Editing Findhorn Foundation (section)

=== 2021 fire, lockdown and transitions ===

In April 2021, a fire destroyed the Findhorn community centre and its sanctuary building. This was deliberately set by the community centre's manager, who had lived and worked at Findhorn for 16 years.<ref name="Sunday Post 2021">{{cite news |url=https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/findhorn-foundation/ |title=“rouble in paradise as fire and redundancies provokes ill-will at famously peaceful Findhorn Foundation |work=[[The Sunday Post]] |date=18 July 2021}}</ref> After admitting the offence, he was ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid community work by Inverness Sheriff Court.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-58222968 |title=Unpaid work for Findhorn eco-community fire starter |work=[[BBC News]] |date=16 August 2021}}</ref> Scotland's ''Sunday Post'' newspaper reported that he had been unhappy that he was among the 50 staff who would have to leave Findhorn in a restructuring, where many had worked long-term in return for housing, food and minimal wages. This restructuring was only partly due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom|COVID-19 pandemic]], according to the newspaper's report. It quoted other redundant Findhorn staff as affirming widespread "hurt and anger" within the Findhorn community about these restructuring plans.<ref name="Sunday Post 2021"/>   

The fire and the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns forced the Foundation to cease its educational activities by September 2023,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wildhunt.org/2023/09/findhorn-foundation-closes-educational-programmes.html |title=Findhorn Foundation closes educational programmes |publisher=The Wild Hunt |access-date=}}</ref> marking a major change in its operational model. As the Foundation grappled with the financial strain of these compounded crises, it announced the decision to sell part of its properties<ref name="McAngus 2023">{{cite news |last=McAngus |first=Sean |url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/moray/5984503/findhorn-foundation-reveal-current-model-no-longer-financially-viable-with-staff-at-risk-of-redundancy/ |title=Findhorn Foundation reveal current model no longer financially viable with staff at risk of redundancy |date=26 July 2023 |publisher=[[The Press and Journal]]}}</ref> in an effort to stabilize its financial situation. Further, it stated in July 2023 that it might have to let go of some of its 50 staff members.<ref name="McAngus 2023"/> In September 2023 the Findhorn Foundation stopped offering courses, conferences, and educational programmes.<ref name="Sutcliffe2010"/>