Outreach at Minsteracres
Our outreach programme is for people coping with challenging and difficult situations.
Charitable Objectives Of Minsteracres
We offer time out from daily life to relax, recharge your batteries and improve wellbeing.
Over many years we have welcomed individual guests and groups who have experienced disempowerment, isolation, and have needed to step away from the challenges of life to rest, have a break, and to ‘recharge their batteries
We work with organisations which support:
- groups of carers of adults and children,
- people affected by physical and mental health issues,
- people affected by homelessness,
- people escaping violence,
- people in recovery from substance misuse,
- organisations who support refugees and asylum seekers.
We welcome new partnerships with charities which support clients who would benefit from a wellbeing day or stay in the peace and space of Minsteracres.
Please contact our outreach coordinator Liz Holmes if you would like to know more about outreach at Minsteracres.
Our Outreach Programme
Providing an outreach programme was one of the three key aims of Minsteracres Retreat Centre when it became a charity in 2012, and has always been an important part of what we do here.
Thanks to the presence of our community, there is always a warm welcome and a real sense of being a valued guest. Why not come and spend a day or two with us in beautiful surroundings, either on your own or with a group?
Let us take care of you — body, mind and spirit!
We work with
Carers, people escaping violence, people going through challenging times, people in recovery, and people managing illness or disabilities.
For groups, we offer relaxation practices: massage, meditation, body and energy practices, which increase the sense of wellbeing and help us to cope with stress and trauma.
For families and young people’s groups, we arrange outdoor activities to give parents the chance to have their own activities.
Our team
Our six-strong outreach team have backgrounds in nursing, social work and childcare, and will provide expertise, practical care and a listening ear.
Our accommodation is simple and comfortable, and our cooks prepare delicious, fresh homemade food, catering for all dietary needs. Just let us know before you arrive if you have special requirements.
Spending time with us at Minsteracres, you will find a rare sense of peace and calm.
Why not call us
Liz Holmes is our Outreach Co-ordinator. She is keen to talk to charities and user groups about wellbeing days or stays. It you would like to to know more please contact her by email or call 01434 673 248
Our Outreach team. From L to R: Glen, Kerry, Liz Hume, Liz Holmes, Lindsay
The Peace Garden
The peace garden is a beautiful space of calm which provides food for the soul as well as the table
The Peace Garden is a space of almost two acres to the north of the house which can be seen from the driveway as you approach the house.
It grew from a visit from people from a drop-in centre in Newcastle, many living in inner city flats with no access to outside space who were looking at the possibilities of getting involved at Minsteracres. They liked the suggestion of starting a fruit and vegetable garden and asked if their group could be known as peace gardeners, because of the sense of peace they felt here. And so the name Peace Garden was born.
‘Nature as companion, healer and teacher’
Garden Therapy
The garden has matured considerably since its beginnings back in 2011 and is now used for retreats, relaxation and private contemplation. It is also home to an innovative gardening therapy scheme run by local social enterprise, Let’s Get Growing.
Led by horticulturalists Ross Menzies and Katrina Padmore, the scheme recognises the importance of outdoor activity in recovering from illness and maintaining wellbeing.
They run regular therapeutic sessions with a group of people with broad and diverse needs. This includes people with mental health difficulties, perhaps recovering from a life crisis, people with stress, depression and mild learning difficulties and early onset dementia.
Theirs is an innovative approach and one that has proved to be successful.
