This residential event addresses the significant challenges currently faced by professionals in education, with a focus on prevention, connection, and sustainability. Building on the success of previous years, the 2026 programme will introduce innovative strategies designed to enhance mental wellbeing for both students and staff.
Participants will gain practical skills to implement holistic, cost-effective activities that make use of local resources, community connections, and the natural environment. In keeping with MWBHE’s ethos, the event will place particular emphasis on upstream prevention; making small, practical changes and taking proactive steps to address challenges before they escalate, alongside social prescribing and staff wellbeing. These will be explored as everyday actions and activities that individuals and teams can adopt to help create a healthier, more resilient sector.
Set within a retreat-style environment, the programme encourages attendees to reflect on their own practice, renew their energy, and refresh their approaches to wellbeing support. The event draws on recent research highlighting the benefits of nature-based experiences, physical movement, and healthy work practices in fostering resilience, reducing stress, and preventing burnout.
Booking information
Date: 11-12 June 2026
Venue: Glenmore Lodge, Aviemore, Scotland
Content
Across the two days, delegates will take part in a variety of activities, workshops, and talks that showcase holistic, evidence-informed techniques which can be adapted for use within their own institutions.
Sessions will:
- Provide first-hand experience of therapeutic and wellbeing-focused activities.
- Explore how to embed these approaches into education settings, regardless of prior experience or confidence levels.
- Highlight practical examples of social prescribing, connecting students and staff to non-clinical, community-based resources.
- Demonstrate ways to integrate upstream prevention into systems, policies, and everyday practice.
- Focus on staff wellbeing as an essential part of sustaining a healthy and resilient sector.
This is a residential event, starting in the afternoon on Thursday 11 June 2026, with a full day of training on Friday 12 June 2026. The venue is Glenmore Lodge in Aviemore where accommodation and all activities are based. Should you prefer to stay offsite there is a ticket only option available.
Well worth the travelling (for any sceptics out there) – such a beautiful setting; all very well organised with excellent sessions; recharging whilst reflecting and learning. Got to meet some awesome folks and share our experiences and challenges. Really hope I can attend in 2026!”
Suzanne Edwards, Senior Lecturer, Harper Adams University
Programme
Included as part of the registration fee:
Thursday 11 June:
- Lunch followed by an arrival activity, 2 hours of parallel workshops and an evening meal followed by an evening activity.
- Accommodation across Glenmore Lodge for those who have booked a single or shared occupancy ticket.
Friday 12 June:
- A full day of activities, workshops and talks.
- Breakfast (for those staying onsite) and lunch is included with refreshments available throughout the day.
Mental Wellbeing Retreat 2026 Programme
Additional programme information – Mental Wellbeing Recharge 2026
Speakers
Allie Scott
Co-chair of the MWBHE Expert Group, Chair-elect of HUCS (Heads of University Counselling Services) and Mental Health and Counselling Manager
University of the Highlands and Islands
Avril Leonard
Clinical Practice Manager and Outdoor Therapist, Venture Trust
Louise Broda
Dr Marie Murphy
Chartered Counselling Psychologist
Andy Cross
Person Centred Therapist
Géraldine Dufour
Chair, European Association for International Education (EAIE)
David Girling
Travel and Accommodation
Single occupancy tickets will be accommodated in a room within Glenmore Lodge.
Shared occupancy tickets will be accommodated within one of the chalets onsite. You will have your own bedroom with a shared kitchen, bathroom and living area. If you would like to share accommodation with a specific person please email the names to events@advance-he.ac.uk after booking. If no requests are made, we will assign you a room.
Please note, accommodation is not provided for ticket only bookings.
There is the option to book accommodation for the Friday night. This will be an additional charge and will be in a single occupancy room within the lodge. If required, accommodation can be booked on the Wednesday night directly with Glenmore Lodge.
The best way to travel to Glenmore Lodge is to fly to Inverness airport. Airports including London, Bristol, Manchester and Birmingham all fly to Inverness. From the airport there are buses and trains to Aviemore.
There are also direct trains to Inverness from most UK train stations, including overnight sleeper trains.
Glenmore Lodge is roughly 15 minutes away from Aviemore in a taxi. Alternatively, there are buses.
For more travel information please click here.
Reflection
“I attended the Recharge event to refocus, recharge, and explore new ways of working with students. What I discovered was a truly amazing community—welcoming, supportive, and inspiring. I didn’t know anyone when I arrived, but it quickly felt like I was chatting with old friends. Everyone made me feel completely at ease. I can’t recommend it highly enough—it really ought to be an essential part of every end-of-year staff wellbeing programme.”
Jillian Walls, Lecturer, Fife College
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