Castlerigg Manor - The Team

The Team

The youth work at Castlerigg Manor is done by a dedicated team of young committed Catholics. The director of the centre is currently Ruth Corless. From January 2005 until the summer of 2006, the centre director was part-time; sharing his responsibilities with that of being parish priest to the town of Keswick. From August 2006, however, changed with the arrival of Fr. Peter Stanton as a full time residential director. The youth work is looked after by two full time Team Leaders/Programme Co-ordinators, who are responsible for the team and for the work of the centre - currently Patricia Benson and Kevin Mendes. The other members of the youth team are gap year volunteers.

Many members of the team are from the local area and apply to Castlerigg having been to the Manor on-course as young people, although others (especially the older members of staff) come from other parts of the UK or even further afield. The current volunteer team is; James O'Donnell (whose sister, Rosie Gannon (née O'Donnell) cousin, Laura Raistrick and both parents, Neil O'Donnell and Jane O'Donnell (née Thorne) have all worked as volunteers at Castlerigg Manor) Sophie Hurst, formerly of St Cassians Centre, Kintbury, Anna Handy, Nicholas Bland, Johannes Frenz, Kieron Ainsworth and Richard Teasdale - a second year volunteer. One key member of the team would be the Youth Chaplain Fr. Phillip Conner who works closely with not only members of the team but also young members of the Diocese. One other member of the Castleirgg Community is the Hunky Handy Man Carrick, the envy of many men and the bliss of several girls.