Who’s behind this?

Who’s behind this?

Freely Given Retreats is a charity run by a small group of trustees who are all experienced and committed retreatants. They are supported by Insight Meditation teacher Kirsten Kratz. The roles of chairperson, treasurer and secretary are rotated amongst trustees each year. Membership of the charity is open to anyone who participates in our retreats.

The Trustees

Richard Reid

Richard first began meditating in 1999 and has been involved in running insight meditation retreats since 2006. He is passionate about environmental issues and the integration of spiritual practice into daily life. He has twice served as a volunteer coordinator at Gaia House and now oversees the running of the kitchen there.

Stewart Moir

Stewart is inspired to support Freely Given Retreats primarily because of the charity’s commitment to the practice of generosity. He feels that his practice has been continually supported by the generosity of others, and as such wants to support others and make retreats available in this way. He has been practising since 2005 and currently lives with his family in Devon.

Linda Vincent

Linda has been practising meditation and yoga for nearly 30 years and is committed to encouraging and supporting others on their journeys of inner exploration. She has been a co-ordinator on many Freely Given retreats and became a trustee in 2020

Lesley Wye

Lesley started working with Freely Given Retreats as a coordinator in 2019 and became a trustee in 2022. In addition, she is a trustee of Bristol Insight Meditation where she runs nature meditation retreats and Rewilding Women overnights to help women overcome their fears of practising alone in the woods. Lesley is passionate about reconnecting people to nature and nature-based practice. She has been practising insight meditation since 2008 and lives in Bristol.

Guiding Teacher

Kirsten Kratz

Kirsten has practised Buddhist meditation in Asia and the West since 1993. She started teaching in 2006. Since 2015 she has been supporting those on personal and work retreat in Gaia House.
Her love and understanding of Dharma has been strongly influenced by, among others, the teachings of her friend and teacher colleague Rob Burbea.
Kirsten is co-initiator of the “Dharma Action Network for Climate Engagement” (DANCE) and supporting teacher of Freely Given Retreats.
One of her particular passions is exploring how wisdom teachings can foster appropriate responses to the challenges of our time and Kirsten sees her activism as an important expression of her practice.