Pardshaw Quaker Centre

06/09/2026

I am in the process of writing the next Pardshaw newsletter. If there's anything you'd like me to include, please message and I'll give you my email address.
If you don't already subscribe and would like to get more news about Pardshaw including upcoming open gatherings, please sign up here:
https://pardshawquakercentre.org.uk/contact/

Apologies because it probably isn't displaying the latest newsletter on the link - my To Do List does include learning how to sort that out!

Dawn

Contact us We are always looking for new volunteers and trustees to help support our project and local events. Whether you would like to learn some new practical skills on a workcamp, or as a trustee, we would love to hear from you. So, if you would like to offer your time and skills to

09/08/2026

And another huge thankyou, this time to everyone who came to the Open Day yesterday and those who worked so hard during the week to get it ready. There were 13 Friends of Pardshaw/Workcampers present who answered questions, led walks, enabled an assortment of crafting, made endless drinks and cheerfully tackled the never ending washing up.
We asked visitors to sign in if they were happy to do so, so we know that we had over 60 visitors which included Cumberland Council and Dean Parish Councillors (both groups have helped fund us), local friends (from the surrounding area), local Friends (Quakers) plus some from further away. There were several returning visitors from previous years as well as those who hadn't been since their childhood or who had only heard about the place. We also had 2 canine visitors who were very well behaved and received a lot of attention.
I (Dawn) was outside when 2 cyclists passed by and asked if they'd like to come in, they decided that as they'd cycled past many times they would and were impressed with what they saw.
We also welcomed a local art group, most of whom had not been before and who relished the views that we have. We also had some panels from the Loving Earth Project on display.
Several people asked for further information and were interested in how they could use Pardshaw (children's birthday parties, family gathering overflows and of course reasonably priced holidays).
We'd put a donation bowl out, but made it clear that drinks, cake and activities were all free, but were very gratified to find that £189.50 had been donated.
Dawn

08/08/2026

A huge thankyou to everyone involved in the Workcamp, I'm not even attempting to name everyone, but whether you were here for an afternoon or the whole week, your input has been very much appreciated.
Sadly there aren't any photos of the Burial Ground before the brambles and nettles were excavated, but to give you an idea the chunks of wood we use as outdoor seating were completely invisible!

Other jobs done include lots of snowcemming, covering several mattresses so they're usable again, huge amounts of cleaning and tidying, giving the electrics their annual check up, upgrading the library by plastering and starting the painting, relocating all the tools from the stables to a secure storage area, kitchen water heater repaired and we now have a smaller step to help you in and out of the shower.

If you'd like to join us next year you'd be very welcome, information about the Workcamp and other committee organised events is published in the Newsletter. If you don't already get this, please sign up at:
https://pardshawquakercentre.org.uk/contact/

I aim to send Newsletters out every couple of months, but don't always manage that!

Dawn

05/08/2026

Workcamp going well. Brambles removed, drains cleared, replastering (lime plaster), some snowcem, new covers made for the older mattresses and lots of other stuff too.

Don't forget the Open Day on Saturday 8th.

22/07/2026

Pardshaw Open Day Saturday 8th August
10am - 5pm (although things will be winding down from 4pm)

There will be several drop in activities for both children and adults plus the walks and a chance just to look around the buildings and chat to committee members and trustees.
Please note the art workshop is not a dop in event.
The refreshments are free, but we're happy to accept monetary donations in return. There will be both dairy free and gluten free options available.

17/07/2026

Workcamp 1st - 9th August 2026

We would love more volunteers aged 18+ to join us. The workcamp is a chance to do practical work (eg digging out brambles, snowcemming, giving a good tidy and clean etc) and help our vision of making Pardshaw a safe accessible space for all.

If you're interested please reply on here and message Pardshaw with your email address and I will get back to you.

All you pay for is your food (it's veggie/vegan and we can cater for special diets too). We can collect from Maryport (train) or Cockermouth (bus). If you've never stayed before, think of it as indoor camping!

You're welcome for the whole time or just a couple of days. There will be at least one full afternoon off and some evenings there may be a chance to swim in Loweswater.

Dawn

17/07/2026

The latest Pardshaw Newsletter has been sent out. If you'd like a copy, please comment here and message with your email address and I will send you one.

For future ones (they're usually every couple of months or so) please sign up on the website
Dawn

https://pardshawquakercentre.org.uk/contact/

05/07/2026

I'm working on the next Pardshaw newsletter. If there's anything you want included,please let me know by the end of today (sunday).
Dawn - either message me or leave a note here and I'll contact you.

08/05/2026

Last weekend was Britain Yearly Meeting at Friends House and on the Saturday lunchtime we assembled the Pardshaw information as part of the Groups Fair.
3 of us (Carolyn, Rowan and Dawn) spent a busy couple of hours chatting to people about Pardshaw, what the aims are for it and how to book it. Several people have signed up to get the newsletter and/or become a Friend of Pardshaw Quaker Centre. It was also lovely to meet someone who has recently reconnected with Quakers and who used to do the Pardshaw Workcamps in the 1970s and is interested in coming back and seeing how it's changed.

Dawn who uses a powerchair also had several conversations with random strangers about just what was in the large carrying case she was balancing on her feet as she went back to Kings Cross!

16/04/2026

It's the Friends of Pardshaw AGM on Saturday, if you're not yet a Friend of, and would like to attend then please join through our website and use the contact details on there to request the zoom link.

https://pardshawquakercentre.org.uk/join-donate-now/join-friends-of-pardshaw-quaker-centre/