Table of Contents
Sanctuary
The Sanctuary (formerly known as “Welfare”) is a stationary go-to-place which - with your help - will be staffed throughout most of the burn and is inspired by Borderland's “Sanctuary” and Nowhere's “Welfare Enough”. Everyone struggling or having a hard time - whatever the reason - is welcome as our guest.
Our Mission
We aim to offer a safe and welcoming space and lend our open ears and hearts to our fellow burners.
Reasons to come to Sancturay may include (list not exhaustive):
- You feel confused/ disoriented/ overwhelmed/ afraid/ exhausted/ alone/ lost.
- You feel unwell after the consumption of mind-altering substances.
- Something just came up (breakup, struggles, trauma…) and you need a sympathetic and descreet ear.
- You feel like something is wrong but don't know what it is.
- You need a place to hide and be left alone.
- You just would like a hug.
- If you have experienced unwanted touch or harrassment and need someone to talk to, you are welcome at Santuary as well, of course. Please be aware though, that starting with 2022 there will be a Consent Committee dedicated exclusively to handling violations of consent. Find more information about that here: Consent
What we provide
- We will be using the cottage hut featuring carpets, blankets, cushions and two inflatable beds to comfortably sit down in a private and quiet safehaven together with our volunteers.
- There will be information material available regarding mind-altering substances.
- We'll offer tea and some biscuits.
Where to find us
The cottage hut is located between the Sofa Pavillon and the main building (featuring the indoor dancefloor).
General Guidelines and Ideals
- Being present and focued. All shifts are sober shifts. In order to take care of others you must know your own bearings and be in control of yourself. To ensure a safe and clear-headed space our guests are kindly asked not to consume alcohol or other substances during their stay at the keep.
- There is honour in punctuality. To allow for smooth shift changes, please be there 10 minutes before your shift starts.
- Sanctuary volunteers will do their best to make their guests feel welcome and safe. They will ask before the act (even before giving a hug) and will not engage in any behaviour that violates the guest's consent. Personal information is kept in confidence and will not be shared outside the Sanctuary.
- The guest’s soul is their best guide. As a sanctuary volunteer you offer a calm presence of acceptance, compassion and caring. Simply being with a person when their experiences unfold already is powerful support. Don't try to “fix” their experience.
- Difficult is not the same as bad. Challenging experiences can wind up being our most valuable, and may lead to learning and growth. We will suggest to approach fear and difficult aspects of an experience with curiosity.
- Always listen with compassion. Be open to the needs of any guest without fussing or losing your calm. Just let them know that you care.
- This is not about you. As part of the sanctuary you are there to listen, not to talk about yourself and your experiences. Be respectful and grateful for the trust being placed in you and thank your guests for their sharings.
- Give space if needed. One person caring for a guest can often be enough. Multiple people tending to one person at once might be well intended but can make the guest feel being pressured or put in the spotlight. If a guest just needs some quiet time for themselves we respect that as well.
- There is wisdom in knowing one's limitations. Everyone can and should ask for assistance if they feel unequipped to handle a certain situation. There will always be a lead on call.
Joining the Team
The Roles
- Sanctuary leads: They are the leads who take responsibility for creating and maintaining this space. They will drop by once in a while (i.e. at shift changes to see if they are needed) and be on call the rest of their shifts.
- Sanctuary volunteers: They are the ones continuously staffing the place and welcoming guests and visitors. Volunteers might take turns in or around the hut, sit with people, listen to them, care for them, make a tea for them. If a situation is “too much” (for whatever reason), they can always call on an Lead.
The Shifts
All shifts are 6h long. The first shift starts Thursday afternoon, the last shift ends Sunday afternoon.
All shifts between Friday night and Sunday morning are crucial, especially the nighttime-shifts. If possible, prioritize them.
Please sign up for shifts here and enter your name and phone number, so we can contact you on site: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ICbzzY0LRnNc1IVDLXDOsfP5E4mNuOxk61y4ziCLf9Q/edit#gid=1821368647
Team meeting and trainings
We will have a training session (also acting as team meeting) on Thursday. Please try to be there to get to know each other, receive the most recent information and join a short introduction session.
If needed there will be another training session on friday at the same time.
Additional help
If you'd like to help more, please also consider signing up for build & tear down or have a look at which supplies we still need to find. Thank you for supporting our quest! 
Preparations & Protocols for Sanctuary volunteers
Radio Use
If necessary volunteers can use the radio that stays in the tent for calling up Sanctuary- , Ranger- or Site-leads. Sanctuary-leads will be available on the radio throughout their shifts.
Make sure the radio is charged so it works when you need it. And remember that anyone with a radio could be listening. So don't mention: names, camp areas, other private or illicit information. If necessary describe your guest as “disoriented” or “unresponsive”.
There will be further instructions on radio use on site. Also see Radio protocol
Some Thoughts about Holding Space
- Practice loving kindness, meaning that no matter what the person has done or who the person is, the listener holds them with deep respect, compassion, and unconditional positive regard.
- Use Deep Listening. Listen to understand, not to reply. Don't assume right away to know what the other person is experiencing.
- Sit with what is. Do not try to change anything, and resist the urge to do anything. You are only creating a safe space for the other person to express and feel their feelings. Sit with them in the hard stuff.
- Allow the other person to feel whatever they are feeling. Don't invalidate their feelings or their experience. Hold them if they need you to when they cry.
- Remember to breathe. Checking in with your breath is an effective way to make sure you remain grounded.
- Don't usurp their pain. Holding space for someone in deep pain can bring up your own pain. Holding space for another requires that you have a clear intention that although you’re in the trenches with them, you are only holding their hand - you are not stealing their hardship and making it your own.
- Practice non-judgement. This goes for yourself and the one for whom you’re holding the safe container: Do not judge.
- Don't try to fix it. Often, when someone is in pain, we try to fix it for them. While that might make us feel better, the other person may feel even more isolated in their pain. So above all, be there for and with the other person. Do not try to fix them or their feelings. They do not need fixing. The only way over their pain is through it.
- Give people permission to trust their own intuition and wisdom. Don’t take their power away. Make them feel safe enough to fail.
- Allow them to make different decisions and to have different experiences than you would. Give guidance and help with humility and thoughtfulness. Keep your own ego out of it.