The APR Bursary Scheme
In 2013, APR launched the Bursary Fund to help and encourage more people to go on retreat, particularly if they cannot afford the full cost themselves. To this day we continue to support dozens of retreatants each year.
We rely on APR Member Retreat Houses to promote the availability of this assistance, and we also hope that clergy and other ministers will highlight this support to those considering making a retreat, but who might be prevented from doing so for financial reasons.
In September 2024, we extended the scheme to offer no-questions-asked bursaries for Teachers and Headteachers in Church of England schools to go on retreat at one of our APR member houses. Find out more here.
How Does it work?
Applications must be made through one of our member retreat houses, who can apply for up to 50% of the costs of an individual guest’s retreat (up to a maximum of £150).
We have not set specific qualifying criteria, believing that retreat houses will be best placed to know when individuals are in genuine need which might prevent them from participating in a quiet day or retreat. However, please note that due to the popularity of the scheme, individuals may apply no more than once every other year.
In order to apply, please invite the APR member house to submit a Bursary Fund Application Form on your behalf, which must be received at least 10 days before the start of the retreat.
Upon receipt of an application, the Trustees will make a decision within one week. If approved, payment will be arranged as soon as the house confirms that the beneficiary has arrived at or completed their retreat.
Support the Bursary
The success of the Bursary Fund depends on your continuing support. If you would like to contribute to the Bursary Fund, and help even more people go on retreat this year, please make a donation to the Bursary Fund.
Further Information
Member Houses can submit applications for up to FIVE individual retreatants in any one financial year (1 April – 31 March).
However, if they wish to make an additional donation to the Bursary Fund, the APR will consider more applications from that house, up to the value of their donation. For more information please read our Bursary Fund Terms and Conditions.
Applicants with disabilities, who need a full-time carer to accompany them in order to make their retreat, may be eligible for support on a ‘Two-for-One’ basis.
We also welcome one application for a retreat bursary each year from trainee Spiritual Directors, through their (diocesan) training courses, and are pleased to support newly-appointed Diocesan Spirituality Advisers to make a retreat at their local retreat house as they start their new role. Please contact the APR Administrator for details.
Retreat Bursaries for Teachers
From September 2024, all teachers and headteachers in Church of England schools will be eligible to apply for a bursary to help finance their retreat at an APR member retreat house.
In recognition of the intensity of the challenges and responsibilities that teachers face in their roles, the Trustees of the APR have designated some of the APR Bursary Funds to be specifically used to help teachers and headteachers go on retreat. Such Teachers’ Bursaries will be available for all teachers in Church of England schools, irrespective of their personal faith; however, all retreats must be made at one of the APR Member Retreat Houses within the UK (as listed on promotingretreats.org/where).
The maximum grant for an individual is 50% of the total cost of a retreat (either private or guided) priced at £300 or less; the cap for any grant is £150. Applications can only be made through the retreat house on behalf of their guests (ie, the teachers); in this way, the APR is also helping to support the ministries of our member houses. The full Terms and Conditions of the APR Teachers’ Bursary Scheme are available to download here, and all applications must be made using our Teachers Bursary Application Form. If you have any questions, please contact the APR Administrator on promoting.retreats@gmail.com – and if you’d like to spread the word by placing a poster in your local Church of England school, you can download one here.
