ABOUT THE CENTRE
VISION
The Helier Centre was established in 2025 to be a retreat centre and cultural hub, rooted at Elizabeth Castle in Jersey, Channel Islands. It seeks to be a place of refuge, renewal, and inspiration—blending community, culture, and spirituality. In an age of fragmentation, the Centre seeks to provide space for dialogue, reflection, research, creativity, and wellbeing, serving both the Island and an international network.
VALUES
Culture – hosting artists, workshops, exhibitions
Education – symposia, training, academic partnerships
Spirituality – retreats, interfaith and reflective gatherings
Reconciliation – facilitated dialogues across divides
Ecology – modelling eco-sustainability
Adventure & Wellbeing – outdoor, ocean-based activity
International Community – connecting Jersey to a wider global network
THEMES
Mental, social and environmental wellbeing
Offering retreats, workshops, and dialogues focused on mindfulness, stress reduction, and regenerative living.
Sustainable and regenerative living
Hosting classes, demonstrations, and exhibits on sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, and circular economy.
Innovative futures and social enterprise
Curating lectures, panels, and networking events on social innovation, entrepreneurship, and future-focused solutions.
Global citizenship and peace-building
Organising conferences, workshops, and cultural festivals exploring themes of diversity, inclusion, and conflict resolution.
The interaction between art and social change
Hosting exhibitions, performances, and artist residencies that explore the role of creative expression in driving social progress.
Inclusive spirituality and community development
Offering retreats, workshops, and community gatherings focused on interfaith dialogue, spiritual practices, and grassroots initiatives.
inspiration
The rocky islet in St Aubin’s bay now known as Elizabeth Castle has served as a crucible of Jersey’s changing identity through the many interwoven layers of our island story. In the sixth century, a rock on the site was chosen as a dwelling by a Helier, a monk in search of a solitary life.
Before his martyrdom at the hands of marauding pirates, Helier gifted Christianity to the tiny beleaguered fishing community living on the sand dunes of St Aubin’s Bay, laying down the Island’s spiritual and cultural foundations, and providing a pattern which would profoundly shape Jersey’s laws, customs and values.
Although many think of it simply as a military fortification, the site has been host to a faith community; served as a place of refuge for kings and rebels; provided an open space for diplomacy, politics and civic discourse; offered protection against military assault and supplied medical treatment, hospitality and healing to those charged with the Island’s care.
Finances
The Helier Centre is a not-for-profit company, meaning that any surplus funds are reinvested into the work of the Centre.
A fee is charged for some events to help cover costs, especially those that include overnight accommodation. But for most events there is no charge, though donations are welcomed on either an ad hoc or membership basis.
The Centre is primarily funded by grants from the Madeleine Trust; by gifts from a small number of individual supporters; and by the contributions of its members.
PARTNERSHIPS
The Helier Centre has core partnerships with Jersey Heritage, the Jersey Deanery and the Diocese of Salisbury. It has extended partnerships with Sarum College, Jersey International Centre for Advanced Studies (JICAS), Kairos Arts and Kerouac Adventures.
governance
The Helier Centre is a company limited by guarantee and regulated by the Jersey Financial Services Commission. Day to day, the Helier Centre is managed by Khora Partners on behalf of the Board, which currently comprises: Jon Carter, the Chief Executive of Jersey Heritage Trust; The Very Reverend Mike Keirle, The Dean of Jersey; Reverend Mark Barrett, Vicar of St Andrew’s Church and Co-Founder of Kerouac Adventures; and Paul Milbank, Founder and Director of Khora Partners.