Retreat Fund Scheme Archives

Retreat Fund Scheme: Application window opens on 1st Feb.

by marpahouse | Jan 16, 2026 | Retreat Fund Scheme

Making Retreat Possible for Everyone

The next opportunity to apply for the Marpa House Retreat Fund Scheme opens on 1st February.

This scheme is designed to make retreats at Marpa House accessible to everyone, regardless of financial circumstances.

Retreat at Marpa House offers a unique chance to settle the mind, deepen spiritual practice, and enjoy a transformative experience. We recognise that the cost of retreat can be a barrier for some, which is why the Retreat Fund Scheme exists — to support those experiencing financial hardship or living on very low incomes to do retreat.

Applicants can receive support for either full or semi-retreat days and may choose to part-fund their retreat, with the scheme covering the remainder. Each successful applicant may receive support for up to seven retreat days, and all applications are treated in strict confidence. Full details on the scheme’s rules and an application form are available below.

We look forward to receiving your applications from 1st February until 28th February.

We also warmly welcome donations from anyone who wishes to help others access retreat. Your contribution helps ensure that Marpa House remains a place of practice and spiritual growth that is open to all. To donate or find out more, please contact trustees@marpahouse.org.uk

SCHEME RULES

APPLICATION FORM

Retreats at Marpa House

ELIGIBILITY OVERVIEW

To be eligible for the scheme, you must be able to demonstrate that you satisfy one of the following criteria:

You are in financial circumstances, meaning it would be unreasonable to pay to do a retreat at Marpa House
You are a full-time student
You receive means-tested benefits
You are volunteering as long-term staff at Marpa House.

ADDRESS

Marpa House,
Rectory Lane, Ashdon,
Saffron Walden, Essex
CB10 2HN
United Kingdom

CONTACT

T: +44 (0) 1799 584 415
E: mail@marpahouse.org.uk

“One sky, one mind”
Kyabje Chime Rinpoche

DONATE

Marpa House is conducted by The Dharma Trust, a company limited by guarantee (no. 04332473) and registered with the Charity Commission (no. 1090628).

LATEST NEWSLETTER

Marpa House Retreat Fund Scheme

by marpahouse | Jun 26, 2025 | Retreat Fund Scheme

Making Retreat Possible for Everyone

We want to help secure the centre’s future as a place of practice and spiritual growth accessible to everyone.

Retreat at Marpa House is a wonderful experience – an opportunity to settle the mind and deepen our spiritual practice. It is not easy for everyone to finance a retreat, and we are very keen that money should not be an obstacle to undertaking a retreat at Marpa House.

To help people undertake retreat, the trustees have launched a Marpa House Retreat Fund Scheme, which will pay the retreat fees of those suffering financial hardship or on very low incomes.

Anyone who wants to sponsor others to undertake a retreat is very welcome to donate to the funds available for the retreat scheme. If you wish to donate to the scheme, please contact trustees@marpahouse.org.uk

Funds from the scheme can be used to pay for either full or semi-retreat days. People are very welcome to pay for part of their retreat using scheme funds and the rest from their own funds. All information provided in applications will be treated confidentially. Each successful applicant will be entitled to a maximum of 7 retreat days, paid for by the scheme.

To be eligible for the scheme, you must be able to demonstrate that you satisfy one of the following criteria:

You are in financial circumstances, meaning it would be unreasonable to pay to do a retreat at Marpa House
You are a full-time student
You receive means-tested benefits
You are volunteering as long-term staff at Marpa House.

The Scheme will allocate 50 full retreat days per year, marking our recent 50th anniversary celebrations. Applications can be made only during two application windows each twelve-month period. Application windows will be announced on this website, via Facebook, and in our e-letter.

All applications will be determined on a strictly first-come, first-served basis; however, the Marpa House trustees reserve the right to grant a different number of retreat days than those applied for.