Savio House is a residential centre for young people aged 14-25 who want to develop their awareness of their own unique story, their gifts and their direction in life. It provides programmes for searching experience through adventure, conversation and stillness. It reaches beneath the normal level of awareness by using the images and stories of the Gospels and invites young people, as far as they are ready, to experience the mystery present at the centre of their lives.
The centre is staffed with a youth team and is set in stunning scenery in the foothills of the Pennine Hills between Buxton and Macclesfield. Savio is also the base for Salesian Youth Ministry in the UK and hosts many other branches of the Salesian network through the year. It is a place of friendship and hospitality.
For further information contact admin at saviooffice@saviohouse.org.uk
For more information and retreat photos please visit http://www.saviohouse.org.uk/
Most Recent Savio Stories
Back to the Future
22nd-25th November Back to the Future took place at Savio House in Bollington, UK. Although the weather was wet and a little cold the participants were full of life, energy and enthusiasm to explore the idea of taking their voluntary experiences and building the future.
25 Participants from 8 countries took part. We were pleased to welcome Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Malta, Poland, Spain and UK. Together they had volunteered across Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia.
With these experiences they shared, contemplated and expanded on how they can continue to remain active and helping those in need. They explored the challenges young people face in their own countries. They looked at examples of local initiatives that have been set up and what kind challenges young people face. Together they formed ideas for local initiatives they could get involved with and even set up.
Active citizenship and Volunteering challenged their ideals. What does it mean to volunteer? What is active citizenship? How are they different? Working in groups they discussed their views and opinions trying to create a universal and agreed definition. Using Youth in Action and local initiative as a focal point they developed projects and ideas that they could do.
Our DBYN expert trainers from Malta (James) and Austria (Eveline and Kathi) delivered the program. With their skills, expertise and energy they enabled the participants to use their own volunteering experiences and develop new ideas for future engagement through local initiatives and with the help of Youth in Action. A BIG THANK YOU TO THE EXPERT TRAINERS
The UK Hosting team (Sue, Patrick, Ste and Marie) enjoyed Back to the Future and providing a very British service of tea, biscuits and socialising. “It was jolly good fun old chap”- Sue
Now Back to the Future has ended and the participants have left. They can now begin to engage in their local communities with some of the challenges young people face.
Easter Retreat 2013
If you are interested in taking part in this retreat, then attached below, is the booking form. If you have any questions about the retreat then please contact Sue: sue@salesianyouthministy.org.uk
Volunteering Page!
A new section of the website is launched today, a section which hopes to promote the volunteering opportunities that the Salesians have available. The main ways to volunteer with the Salesians of Don Bosco are through BOVA (which offers an overseas volunteering experience) and at Savio House (a year of retreat work). Savio House works closely with Brettargh Holt, the retreat centre of the Salesian sisters, so the opportunity to volunteer at this centre is also advertised. (more…)
Three Islands Meeting
After the success of the 3-Islands meeting in Bollington last year, the Youth Ministry teams of the British, Irish and Maltese Provinces descended upon Maynooth for a weekend of sharing and learning.
The working motif for the weekend was ‘a journey to, in and from the desert’, as in the desert, our questions may not have answers, but it is a place where we can search and explore our questions. (more…)
CYMFed: A Prophetic Voice In Our Midst
CYMFed is “a prophetic voice in our midst.” A bold statement to make about a national congress that’s only in it’s early years, but is it true? I would argue yes.
The meeting in Euston on Saturday 12th March was, for me, a very powerful experience, not only for the key note speakers, but for the reassurance that we are not the only ones working with and for young people in our country. It was also a chance to learn more about the vision for CYMFed and how they want us to be a part of that vision. (more…)
