About this Event
Seasonal circles - Winter Solstice
The Winter Solstice, or Midwinter, marks the shortest day and longest night of the year—a still point in the turning of the seasons. For generations, people have gathered around fires, lit candles, and brought evergreens indoors to remind themselves that warmth and light always return.
It’s a moment to pause. To look inward, release the old and prepare for the year ahead.
This Seasonal Circle offers a warm, reflective space to honour this turning of the year together. We’ll gather around the fire in the beautiful surroundings of Snapdragons, Victoria Park, to share stories, listen deeply, and welcome renewal.
Our approach is nature-based and inclusive, drawing inspiration from Midwinter traditions such as Yule and Christmas, while remaining open and grounded in our shared human experience. You don’t need to hold any particular beliefs; simply a wish to connect with others and the changing rhythms of the natural world.
This gathering also marks a new beginning: the first in a new series of Seasonal Circles in Plymouth, inspired by nature’s cycles and rooted in community, connection, and deep listening.
What to Expect
Together we will:
• Gather in circle around the fire to welcome the Solstice
• Reflect on the year that’s passed and what we wish to invite in for the one ahead
• Set intentions for this new series of Seasonal Circles in Plymouth, nurturing a community grounded in listening, connection, and care.
Please dress warmly and bring a blanket or cushion to sit on. Hot drinks will be shared around the fire.
Why We Gather
Seasonal Circles are spaces for reflection, connection and belonging—to ourselves, one another, and the world around us. They invite us to slow down, listen deeply, and honour the changing seasons both in nature and within our own lives.
By marking these turning points of the year together, we follow in the footsteps of our ancestors to celebrate the rhythms of light and dark, rest and renewal. Through shared presence and heartfelt listening, we nurture our relationships and sense of community. We are reminded that connection is what sustains us.
This Solstice circle also marks a new beginning; the first of a new series of Seasonal Circles in Plymouth. Together, we’ll set intentions not just for the year ahead, but for the kind of community we wish to grow: one of warmth, deep listening and shared humanity.
Who is it for?
This Winter Solstice gathering is for anyone who feels drawn to mark the turning of the year in community—to pause, reflect and reconnect with nature’s rhythms.
You do not need to have attended a Circlewise event before, all are welcome.
It may particularly appeal to those interested in mindfulness, nature connection, wellbeing, or creative ritual.
When is it?
Date: Saturday 20th December 2025
Time: 3.00pm – 5.30pm
Where is it held?
The circle will take place in the beautiful natural surroundings of , Victoria Park, Plymouth—an outdoor community space in the centre of Plymouth where we will gather around the fire.
Please dress warmly and bring a blanket or cushion to sit on.
Hot drinks will be provided.
The nearest car park is Stuart Road Cark Park—see directions to Snapdragons.
On street parking is also avalible.
What3words: //brings.reveal.castle
How to book
Pre-booking is required and spaces are limited.
To reserve your place, please book through Eventbrite.
How much does it cost?
This event is fully funded by the #iwillfund grant, so there is no charge to attend.
We do, however, ask for a refundable £5 deposit to help us hold your place. Your deposit will be returned to you after the event.
If the deposit or travel costs are a barrier, please do get in touch; we may be able to help.
If you have any questions or would like to talk it through before booking, please contact email Ellie Zalick on [email protected] or [email protected], or call Heidi Rose on 07891 062769.
Circlewise is a service that provides facilitated listening circles and the way of council training to community members, organisations and those working in education. They are committed to supporting individuals, groups, schools and the community by building life skills in communication and empathy through circle practices.
Circlewise offers facilitated circles, support, training and resources to promote:
- Compassionate communication and deep listening
- Social, emotional, mental well-being
- Empowered and relational learning
- Nature-inspired ways of relating
About your facilitators:
Ellie Zalick (she/her)is a Psychology graduate from the University of Exeter with over three years’ experience facilitating community spaces. She joined Circlewise CIC in January 2025 as a Social Media and Communications Intern, and quickly finding a deep resonance with the practice of council and deep listening.
Trained as a Mental Health First Aider (MHFaider), in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills (ASIST), and in a Neurodiversity Profiling Tool, Ellie is passionate about inclusion and ensuring all voices are heard and valued. Drawing on her Cornish roots and over a decade of developing her own seasonal practice, Ellie brings a grounded, science-informed approach inspired by nature and community wellbeing, underpinned by research into social prescribing.
#iwill Fund
- The #iwill Fund is made possible thanks to £66 million joint investment from The National Lottery Community Fund and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to support young people to access high quality social action opportunities.
- The #iwill Fund brings together a group of organisations who all contribute funding to embed meaningful social action into the lives of young people.
- The #iwill Fund supports the aims of the #iwill campaign - to make involvement in social action a part of life for young people, by recognising the benefit for both young people and their communities.
- By bringing together funders from across different sectors and by making sure that young people have a say in where the funding goes – the #iwill Fund is taking a collaborative approach.
- SNG (Sovereign Network Group) is acting as an #iwill match funder and awarding grants on behalf of the #iwill Fund through the SNG #iwill Fund.
The #iwill movement
- The #iwill movement is a collaboration of over 1000 organisations and 300 young #iwill Ambassadors from across the UK. They are united by a shared belief that all children and young people should be supported and empowered to make a positive difference on the issues that affect their lives, their communities, and broader society.
- #iwill was launched in November 2013 after an independent review into how different sectors could help more young people to make a positive difference.
- The #iwill movement is supported by an independent coordination hub, hosted by Volunteering Matters & UK Youth.
- Take the lead by signing up to the Power of Youth Charter at www.iwill.org.uk or follow us @iwill_movement on twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
The National Lottery Community Fund
We are the largest funder of community activity in the UK – we support people and communities to prosper and thrive.
We’re proud to award money raised by National Lottery players to communities across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and to work closely with Government to distribute vital grants and funding from key Government programmes and initiatives.
Our funding has a positive impact and makes a difference to people’s lives. We support projects focussed on things that matter, including economic prosperity, employment, young people, mental health, loneliness and helping the UK reach NET Zero by 2050.
Thanks to the support of National Lottery players, our funding is open to everyone. We’re privileged to be able to work with the smallest of local groups right up to UK-wide charities, enabling people and communities to bring their ambitions to life.
National Lottery players raise over £30 million each week for good causes throughout the UK. Since The National Lottery began in 1994, £43 billion has been raised for good causes. National Lottery funding has been used to support over 635,000 projects - 255 projects per postcode area.
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Department for Culture, Media and Sport
General enquiries
- Email: [email protected]
- 020 7211 6000
Press Office
- Media enquiries (journalists only) 020 7211 2210
- Out of hours telephone pager 07699 751 153.
Sovereign Network Group:
SNG (Sovereign Network Group) was formed in October 2023 through the merger of Sovereign Housing Association and Network Homes.
We provide over 84,000 homes and invest in communities across the South, West and East of England, including London, as well as aiming to create thousands of new affordable homes every year. Our purpose is to provide quality affordable homes and places, that people love for generations.
Everything we earn, we invest so that our customers - now and in the future - have a sustainable home that they love, in a thriving community.
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SNG Press Office
If you are a journalist and have a media enquiry, please contact our press office by calling us on 01635 572222 or emailing [email protected].
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Snapdragons Plymouth CIC, Victoria Park, Plymouth, United Kingdom
GBP 6.13
