*Rookhow: 'Connecting people; Building community'* Hi everyone *Retreat Away Fund- Round 10* [image: GTC 3T.jpg] *16 more groups *have been awarded *£12,200* funding from the Retreat Away Fund for a subsidised stay at Rookhow. The groups are: Jobs, Friends and Houses <https://www.jfhcic.org/>- supporting people dealing with addictions in Blackpool Good Things Collective <https://www.goodthingscollective.co.uk/> - creative community cooperative in Morecambe *(photo above)* Blackburn with Darwen Youth Service <https://www.bwd-yps.co.uk/> - a weekend on youth democracy and empowerment Drop Zone Youth Projects <https://dzyp.co.uk/tps-learning-zone> - woodland activity days for young people in extended educational provision (Barrow Morecambe Bay Academy <https://morecambebayacademy.co.uk/> - targeted work with young people with complex needs Growing Well <https://www.growingwell.co.uk/>- staff and volunteer away day for a local mental health charity Beaumont College <https://www.beaumontcollege.ac.uk/south-lakes/> - woodland days for young students with special education needs and disabilities Transpiration Wellbeing <https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566171842110#> - mental health and nature connection for transgender and non-binary individuals (*see quote below from their stay last Summer)* Worldies CIC <https://www.facebook.com/groups/697532575016011/> - support for women dealing with trauma and addictions Muslim Youth Alliance <https://muslimyouthalliance.co.uk/> - residential for a young female Muslim group from Burton Queer Cumbria <https://www.queercumbria.com/> - support for LGBTQ+ people from across Cumbria Fed Up <https://www.facebook.com/therewillbesoup/> (Grange Community Foodshare)- holiday for families on low incomes Morecambe Foyer <https://www.salvationarmyhomes.org.uk/homes/morecambe-foyer> - supported independent living for 16 to 25 year olds Colne Youth Action Group <https://www.cyag.org/> -2 residentials for their junior and senior groups, co-created by the young people Shared Goods <https://www.facebook.com/SharedGoodsCharity/about> - support for asylum seekers and new refugees in Huddersfield Stanley's Community Centre <https://stanleyscommunitycentre.co.uk/> - residential for staff and volunteers from a community centre in Morecambe We are grateful to the individuals and Quaker Meeting who have contributed to the fund. Rookhow also puts 5% of its bookings income into the pot so when you stay at Rookhow, you support the scheme. [image: TW quote.jpg] The next round will be April 2026. MORE INFO <https://rookhow.org.uk/support-for-groups> Get in touch if you would like to make an application. Residential weekends 2026 [image: R and CT 2T.JPG] Booking is now open for our 4 residential weekends in 2026. We're really excited to be offering 3 peace and reconciliation-related courses as well as our all-age Easter Gathering. More details below: *Storytelling for Restoration & Connection weekend **with Hannah Moore, storyteller * *Friday 13th - Sunday 15th March 2026 *MORE INFO & BOOK <https://www.trybooking.com/uk/events/landing/93438> A creative development weekend for adults involved or interested in peace and reconciliation, restorative practice and community building, exploring storytelling as a tool for peace. Suggested donation £150 or pay what you feel. *Easter Gathering **3rd-6th April 2026 *MORE INFO & BOOK <https://www.trybooking.com/uk/events/landing/93174> A 3 night weekend residential, starting with the Good Friday Meeting for Worship (11am), reflections, discussions, campfires and games in the woods, walks together, Epilogues, sharing food- a chance to meet with old friends and make new ones. All ages welcome, babies to 80+. Suggested donation £120 adults. £60 for 21s and under or pay what you feel. *Cultivating Peace- 12 Habits of a Reconciler* *with Hannah Larn & Anna Caffell, Rose Castle Foundation * *15th-17th May 2026 *MORE INFO & BOOK <https://www.trybooking.com/uk/events/landing/93444> Exploring the 12 habits of a reconciler, including gratitude, creativity, curiosity, and how to hold on to hope, especially during times of conflict and change. Practical tools and reflective practices to encourage us to build these practices into our everyday lives, so we too can be people of peace in our communities. Suggested donation £150 or pay what you feel. *A Foundation training in Nonviolent Communication** with Shona Cameron* *16th--18th October 2026 *MORE INFO & BOOK <https://www.trybooking.com/uk/events/landing/93180> This training, which presents the concepts and tools used in NVC, introduces you to the steps of the NVC process for use in expressing yourself to others, listening to others and listening compassionately to yourself and will give you sufficient information and practice to start using NVC in your daily life. Suggested donation £150 or pay what you feel. These events are open to Quakers and non-Quakers. *'Winter Notes' - Thursday 4th December 6pm- soup and a roll 7pm- music* with Jack McNeill (clarinet), Eleanor McIntosh (soprano), Kate Halsall (Harmonium and percussion) [image: Summer Notes 8T.jpg] Come and take a seat at the fireside of this ensemble, with their voices, clarinet, bass clarinet, harmonium, piano and percussion. Expect the slightly unexpected as they weave musical creatures from the air and earth, sing of rivers, moons, and local legends. A new set of carols to accompany the old - carrying homelessness and ambition, songs of love and of time, the crack and spin of winter leaves and rain, dry-stone-walls of poems, words of grief and hope, lullabies, and tunes – well known and brand new – but mostly an invitation to be taken on a journey. £18 adults. Pay on the door (cash/card). Under 18s free. *Email us to reserve a seat* *'Let the light in'- Thursday 15th January 6pm **Winter social for locals * [image: candlelit forest 3T.jpg] A seasonal celebration of welcoming the light back after the dark Winter nights for local people. Bring and share supper. Bring a decorated jam jar lantern. Donations to Rookhow's Retreat Away Fund welcome. Anyone local musicians willing to offer some background music, please get in touch. For more info email us or talk to Elaine Fleming. *Bunkbarn bookings 2026* [image: Jumpy_James_0855.jpg] The Bunkbarn <https://rookhow.org.uk/bunkbarn> is getting booked up for 2026: CHECK AVAILABILITY <https://rookhow.org.uk/book-now> Get in touch if you're interested or if you'd like to hire Rookhow Meeting House & woodland for a day event. *Woodland interpretation boards* [image: interpretation board 1T.JPG] Quakers' Wood has 2 new interpretation boards thanks to funding from the #Species Rainforest Restoration Project. The boards share more information with visitors about the importance of the temperate rainforest and the abundance of different types of lichens and mosses. Duncan Goulder, woodsman, has been making 3 new enclosures in the woods out of hand cleaved oak to exclude deer and allow natural regeneration. It will be fascinating to watch what grows! *Regular events* [image: yurt in the snow 2 T.JPG] *Open Days** & Quiet Garden **(come & enjoy the woods)*- 1st and 3rd Friday of every month 10am-4pm *Online Epilogue*- 1st and 3rd Mondays 9-9.20pm ZOOM LINK <https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83366482364?pwd=L0VFeDJxTEExTEtCaG0xb1ZoeWVzUT09> *Quaker Meetings for Worship*- 1st Wednesdays 7.30-8pm and 1st & 3rd Fridays 12.30-1pm *Volunteer work parties*- every Friday 9.30am-4pm VOLUNTEERING AT ROOKHOW <https://volunteering.cumbriacvs.org.uk/volunteers/provider-profile/Rookhow> All are welcome, Quakers and non-Quakers. Best wishes, Sue, Kath & the Rookhow trustees *Sue Nicholls (she/her - why pronouns matter <https://pronouns.org/what-and-why>)* *Rookhow Development Manager* *Kath Becker **(she/her - why pronouns matter <https://pronouns.org/what-and-why>)* *Rookhow Assistant Development Worker* *Sue works part time (25 hour per week) flexi-time Monday-Friday.* *Kath works part time (35 hours per month) **flexi-time Monday-Friday* *Rookhow phone number: 07377 971783* Email: contactrookhow@gmail.com Website: rookhow.org.uk Donations link: DONATE TO ROOKHOW <https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/14988> *Rookhow is a registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation: Charity No 1188409. **We put 5% of our bookings income into subsidising stays for community groups. **Rookhow is a Quaker Recognised Body.* [image: Rookhow logo.png] *Rookhow mailing list & GDPR* If you wish to unsubscribe from these emails at any time, please let me know and I'll take you off the list. Also if you know anyone who would like to be added, please give them my email address to get in touch. Thanks. [image: image.png] Rookhow <https://www.facebook.com/Rookhow1725/> [image: image.png] Rookhow1725 <https://www.instagram.com/rookhow1725/> [image: image.png] Independent Hostels <https://independenthostels.co.uk/members/rookhowbunkbarn/>