Living with Loss Retreats

(Page updated 30/10/18)

You are invited to a Living with Loss Supported Retreat

If you’re looking for a safe space to explore your grief, then you may find it helpful to come to one of the Living with Loss Retreats that I am leading.

These are gentle retreats for people of all ages who have suffered loss through bereavement. They are faith-based from a Christian perspective. The goal is finding courage and hope as we continue our life’s journey.

The retreats are suitable for widows and widowers, bereaved parents and siblings, those who have lost parents or close family members, or those who have suffered multiple losses. Most retreats are small with around 9 – 15 participants.

The content of each retreat follows the same theme, but differs slightly according to the duration, and the interests and needs of those who attend.

There are different retreats listed below:

• Living with Loss
• Living with Loss Part 2 and Part 3, only open to those who have already attended a Living with Loss retreat.
• A new retreat in 2019 for Christians bereaved by suicide.

Retreats are residential, with all meals provided. At some locations it is possible to attend as a day visitor – in that case, obviously the cost will be less.

If you are unsure whether a retreat like this is for you, then I invite you to contact me and/or keep reading below, as well as follow the links, to find out more details. If you do get in touch, I’ll be happy to call you back and tell you more about it and answer any specific questions you might have.

Places are limited. (See below for more on this, and the possibility of bringing a companion.)

QUICK LINKS

• Quick view calendar of all forthcoming events

• Read about what happens at a Living with Loss retreat

• Retreat FAQs

• Reviews from those who have taken part in Living with Loss retreats

• Retreats 2018-2019_download (PDF)

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2018

LEE ABBEY – Devon

 

LIVING WITH LIFE-CHANGING LOSS FOLLOWING BEREAVEMENT

This retreat is now fully booked

• Monday 12 – Friday 16 November 2018
• 5 day retreat in Exmoor, Devon
• Cost: £199 (some discounts available)

A supportive week retreat of activities, led sessions and quiet reflection.

Lee Abbey is set on a 280 acre estate in Exmoor National Park on the West Devon coast. The estate includes woodlands, streams, fields, and a private beach. Lee Abbey is a vibrant busy place, with lots going on besides our retreat. In order to have peace and quiet, we will be housed and running the retreat in the Beacon, a separate building away from the main house.

◊ Link to this event at Lee Abbey, with booking information

2019

CHRISTIANS BEREAVED BY SUICIDE

 

A Living with Loss retreat at the Greenhouse Christian Centre, Poole, Dorset

• Friday – Sunday – 18 – 20 January 2019
• Weekend retreat in Poole, Dorset
• Cost: £126-186 (depends on single/double/ensuite)

The death of a loved one to suicide is widely acknowledged as being one of the most difficult bereavements to cope with. This retreat will follow the usual Living with Loss themes, but with specific emphasis on those who are grieving following the loss of a family member or friend as a result of suicide.

It is possible to bring a supportive friend or family member with you to this retreat, if you wish.

Further details about this retreat

If you think you might be interested in this event, you can contact the Greenhouse to book onto it.

The Greenhouse Christian Centre is a lovely quiet property just five minutes from the beach, but only 2 hours from London. Full-board accommodation includes all meals, refreshments and course materials – the food at the Greenhouse is especially to be recommended. You can find out more about the house and grounds here.

Phone: 01202 764776

Email: info@the-greenhouse.org

• Link to the Greenhouse Centre here (Scroll down to “January”)

LAUNDE ABBEY – Leicestershire

 

Living With Loss

• 18 – 22 February 2019
• 5 Day retreat in the East Midlands
• Cost: £405.00 – £425.00

Launde Abbey is a Christian Retreat House and Conference Centre in the East Midlands. Set in beautiful parkland of 450 acres on the borders of Leicestershire and Rutland, the Abbey has 39 en-suite bedrooms which can accommodate up to 78 people; full conference facilities; comprehensive dining facilities; extensive cultivated gardens and a wonderful twelfth century Chapel (part of the original Augustinian priory).

Phone: 01572 717254
Email: info@launde.org.uk

♦ Link to this event at Launde Abbey, with booking information

THE BRIERY RETREAT CENTRE – Ilkley, Yorkshire

LIVING WITH LOSS

• Friday 22 – Sunday 24 March 2019
• Weekend retreat (Friday late afternoon-Sunday afternoon)
• Cost: £155

The Briery Retreat and Conference Centre is in a beautiful location in Ilkley, in the Yorkshire Moors. (The Centre is run by Catholic sisters, however the retreat is a non-denominational event and Abi is not a Catholic.)

