Beckley Retreats Announces New Scholarship Programme
Expanding access to psilocybin retreats in Jamaica and the Netherlands by reducing the financial burden and creating dedicated spaces for underserved communities.
Beckley Retreats, a psilocybin retreats and holistic wellbeing company, has announced the launch of the Beckley Retreats Scholarship Program. Beginning now and running through 2024, this unique programme aims to foster diversity and expand access to psychedelic experiences for those who may not otherwise be able to participate. Beckley Retreats also announces dedicated 2024 retreats that will be exclusively for women and the BIPOC community.
Launching at their Venwoude location in the Netherlands and hosted by female facilitators, the first women only retreat will run from 29 April - 4 May. The first programme supporting the BIPOC community will take place in Jamaica, 28 April - 3 May. This initial programme will be exclusively for Black women, facilitated by Black women across the diaspora.
"Whether across race, gender or a veteran background, there is power in bringing individuals with a shared experience together. We announce these new dedicated retreats alongside our new scholarship programme, as part of our commitment to bringing the benefits of psychedelics to as many people as we can," said Neil Markey, co-founder and CEO of Beckley Retreats.
The Beckley Retreats Scholarship Program, in partnership with fiscal sponsor and psychedelic non-profit Reconsider, plans to award 100 fully-funded placements to Beckley Retreats’ week-long psychedelic retreat programmes in Jamaica and the Netherlands. Together, these partners prioritise scholarship applicants who have (a) demonstrated financial need and/or, (b) been historically underserved, underrepresented, or oppressed. The 11-week programme features four weeks of pre-retreat virtual preparation, a week-long retreat with psychedelic ceremonies and mindfulness activities, and six weeks of post-retreat virtual integration sessions, content, and activities.
“At Beckley Retreats, our work is rooted in ethics, safety, and community impact, stemming from the legacy created by Amanda Feilding, and as a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC), we have a dual mission to increase accessibility to these life-changing experiences” said Neil Markey. “We believe that psychedelic experiences have the potential to help people enhance and strengthen their wellbeing on numerous levels, and we are very proud to bring our mission to individuals and communities that stand to benefit profoundly.”
Beckley Retreats is part of the expanding Beckley ecosystem of mission-driven psychedelic organisations, which have all been founded or co-founded by Amanda Feilding and dubbed the “queen of psychedelics” by The Economist. Feilding has co-authored over 80 peer-reviewed scientific studies and was a friend of and thought partner to psychedelic pioneers such as Albert Hofmann, Sasha and Ann Shulgin, Terence McKenna, and many others.
"The Beckley Retreats Scholarship Program will allow us to offer dedicated spaces for special populations seeking a transformational personal growth experience,” said Vian Morales, SVP of Operations at Beckley Retreats. “Research in anti-bias communication, community building, and the neurobiology of trust demonstrates the significant value of racial, gender, and life experience concordance in creating and facilitating emotional safety. This first-of-its-kind programme in the psychedelics sector will continue to prioritise inclusivity and equity, removing barriers to valuable transformative experiences. We are grateful to work in partnership with our donors to create this much-needed offering."
