If there’s one thing we’ve learned at The Wellbeing Retreat, it’s this: healing happens in connection. In 2024 alone, we received 417 referrals, adding to the 2,111 individuals who have walked through our doors since we first opened in December 2020. That’s 2,111 moments of bravery, 2,111 reminders that we are wired for struggle but also for resilience.
These referrals—coming from the NHS, DWP, police, social services, and other third-sector organisations—tell us something important. People are reaching out. They’re saying, “I can’t do this alone.” And that? That’s the birthplace of true belonging.
What Is the Wellbeing Retreat?
The Wellbeing Retreat is an out-of-hours sanctuary in Bridgend County Borough, open Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 5 PM to 11 PM. It’s not about fixing people. It’s about walking alongside them—offering a safe, compassionate, and non-clinical space to simply be.
And because courage doesn’t always come easy, we remove as many barriers as possible. We offer free transport for those attending in person, because no one should feel that help is just out of reach.
Who Can Refer?
Access to the Retreat is by professional referral only, ensuring those who need us most can connect with support when they’re ready. Referrals come from NHS professionals, the DWP, police, social services, and third-sector organisations—a network of care working together to hold space for healing.
The Stories That Shape Us
At the heart of what we do are the people who find solace here. We collect feedback not as a formality, but as a testament to what connection can do. One person said it best:
“No one was trying to ‘fix’ me, which was great.”
That’s the work. Not forcing change, but offering a place where people feel seen, heard, and enough—just as they are.
Case Study: Finding Light in the Dark
Let’s talk about K, a 41-year-old woman referred by Psychiatric Liaison. Her story is one of pain, loss, and ultimately, small but mighty steps towards healing.
Her Journey
When Client K arrived, she was holding so much pain. Tearful, anxious, and uncertain, she shared her struggles—most pressing among them, the recent loss of her mother. Grief had become a heavy weight, one made even heavier by the isolation she felt after a close friend distanced herself.
She talked about regret, loneliness, and a longing for understanding. And in that moment, we did what we do best: we listened.
Through conversation, we explored the things that mattered to her—her creativity, her need for connection, her hope (however small) for something more. By the end of our time together, she made a brave decision. She chose to try.
The Next Steps
Bereavement Support: She opted for CRUSE bereavement counselling to help navigate her loss.
Mental Health Resources: We provided helplines, mental health apps, and reading materials for moments of distress.
Creative Expression & Community: She was encouraged to reconnect with her love for art—choosing to join MHM Wales Creative Art Group as a first step back into the world.
The Road Ahead
At The Wellbeing Retreat, we don’t measure success in “fixing” people. We measure it in moments of courage. In people choosing, even for a moment, to believe in their own worthiness.
As we reflect on 2024, we recommit to this work. To holding space for healing. To showing up with empathy and vulnerability. To reminding people that no matter how dark the night, they are never alone.
If you or someone you know needs us, we are here.
Because connection is what saves us. And together, we rise.
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