Briery brochure download

BOOKING INFORMATION FOR THE BRIERY or contact: briery@btconnect.com

THE HOUSE OF THE OPEN DOOR – Cotswolds

 

LIVING WITH LOSS: “TEA ROOM GATHERING”

• 20 – 23 August 2019 (Tuesday – Friday)
• 4 day retreat in the Cotswolds.
• Cost: £260 (£240 in shared room)

This retreat is only open to those who have already participated in a “Living with Loss” retreat. The idea of this retreat is to provide a safe space to explore the issues relating to loss that you are continuing to deal with, and an opportunity to spend time with others who are also coping with loss and the changed circumstances of their lives. Anyone interested in attending should contact Abi directly for further details or download this PDF: EventExplanation.RetreatAugust2019.

The House of the Open Door is an ecumenical Christian Community and Retreat Centre in the Cotswolds, a beautiful 17th Century property set in quiet countryside.

THE BRIERY RETREAT CENTRE – Ilkley, Yorkshire

LIVING WITH LOSS PART 2: THE JOURNEY ONWARDS

• Friday 6 – Sunday 8 September 2018
• Weekend retreat (Friday late afternoon-Sunday afternoon)
• Cost: £155

This retreat is only open to those who have already attended a first “Living with Loss” retreat, either at the Briery or elsewhere. During this follow up to the first retreat, we look into some of the deeper areas of grief such as anger, guilt, regret and complicated grief.

The Briery Retreat and Conference Centre is in a beautiful location in Ilkley, in the Yorkshire Moors. (The Centre is run by Catholic sisters, however the retreat is a non-denominational event and Abi is not a Catholic.)

Briery brochure download

BOOKING INFORMATION FOR THE BRIERY or contact: briery@btconnect.com

PENHURST CHRISTIAN CENTRE – Sussex

 

LIVING WITH LOSS FOLLOWING BEREAVEMENT

• 25 – 27 October 2019
• Weekend retreat near Battle in East Sussex, England
• Cost: £150 (non-residential) or £220 (residential)

A supportive weekend retreat of activities, led sessions and quiet reflection.

Penhurst Retreat Centre is a small, friendly Christian retreat centre, situated in an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, just 10 miles from the coast in the Sussex High Weald. The beauty, peace and comfort of this place create an ideal setting in which to draw closer to God and experience his love. Comfortable full-board accommodation is available for up to 15 guests.

Phone: 01424 892088

Email: info@penhurst.org.uk

• Link to this event at Penhurst, with booking information

LEE ABBEY – Devon

 

LIVING WITH LIFE-CHANGING LOSS FOLLOWING BEREAVEMENT

• Monday 11 – Friday 15 November 2019
• 5 day retreat in Exmoor, Devon
• Cost: £199 (some discounts available)

A supportive week retreat of activities, led sessions and quiet reflection.

Lee Abbey is set on a 280 acre estate in Exmoor National Park on the West Devon coast. The estate includes woodlands, streams, fields, and a private beach. Lee Abbey is a vibrant busy place, with lots going on besides our retreat. In order to have peace and quiet, we will be housed and running the retreat in the Beacon, a separate building away from the main house.

◊ Link to this event at Lee Abbey, with booking information

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MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE CONTENT OF THE RETREATS

Grief following bereavement can feel overwhelming, particularly if we have lost a partner or child, or if our loved one’s passing was sudden or traumatic, or if we have suffered multiple losses. The aim of this supported retreat is to better equip us to deal with our life-changing loss. We will face up to some of the spiritual, emotional and practical challenges of our grief, and then look at practical and creative ways to cope with our life as it is now, as well as the courage that faith can give us as we go forward in our lives.

The focus of our retreats is on making the best of our life in the present. We have one or two led sessions every day. These include explanations, reflection prompts, creative activities, discussions, times of reflection and prayer, and listening to music or inspirational readings.

Besides the led sessions, there is time for personal reflection, handouts to work on individually, as well as the opportunity for participants to have individual prayer with retreat leaders if you wish. A selection of relevant books are made available to read during the retreat.

The topics we will cover (depending on the duration of the retreat and the needs of the participants) include:

• Understanding grief, the physical, practical and emotional impact of loss, and a Christian perspective on grief.
• Living with loss, models of recovery, complicated grief, crises of faith, dealing with our emotions.
• Honouring the memories of our loved ones, reflective activities, digital legacy.
• Survival strategies for our life today, being kind to ourselves, getting through difficult times.

RETREAT FAQs – visit this link

WHAT HAPPENS AT A RETREAT?

This post from our retreat at Launde Abbey in February 2018 gives a fairly good idea.

COMMENTS FROM PREVIOUS PARTICIPANTS

It wasn’t what I thought it would be – it was BETTER.

The sessions were very helpful and gave me hope.

“I thought Abi led the sessions with sensitivity and compassion. It was obvious she had ‘been there’. I liked how she shared her story.

The sessions were well researched, delivered and well paced.

This was a first class retreat which I found extremely helpful. I will definitely do part 2.

 

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A bit of crafting – with a focus on process rather than product.

The view from our meeting room at Lee Abbey. Spectacular!

Candlelighting remembrance and prayer

The reason for these cups becomes evident during the retreat

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