The Festival of Listening - Corfu Buddha Hall - 21 June to 26 June 2026
The second annual International Retreat Week celebrating, building, and challenging our listening skills
40 hours
A Week's Retreat : Celebrating, Building and Challenging Our Listening Skills ...... We will welcome all to the first Festival of Listening 21 June to 26 June 2026 - Come and enjoy peace and harmony in Corfu offering a lifetime of skills for everyone, beginning with the spectacular Solstice Sunset Dinner on Sunday 21st June at 1700 to 2200. Two meals a day are included as well as all onsite music, learning, courses, and CPD.
From £750.00 inc VAT
Course Code: FOL 2026
The Second Annual Festival of Listening 21st June to 26 June 2026
20 hours CPD for professionals - a lifetime of skills for everyone
The Society is excited to confirm this second, enlarged and developed major event will be held in Corfu Buddha Hall in June 2026 featuring the finest mediation and listening minds on the planet. It is now open for booking - here!
* five three hour sessions on deep listening skills, techniques, and conflict resolution (led by leading international speakers and practitioners
* five two hour workshops by on deep listening and communication by world thought-leader John Campbell
* five one hour discourses on communciation and listening by Jonathan Dingle FRSA, Tristana Lauro, and Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence
* five two hour sessions forming an Introduction to Family Mediation led by Stuart Hanson - a leading FM practitioner, Family Justice, and College of Mediators member: these 10 hours will be credited against the full family mediation course run by Direct Mediation Services for those who wish formally to qualify but are also applicable to anyone who wants to work with and help families in turmoil.
* ten hours of fluency and development mediation skills sessions giving mediation practitioners their annual need
* five major discourses on mediation by world renowned experts on intimate listening, listening to ourselves, complete sensual listening, listening to passion, and listening to crime - followed by discussions and debate, and live music
* a Restorative Justice mediation demonstration led by experts with actors providing a qualifying observation
* ten fully catered networking sessions
The Festival is hosted by the Society's friends at Corfu Buddha Hall which is an astonishing venue with almost guaranteed sunshine and warm seas near Arillas Corfu https://arillas.com/#google_vignette. It is truly a great place for listening and learning.
It will be wonderful - and is open to the world: communicators, leaders, mediators, musicians, meditators, those interested in deep listening, lawyers, poets, and dreamers: all those who desire an intellectual and fascinating retreat, come alone or bring a friend, refresh skills with all new learning and - for mediators a chance to get CPD and ideas or chill with family.
Limited to 50 people - it will be really worthwhile week and a great break. Accommodation is available at €250 per week upwards and flights from the UK are currently £75 depending on airline and dates (the example is from Luton by EasyJet).
Contact our support desk [email protected] or +44 7854 142815 for more details
Who is this for?
This retreat festival is for everyone. It will directly benefit mediators and those in professions where deep listening is essential. But the wider subjects of intimate and complete sensual listening, of listening in conflict, and of listening to ourselves will provide a remarkable week of learning and re-learning for all.
Course availability
21 – 26 Jun 2026
Corfu Buddha Hall, Corfu
40 hours
Starts at:
Sunday 21 June 2026 5:00pm
Ends at:
Friday 26 June 2026 4:00pm
Cost
£750.00 inc VAT
Location details
- Corfu Buddha Hall
- Arillas
- Corfu
- Greece
- 49081
- Address: Magoulades (Souli), Corfu Island, Magoulades 490 81, Greece Phone: +30 2663 051941
Need Help?
Foundation training is at the core of all of the Society's accredited mediaiton training.
Need Help?Testimonials
What do learners think of our courses? Read a selection of course feedback from learners below.
This course was engaging, excellently delivered and thoroughly enjoyable! I would recommend this to lawyers and non-lawyers alike. The skills that you will learn on the course will be beneficial in various aspects of life, irrespective of whether or not you want to practise as a mediator afterwards!
Barrister, Government Legal Department
"An intensive, comprehensive and action packed course which allowed me to see beyond the theory to putting it into practice. It is one thing to read about a field of practice and quite another to try and do it yourself!"
Broadcaster and singer
‘The Society of Mediators course will both change your life and the way you look at resolving any dispute in the future. I was already a convert to mediation, having been continually frustrated by the court process, in my practice as a solicitor. However, the course gave me a completely fresh outlook in the way to deal with mediation, and is designed to fast-track you to have the skills, you may have thought you had, but didn’t realise you need. The week is intense, but in a good way, and planned so that you often don’t really realise you are continually learning. (continues...)
Mediator at Riviera Mediation - full time since 2023 Course
(... continued) There is a rich blend of tutors and facilitators, who have a very wide range of backgrounds. It may sound over the top, but by day one I was completely re-thinking the way I approached problems, and indeed the way I communicated with people. Whether you are a lawyer or not, this course has something to offer anyone who wants to resolve issues in any walk of life. I found my legal background, something of a disadvantage, as I had to be ‘untrained’ in lots of ways I approach disputes. Most importantly of all, I learnt to listen and not talk! To say it is ‘value for money’ is an understatement. I urge you to sign up. You will not regret it.’
Ben Tisdall, former Solicitor - now full time mediator
"I cannot recall ever attending a training course, particularly one that lasts from 10am to gone 6pm for 5 consecutive days, where I have felt constantly engaged and enthused. All of the tutors have been superb and their passion and commitment to mediation is clear."
42 Bedford Row
"The course was better than I expected, the tutors were all fantastic. They taught us from beginner’s level and explained everything in an easy-to-understand way, which meant I didn’t feel like I was thrown in the deep end when I started mediating the case studies."
The Insolvency Service
"An excellent introduction to mediation and a great opportunity for personal development. I was pushed out of my comfort zone and challenged by an engaging and interesting faculty."
Bupa
"Life changing."
CEO and Venture Capital Board Member
"A substantial, through and entertaining course... provided me with the important basics [and] broke down assumptions I had previously. The tutors were inspiring and kind and I really enjoyed the opportunity to learn with lovely new people from outside of my usual ‘tunnel’."
Cornerstone Chambers
"The course provided a provided a comprehensive account of mediation and how it works. The tutors were very knowledgeable and clearly determined to ensure everyone on the course left with a good understanding of the subject."
King's College London