Quinn's Retreat

30/10/2026

Quinn's Retreat is once again taking part in the fabulous Strictlystepbystep event on Sunday 8th November and our dancer this year is our treasurer Carrie Friedle fantastic husband James.

If you have any spare money to support James the fundraising link is below and all the money raised allows us to continue helping families bereaved by su***de and those who are suffering with their mental health, in memory of Dyllon and Quinn

Help James Spanswick raise money to support Quinn's Retreat

10/10/2026

💙🖤 WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY 🖤💙

Mental health matters every single day, not just one day a year when everyone suddenly remembers to talk about it.

Seven years ago, we lost our beautiful daughter, Quinn. Just ten months later, we lost our amazing son, Dyl. Just two days before world mental health day.

Two children. Ten months apart. Two losses that shattered our world forever.

We know first-hand that mental health struggles don't follow a calendar. Neither does grief. Neither does the pain of losing someone to su***de.

So please, don't just ask someone if they're okay today. Ask tomorrow. Ask next week. Look beyond the smile. Listen to what isn't being said. Be there when the world has moved on but someone is still fighting to survive their own darkness.

A social media post lasts seconds. The impact of feeling alone can last a lifetime.

At Quinn's Retreat, we will keep speaking their names, keep fighting for those left behind, and keep reminding people that they are not alone.

For Quinn. For Dyl. For everyone we've lost. And for everyone still fighting.

Mental health matters every day. Let's start acting like it. 💙🖤

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08/10/2026

Seven Years Without You Dyl 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

Seven years have passed,
Yet I still hear your laugh —
that crooked, wicked grin

behind black eyeliner and shadows,
turning the world’s pain
into some dark joke only you could tell.

My funny boy,
my strange, electric star,
You walked through life
like it was a stage set in midnight velvet —
all mystery, all edge,
all heart beneath the armor.

When Quinn left us,
You carried us through.
Your grief was raw,
But you held me up
When my own knees gave way.

You made me laugh
in the ruins of our loss,
kept us breathing
When the world felt impossible.

But love like that,
grief like that,
Was too heavy for one young heart.
You bore it quietly,
too quietly,
until the silence took you too.

Now I live in the after —
searching crowded rooms,
searching every shadow
for a flicker of you.

Seven years of aching,
Seven years of learning
How to speak your name
without breaking.

But I will never stop saying it.
Never stop loving you.

You were my boy —
funny, dark, enigmatic, goth.
And even now,
As autumn returns,
I light a candle for you
in the night you loved so much,
whispering to the stars:

I miss you, Dyl.
I miss you, Quinn.
I love and miss you both.

24/09/2026

13/09/2026

It's Great North Run day!

Good luck to all of our fabulous runners and we look forward to seeing you at the finish!

Just a reminder that we have moved charity village location as we are also welcoming runners from PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Su***de

We are now in Avenue E tent 72

If you see Dave on the run give him a cheer!

12/09/2026

Last little share of David Beadle Great North Run fundraiser for Quinn's Retreat .

I'm so proud of him, despite being 8 years older than the last time he ran it, he's really tried to get back into training. Even though his body's not been quite as keen as he has!!

https://ajbellgreatnorthrun2026.enthuse.com/pf/david-beadle?utm_id=97758_v0_s00_e0_tv2_a1dennhb8tgmpa&fbclid=IwdGRjcAURwqV0ZGNwBO_ZPGNsY2sE79k2cGRvZgFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAwzNTA2ODU1MzE3MjgAAR5FytVQFeKc6uueWxL8eXLV5qNT11bcjwKn_m6RVDs6i5T_pivp7EIAMe-0Ng_aem_xl6cGzVG8RoySokgIIysJw

I always have been a keen runner and have completed the Great North Run a number of times before we lost the kids, but since then running has not been a priority for me. The Great North Run has always

10/09/2026

💚 WORLD SU***DE PREVENTION DAY 💚

Today, there will be thousands of posts reminding people that su***de prevention matters.

Posts telling people to reach out.
To talk.
To ask someone if they’re okay.
To remind people that they are not alone.

