More than 30 health and social care staff will benefit from special free ‘Caring for the Carers’ days to be run in the Lake District this year, supported by the Diocese of Carlisle.

The scheme is a collaborative project between the Diocese and the Sacred Space Foundation - a non-profit, non-denominational retreat centre and charitable trust in Cumbria - and builds on the success of previous retreat and residential days which have benefited 80 carers.

The Rev Prof Stephen Wright, of the Sacred Space Foundation, said: “As someone who has extensive experience working within the nursing field, I am aware of the attendant pressures which staff are faced with each and every day.

“We first ran ‘Caring for the Carers’ days in 2021 and the feedback we received was hugely positive. The aim of the short stays and residentials is to help and support those who may feel exhausted and burnt out or may be suffering from the long-term consequences on the Covid pandemic.

“Our wish is quite simple: we want to provide these people with a space in which they can relax, re-energise and reflect.”

To date 80 Cumbrian health and social care staff have enjoyed day retreats and residentials at Rydal Hall, the Diocese of Carlisle’s Christian retreat and conference centre near Ambleside. The Hall will once again host this year’s ‘Caring for the Carers’ days.

All the short days and residentials will be free to those who successfully apply. People will be asked to pay a deposit which will be fully refundable on their attendance.

Twelve spaces are available for health staff and social carers to apply for a three-night residential at Rydal Hall from 11 to 13 June, while a further 20 spaces are available for one-day quiet days on Wednesday 8 May and Monday 14 October. Both include time for quietness and reflection, guided walks and teachings in meditation and relaxation, all in the beautiful setting of Rydal Hall.

The Rt Rev Rob Saner-Haigh, Acting Bishop of Carlisle, said: “We are delighted to be able to partner with Stephen and the Sacred Space Foundation again as together we look to support some of the wonderful caring community who give so much day in and day out.

“The idea of these retreats and residentials chimes beautifully with one of the four central tenets of our ecumenical county’s God for All vision and strategy; Caring Deeply. This is about how we, as Christians, can honour those who give so much of themselves through a deep sense of vocation.

“My prayer will be that those who are able to visit Rydal Hall will feel a sense of peace and will offer them the chance to recharge.”

Stephen, who is also a visiting professor of nursing and fellow of the University of Cumbria, added: “We are hugely grateful to those people in Cumbria who have given so generously to this project in order that our carers can be cared for.

“Ultimately this is about offering these people the chance to be taken care of for a change rather than doing the caring. It will be about relaxation, good food, fresh air and friendship.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

For more information and to book a place, please contact stephen@sacredspace.org.uk

For further information contact Dave Roberts, Diocesan Head of Communications, on 07469 153658 or at communications@carlislediocese.org.uk.