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 take approximately 30 weeks, 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
Grateful for where we are at…
Grateful for where we’re at …excited about where we’re going… Right now the Reuben’s Retreat offices are an absolute hive of frenzied activity as we begin the countdown to our most prestigious event… and this year’s REUBall will be our greatest yet! It’s truly an evening of love, laughter and memory-making, sprinkled with a few…
24th June
Brave Bananas
Good afternoon to our regular readers and hello to new friends! In anticipation of the fabulous new facilities currently being created through Phase 4, 5 and 6 renovations and the stratospheric impact they’ll have on our services for children and young people, we are delighted to share that Sarah Leah has been appointed to the…
1st June
What's Happening View all
Upcoming Events
Our most up-to-date information can be found on our Facebook Events page, but here’s a taster of Reuben’s Retreat’s upcoming activities… 12th October 2019 (2 x ½ day sessions): Worry Wizard The Worry Wizard Funshops are a creative way for children, and the adults who care for them, to develop an active relationship with…
REUBall 2020
Our next annual ball will take place on Saturday, 4th July 2020 at The Village Hotel in Bury. Reserve your places for REUBall 2020 now! Tickets cost £60 per person, with a £20 per person, non refundable deposit due at the time of booking (balance due early April 2020). You can purchase the tickets here…
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