Organisation, Vision, Mission and Strategy
Our charity, Sanctuary Breaks, has grown out of Hill House, a much loved family home, which is now used as a rest and retreat venue in particular for refugees, asylum seekers and survivors of trafficking or torture.
The house is also available for others who are seeking short periods of restoration, or to pursue a particular creative interest, either as individuals or in groups.
Sanctuary Breaks CIO is a charity (Registered Charity Number 1204540). Hill House Retreats CIC is a Community Interest Company (company number 13938445). The CIC operates as the Trading Arm of Sanctuary Breaks.
Vision
The vision of both Sanctuary Breaks and Hill House Retreats CIC is that people seeking sanctuary will be welcomed by and included in local communities, and have full access to a rural environment and experience.
Mission
The Mission of Sanctuary Breaks is to provide opportunties for people seeking sanctuary to experience the beauty and relaxation of the Gloucestershire coutryside, in a wlecoming and inclusive atmosphere. The Mission of Hill House Retreats is closely allied to this in providing a venue free of cost and a warm welcome to people who are in the asylum process or have recent refugee status, survivors of trafficking and torture, and others seeking sanctuary.
Strategy
Sanctuary Breaks fulfills its mission by working with a range of partners, creating opportunities for people seeking sanctuary to enjoy respite visits and stays in the Cotswolds. We focus on supporting people in Gloucestershire who are going through the asylum process.
Hill House Retreats arranges the letting of Hill House to paying groups and individuals, organising fundraising events, and seeking donations. Thus the CIC is able to offer both a venue and financial support to Sanctuary Breaks.
In order to fulfill our mission, we aim to:
To enhance the mental health and wellbeing of people seeking sanctuary, especially asylum seekers, refugees and survivors of trafficking or torture, by providing a place of welcome, safety, rest and hope, for short breaks, day visits, and a range of activities.
To provide opportunities for contact, inclusion and engagement with surrounding communities, thus also raising awareness, understanding and acceptance of refugees from all backgrounds in the wider community
Through facilitating positive relationships with the local community, to increase confidence, self-esteem, mental health and well-being amongst the otherwise largely excluded community of people seeking sanctuary in the region.
The People
Caroline Beatty
Caroline Beatty is founder and director of Hill House Retreats CIC. She has a background in equalities work with a particular focus on race equality and multiculturalism. She has worked in the refugee support sector in Bristol since 2006, is a patron of Bristol Refugee Rights, was for several years a trustee of City of Sanctuary UK and of Bristol City of Sanctuary. She now lives in Stroud. She has developed the programme at Hill House, fostered the refugee support work, imagined and conceived the charity which was registered in August 2023 as Sanctuary Breaks (charity number 1204540)
Sanctuary Breaks is overseen by a Board of Trustees as shown below – a team of people with a range of relevant skills and experience. The Board of Trustees meets 6 times a year to support and advise on the development of the charity Sanctuary Breaks. One of the charity trustees is also a director of Hill House Retreats CIC, to ensure communication and flow of information between the CIC and the charity.
Sanctuary Breaks – Board of Trustees
John Patrick Njau has lived experience of the UK asylum process. It took 17 years for his claim to be recognised – he was finally given leave to remain in the UK in 2021. He is a long time supporter and champion of Hill House, and is now employed as an Outreach Officer in Bristol’s refugee support sector.
Naomi Millner is a lecturer in human geography (social sciences) at the University of Bristol. She is a Trustee of the Bristol Hospitality Network (BHN), which she helped to set up in 2009. BHN supports asylum-seekers who have lost the right to housing, by providing accommodation, information and advocacy, and creative community involvement. Naomi also enjoys creative writing, gardening, and outdoor adventures.
Sarah Hughes has had a long career in international humanitarian aid and development, focusing on community development and peace building, and taking on senior management roles. She was Director of Notre Dame Refugee Centre, London and is now a Trustee of Happy Baby Community, a community of support for women who have fled from violence or traffickers, are pregnant or with a young child, and are seeking international protection in the UK. Sarah now lives in the Stroud Valleys.
Sally Pickering was brought up a Quaker with a strong sense of social justice. Most of her working life has been in the voluntary sector heading up small local charities in the fields of homelessness, mental health, domestic abuse and, most recently, as CEO of Citizens Advice in Stroud. For 10 years she was also CEO of the Gloucestershire Association for Voluntary and Community Action, She has extensive experience of legal structures, governance, HR management, employment law and finance relating to charities and community groups, and good practice around working with volunteers. Sally lives in Stroud.
Judith Large has worked internationally with refugee issues in areas of policy and practice. She first encountered refugees when working alongside local activists in former Yugolsavia during and after the war, in Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia and Kosovo. She was part of a team evaluating UNHCR response to the mass refugee/IDP return following the independence war of Timor Leste. Her last active mission was to interview displaced persons in Iraqi Kurdistan for an EU project. She lives in Stroud and is active in refugee support work locally.
Bill Crooks Lifelong doodler gradually progressing to advanced doodling — Lover of paddleboarding and providing fondues from canoes – Facilitator of drink and draw sessions in pubs for the artistically undiscovered— Trained a long time ago as a herdsman and milked a lot of cows — Lived and worked in central Africa doing Community Development — Worked in International development for over 35 years as a trainer and facilitator — Cartooned and illustrated for the charity and private sector -Currently working on anti-human trafficking and modern slavery issues — Frequently facilitate therapeutic art workshops with asylum seekers and refugees —Passionate about enabling others to discover their creative gifts — Love chocolate fingers and Stroud beer — Once kept a chicken called Hilda Brazil.
Joanna Mathieson has 25 years experience as a Chartered Accountant, trained by PwC, initially working in practise, then in industry. She now has a small accountancy practise, is the accountant for Woodchester Mansion Trust and is also Treasurer for several other local charities. Jo lives in the Stroud area.
