About
The House Outside brings people together who have a desire to connect with themselves and others and explore the natural world as well as their own creativity.
The principles at the heart of The House Outside have grown steadily over the past fifteen years, rooted in experience gained through professional practice and personal escapades with wonderful people and inspiring organisations. My name is Emma Baars and I established The House Outside in 2024. It's a culmination of my belief that creativity, expression and the recognition of ourselves as a part of the natural world are central to our health, wellbeing and contentment (and the health of our ecosystems).
I’m an ex-charity CEO, a registered Social Worker (trained and experienced in a range of strengths based approaches and arts-inspired therapeutic practices) and a Fellow of The Royal Geographical Society. I have had the honour of working with many different people, facing various life challenges, and had the privilege to train with specialists in their field - you can read more about my professional background and training here.
“The natural world, human history and artistic creativity bring me to my senses”
Over the years, I have increasingly worked with individuals and groups in ways which involved adventure, the natural world, history and creativity. These are things which rouse me, bring me to my senses and make me feel alive - and I know these things have a powerful effect on all of us - whether we’re seeking to feel more connected, more creative, or to feel more well in the world. There is also an ever-growing body of robust evidence to support this (see here for some links).
Our events are supported by some wonderfully talented and knowledgeable people who thrive by sharing their passion, knowledge and alive-ness with others; writers, artists, academics and experts. We are also proud to partner with venues and organisations across Sussex offering exceptional food and outstanding accommodation who help create unforgettable experiences (see some of our partners listed here).
The ethos of the workshops, retreats and events at The House Outside is about the value of the contribution of everyone. Whilst we have skilful and knowledgable hosts, workshop leaders and facilitators - the magic is made by the unique and unpredictable mixture of people who attend.
Social
The House Outside is a Social Enterprise. Funds generated by delivering paid-for activities contribute to delivering Sussex Wildlife Trust ‘WILD BEACH’ sessions for young people. Grants and contracts also enable us to deliver outdoors and arts based interventions with specific groups of people in partnership with other projects and charities (see here for more information).
We also organise events which are not paid-for, but have the sole focus of community development and environmental impact. Got an idea for something we could do? Contact us here.
