When: 17 Oct 2025 - 22 Oct 2025
Where: The Nightingale Centre, Buxton
Tutors: Martine Batchelor, Jenny Wilks
What's involved?
A residential retreat provides a wonderful opportunity to practice in a sustained way, supported by the community of fellow participants and the silent atmosphere of retreat. The framework of this retreat will be an overview of some key aspects of the Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness, such as the 'Seven Factors of Awakening' (mindfulness, investigation, energy, joy, calm, concentration, equanimity). We will explore their practical relevance for both meditation and daily life practice. There will be a particular emphasis on how our practice can support relational mindfulness within the network of social interactions in our lives.
Whilst these teachings and practices have their roots in Buddhist psychology, the themes, teaching, practice guidance and explorations will be presented in terms of their application to mainstream mindfulness programmes such as MBSR and MBCT.
The retreat will include:
- periods of both guided and self-directed practice
- short talks and time for questions/inquiry
- sustained periods of silence to enable participants to connect more fully with their inner experience
- time to practice mindfulness informally between the scheduled sessions
- opportunities for group inquiries with the teachers.
The teachers will also be available to talk to people individually as needed.
Who is the retreat for?
This retreat is suitable for people who have attended an eight-week MBSR/MBCT (or similar) course and who have a personal practice of mindfulness. It is open to anyone who meets these requirements and is particularly intended for people who teach or are training to teach Mindfulness Based Programmes and others who are integrating mindfulness into their professional work.
This retreat will enable mindfulness teachers who wish to be included on the BAMBA Listing of Mindfulness Teachers to fulfill the requirement to attend an annual mindfulness retreat. It also fulfils the TTP retreat requirement at Trained Teacher level.
Prerequisites to Attending:
Attendance at an 8-week MBSR/MBCT (or similar). In addition, attendance of at least one day of guided silent mindfulness practice is recommended but not required.
Please ensure you are able to attend the entire event. If this is not possible, please contact us to discuss before submitting an application.
About the Retreat Leaders:
This retreat will be led by Martine Batchelor and Jenny Wilks - both extremely experienced and compassionate retreat leaders, who bring a wealth of knowledge and dedication to their mindfulness teaching. To learn more about them, click on their names at the top of this page.
Timings:
Arrival is at 4pm (the retreat will start at 5pm) on Friday 17th October and ends at 12.30pm on Wednesday 22nd October 2025, followed by lunch.
What to bring/wear:
You are advised to bring equipment to support you in your formal practice (such as a cushion, meditation stool, yoga mat, blanket).
Location:
Although seeming “away from it all”, Greater Manchester, South Yorkshire and the Midlands are all nearby. Along the ridge above Hucklow you can see five counties on a clear day! There are few places more central to the country as a whole.
https://www.thenightingalecentre.org.uk/location.php
We strongly advise that you visit the venue website to review their policies as the event approaches. You must ensure that you comply with all health and safety, licensing and other rules and regulations of the venue or applicable to the venue. It is your responsibility to familiarise yourself with any rules and regulations that apply.
Our rates:
Our full rates have no hidden extras and include deposit, teaching, room and board.
Full rate for SINGLE accommodation: £1254.00 (includes £100.00 non-refundable deposit).
Bursary-assisted places are available on this event until 6 weeks before the event starts, we encourage early applications. If you would like to apply for a bursary-assisted place less than 6 weeks before the start date of the event please get in touch to discuss if an application is possible. When applying for a bursary-assisted place, please first register on the event and select the fee ‘I’m applying for a bursary-assisted place’. Once you have registered for the event you will also need to complete and return a bursary application form.
To find out more about our bursary schemes, criteria for bursary applications and to complete the bursary application form please visit: https://home.mindfulness-network.org/bursaries/
Employer's rate - Recognising the large administrative overhead of dealing with employers, we will be adding a £50 surcharge if the employer is paying directly; where possible we would advise applicants to pay themselves and reclaim on expenses to avoid the charge.
Please note: Many of our venues have shared bathrooms, including for single rooms. Please contact us if you have any specific needs that we need to be aware of.
The Application Process:
Our application and payment process involves the following steps:
- We receive your application form and assess it to ensure that this retreat is suitable for you. We endeavour to make assessments within a week, but if the retreat leader is on annual leave or on retreat, then this can take a little longer.
- Upon offering you a place, we will then invoice you for the deposit or for the full amount, depending which option you choose when you complete your application.
- Your place is confirmed once we receive your deposit or full payment.
- If you selected to pay the deposit only, we will invoice you for the balance four months before the retreat starts.
- We will email you the joining instructions in advance of the course.
Payment and Cancellation Policy:
Please read our Terms and Conditions for information regarding payments and cancellations.
For more information:
Please email us at retreats@mindfulness-network.org
Click here to sign up to this event.
