The Maharishi European Sidhaland - Skelmersdale
In 2000, the Maharishi European Sidhaland, Skelmersdale was awarded a BURA Award. This is what the judges said about the community:
The Maharishi
European Sidhaland is a community development project in Skelmersdale.
The physical infrastructure includes a community centre, two residential
areas, a health centre and a school. The project also involves an
environmental action group and organises seminars and conferences on
health and education issues.
In September 1980 the Maharishi Foundation established the "Ideal Village" concept, later renamed the Maharishi European Sidhaland, a total concept of community regeneration including buildings, business, education, health, housing, the combating of crime, employment and individual and collective quality of life, based on the group practice of Transcendental Meditation (TM).
A surplus of Development Corporation housing and factory space allowed the community to establish itself by encouraging people from around Britain who already practised TM to move to Skelmersdale. Businesses were established to support the project. Over 150 members of the Sidhaland and local people are currently employed directly within the community infrastructure or businesses established by its members.
The Golden
Dome was built in 1987 and provides a facility for the practice of
Transcendental Meditation, a community centre, restaurant and meeting
rooms. Courses are held on a daily basis with larger seminars and
conferences on various subjects held throughout the year.
Improving the quality of housing was an important issue. Beacon Construction was formed and two developments now house some of the members of the community in low density housing - approximately 75 homes. There is also a business centre to enable people to telework within a walk to work environment.
The School provides high quality education in a nurturing environment for children from the Sidhaland and surrounding areas. It is an independent, non-selective school with 100 pupils, housed in a converted stone farm building. The academic achievements are outstanding and the school was equal top in the league tables for Lancashire and tenth in England last year. The success of the school and the principles of education on which it is based make it an outstanding example of best practice. The Health Centre was established in 1986 and attracts clients from all over the country.
Outreach to the wider community occurs through seasonal celebrations, through the school and through conferences and seminars. Work is underway to establish similar facilities in other regions including London and Sussex. Many overseas visitors have been inspired to establish elements of it in their own country.
The project has made a significant contribution to the local economy. It was designed to be self sustaining, by establishing small businesses which support the growth of the community infrastructure. All funding has been internally generated. The sports and arts centre, an environmentally friendly building, designed according to the principles of Sthapatya Veda, or Vedic architecture, is the first part of the project to receive outside funding. This included a grant from Sportsmatch and support from local business. The project started in 1980 and has shown steady and continuous growth. The physical infrastructure demonstrates the continued success of the project and the educational results of the School highlight the effectiveness of the system.
The judging panel concluded that this is a most unusual project and an outstanding example of best practice in ways which are totally different from any other project previously submitted for a BURA Award. The outcomes of the project are similar to other projects, but the means of achieving them are truly original. The School is particularly impressive and the architectural principles of Sthapatya Veda should be more widely disseminated. It represents a different and unconventional joined-up approach which addresses education, health, housing, employment and crime in a positive and unusual way. It has a qualitative impact on the surrounding area and promotes regeneration by motivating the individual within the community.
For more information on the Maharishi European Sidhaland please visit their website: www.maharishi-european-sidhaland.org.uk/