Embercombe is both a place and an organisation – a centre of inspiration, imagination, and action. Based on the edge of the Haldon Forest, near Exeter, we exist to accompany individuals, families, communities, and organisations in finding a new vision of their place in the world, and to discover a way in which our deepest personal needs can be met through service to others.

Our mission is to touch hearts, stimulate minds, and inspire committed action for a truly sustainable world.
We understand sustainability in terms of Peter Senge’s definition: A truly sustainable activity, family or business, efficiently utilises resources whilst taking into account the need for meaning and purpose, and recognising that human activities unfold within larger natural systems.

With organisations – our work is primarily focused around people – culture change, leadership development, team development, one to one coaching etc. We seek out corporate clients that are sincere in their desire to develop a way of doing business that places social and environmental responsibility at the heart of their business operation. We also offer courses, programmes, and volunteer activities for all other sections of our community - always towards the same mission.

Much of our work with individuals concerns assisting them in identifying their gift, vocation, and passion, and then doing all we can to assist them in turning this into a reality. Our courses make use of a variety of learning environments including our farm and market garden, greenwood crafts, theatre, music, dance and storytelling, the kitchen, bushcraft, wilderness journeys, and our sea-going Dutch Sailing Barge ‘Volharding’ which is based in Crinan on the west coast of Scotland.

Accommodation at Embercombe is provided by our two Yurt villages sited in our beautiful wooded valley. Various other facilities are in the process of being completed. Although we are hosting various events at present and have a vigorous and highly motivated volunteer group, we don’t formally launch until later this year, probably during the late summer months.