The Briars Catholic Youth Retreat Centre

Regular events

A large conference room is set aside during a retreat for group activities, Mass and entertainment, a divider separates it from the chapel, and The Upper Room provides a smaller break-out space. A young person who visits every year is given a new programme for their stage of maturity on youth retreats at The Briars, which use church teaching, scripture and the lives of the saints.

A new team of volunteer workers is taken on at The Briars each year. The NDCYS team supports young people on retreats at its centre and through outreach programmes across the diocese.

Most retreat activities are held in the Briars building. Individual bedrooms for teaching staff or chaperones can also be used as family bedrooms. Outside the retreat programme, young people can use a games room and lounges for board games, reading, pool or foosball, and an outdoor artificial pitch for sport. Snacks, fizzy drinks and Briars merchandise are sold by the tuck shop during a retreat. The retreat centre, glamping pods and self-catering bungalows all form part of the Briars site.