom and kitchen. Volunteers get £30 a week for food and you cook for yourself.
I got to meet and spend time with some very nice volunteers and residents.
Leeds is a very vibrant city with a lot to offer. But if you are more into nature, there is a beautiful park, 5-minute walk from the house, with lakes and woods.
Wishing you all the best for the Opening Day! Thank you for this experience!You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Nikolas)
Nikolas was a great worker for us and he became a good friend. He's very responsible, personable and very thorough when he has a task to accomplish. He's also a good communicant and listens well. I would recommend anyone to have him as a helper!
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Information for those planning to visit the UK
Please note due to the UK leaving the EU, freedom of movement from the EU to the UK ended on 1st Jan 2021. If you are not a UK citizen, Irish citizen, settled status holder, Commonwealth citizen with the right to abode in the UK, BNO passport holder with valid visa or have a Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme (working holiday) visa and you are entering the UK to work or study you may be refused entry to the UK after Jan 1st 2021 unless you have the correct visas and permits in place. To find out more information about visas and work permits for your nationality you need to contact the embassy in your home country BEFORE travelling.
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