About us

We are a network of gay men committed to principles of caring, trusting, personal growth, sharing, and creativity. We aim to nurture ‘community’ as an alternative to the commercial gay scene. We are open to all men who identify as gay and we particularly encourage disabled, black, older and younger men to come along to our events, and to become a part of our community.

We organise gay men’s weeks and shorter events each year at venues across the country. We go to Laurieston Hall in south west Scotland several times a year as well as youth hostels in the Lake District and other centres. Each venue is chosen for its location and atmosphere: we work to create a ‘safe’ space within which we can grow together as a community. Depending on the venue and the nature of the event there are between 25 to 60 participants. Food is vegetarian, plentiful and of high quality, and sleeping accommodation is primarily in shared rooms.

Each year some of our events are themed, for example focusing on aspects of spirituality, creative arts, or the outdoors, while others are less structured. Every event is different because they grow out of what participants bring, both skills, interests and things brought from home. Anyone can run a workshop or share skills, such as massage, dancing, singing or painting. People play games, sit up late gossiping, get up early to jog or swim or do yoga or meditate, make new friends, have deep conversations, sunbathe, read or go for long walks. For each event there is a small organising group and all participants are offered the opportunity to join a small ‘base group’ which meets daily offering support and friendship, especially helpful for those who are new to ECC.

Our events and the way we operate isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Some people don’t like sharing rooms, others come with specific expectations about what we’re about or that we’re going to entertain them and take responsibility for ensuring they have an enjoyable time, which inevitably causes them disappointment.

Some men come with a list of needs, which are actually preferences. Others hope to fall in love and meet their prince – which sometimes happens – and more often doesn’t. Some men have been ‘out’  forever, while others are new to the whole experience of identifying as gay.

In addition to our events we produce a quarterly journal ‘Rainbow’ which keeps members in touch with what is happening in the community. We hold regular ‘Heart Circles’ in Manchester and London, and we encourage people to form local groups. Individual members organise walks, post-Pride picnics and other events.

We hope you will join us in a spirit of openness and curiosity, and that you will come with a willingness to become part of our community, both during the event and beyond. Together we can create magical spaces and events which transform both us and our wider world.