The Retreat (& renovation plans)
Reuben’s Retreat became the proud owners of what was formerly “Woods Hospital” on the 23rd April 2014. Originally a 21-bedroom ‘cottage’ hospital it was still in operation as recently as 2011 when part of Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust.
Set in rugged moorland just outside the Peak District, the 1.63 acre site had 2 beautiful but dilapidated buildings which would need extensive renovations to transform it into the charity’s forever home. So we created a 10 Phase renovation plan that would enable us to transform the buildings and grounds as and when funding allowed. Despite being a tiny team and our priority being supporting families in need, we’re proud to have completed 3 of those Phases to date:
The smaller of the two buildings – The Lodge – has been open and operational since late 2015. In 2016 we made The Retreat (the main building) watertight by completely refurbishing the roof and various structural maintenance.
The first half of 2017 was all about readying the spaces for Phases 4, 5 & 6, including stripping the areas back to bricks and timber so we could identify any potential problems and avoid costly delays or issues when the works begin. With the three Phases all situated in one wing we are desperate to undertake the works as one complete project rather than phase by phase because it will be so much more cost effective. And so, since mid-2017 we’ve been working tirelessly on fundraising for and designing, planning and refining every element of Phases 4, 5 and 6, our biggest renovation project to date which will give us our first physically therapeutic spaces and equipment for life-limited children and young people. We’re so excited to share that those works started on 25th March 2019 and are expected to be finished in Summer 2020 so please visit our blog or Facebook page for regular updates!
As with every area of the charity, our volunteers and supporters have played a crucial role in helping us to transform Reuben’s Retreat into a haven for families, and we’re so grateful to everyone who has donated their time, skills, knowledge or goods or services to us at no or low cost. If you would like to be a part of Reuben’s journey or able to help us with this wonderful project, please get in touch by calling on 01457 680 023 or emailing enquiries@reubensretreat.org.
Our Blog View all
Heidi’s Story
Our Reuben’s Retreat families are always inspiring us! Sarah, Heidi’s Mummy, set up a charity called PEEPS in 2018, supporting families who have been affected by HIE. HIE stands for hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy, it is a lack of oxygen to the brain that can cause injury. Please read Sarah’s words below about her amazing little Heidi,…
14th April
Autumn Update
Wow! Autumn is here already and as the beautiful leaves begin to turn, we look forward to cosy evenings and prepare for the next few months here at Reuben’s Retreat. Thanks to your amazing support throughout this challenging year, we are continuing to support families through rain and shine, due to the generous hearts who surround us. Alongside our virtual activities, it’s been a pleasure…
23rd September
What's Happening View all
Run for Reuben!
The sponsorship and awareness raised through Running for Reuben has been integral to the charity since we began back in 2012, and we’d love for you to join us this year and help us to turn the streets REUBlue once again! GREAT MANCHESTER RUN – Sunday 26th September 2021 Once again there’s a choice of…
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