And every single one of those messages matters.

But there is another part of su***de prevention that we believe needs to be talked about much more.

POSTVENTION.

Because when someone dies by su***de, the need for support doesn’t end.

In fact, for those left behind, it can be where a completely different kind of battle begins.

The grief can be traumatic, complicated and overwhelming. There can be guilt, anger, confusion, unanswered questions and a thousand thoughts of “what if?”

And sometimes people who have always been strong suddenly find themselves struggling just to get through the day.

We know this because we live it.

At Quinn’s Retreat, we lost our beautiful Quinn at just 17 years old, and then Dyl, aged 21, only 10 months later.

We know what su***de bereavement can do to a family.

We know the silence that can surround it.

We know how isolating it can feel.

And we know that sometimes the people who are left behind need just as much support as the person who was struggling before they died.

Research has found that people bereaved by su***de are around 65% more likely to attempt su***de themselves than those bereaved by other sudden causes of death.

That statistic should stop us in our tracks.

Because it means that supporting people AFTER a su***de is not an optional extra.

Postvention IS su***de prevention.

At Quinn’s Retreat, we provide free respite breaks for families bereaved by su***de. We give people somewhere they can step away from the noise of everyday life, somewhere they can breathe, talk, cry, laugh, remember and simply be together.

Because sometimes healing doesn't mean moving on.

Sometimes it means learning how to carry the loss while knowing you don't have to carry it alone.

So today, while we talk about preventing su***de, let's also remember those who have already lost someone.

Check in on them.

Don't stop asking just because the funeral is over.

Don't assume they're okay because they've gone back to work.

Don't be afraid to say their loved one's name.

And don't underestimate the power of simply saying:

“I'm here. I haven't forgotten. You don't have to do this alone.”

Prevention matters.

But so does what happens afterwards.

💚 Postvention is su***de prevention too.

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09/09/2026

💚 If you’ve lost someone to su***de, this message is for you.

As World Su***de Prevention Day approaches, your social media may be filled with posts about su***de, reaching out, hope and prevention.

But when you’ve lost someone, these messages can feel complicated.

This day can bring everything back — what happened, what you wish you’d known, the questions you still carry, and all the things you wish you could say to the person you’ve lost.

You might feel angry, heartbroken, numb, guilty or lost. You might feel okay one minute and overwhelmed the next.

There is no right way to feel.

You don’t have to join the conversation. You don’t have to read the posts. You don’t have to share your story.

If it feels too much, step away. Put your phone down. Stay away from social media. Do whatever you need to protect your heart.

At Quinn’s Retreat, we understand that su***de bereavement can be a lonely and complicated journey.

So today, and every day, we want you to know:

You are not alone.
Your grief matters.
Your feelings are valid.
And it’s okay to take care of yourself. 💚

Sending love to everyone missing someone they love today.

If you need someone to talk to, Samaritans are available 24/7 on 116 123.

Quinn’s Retreat 💚

08/09/2026

💛 TO ALL THE PAPYRUS GREAT NORTH RUNNERS 💛

With the incredibly sad news that PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Su***de has gone into administration and HOPELINEUK has closed, we know that many of you who have been training, fundraising and preparing for this Sunday’s Great North Run may now be wondering what happens on race day.

You may have been expecting to meet the PAPYRUS team, have somewhere to go, collect support or simply know that someone from the charity would be there cheering you on.

We don’t want anyone to feel like they’re facing Sunday alone. 💛

Quinn’s Retreat would like to offer a safe and welcoming space for anyone running the Great North Run for PAPYRUS who may now be without the support or hosting arrangements they were expecting.

Whether you need somewhere to meet before or after the run, somewhere to leave belongings, a friendly face, a cuppa, somewhere to sit and catch your breath, or simply people around you who understand why you’re running — we are here.

We know that many of you will have trained for months and raised money because you believe passionately in supporting young people and preventing su***de. That reason hasn’t disappeared. Your commitment hasn’t disappeared. And neither has ours. 💛

We are especially thinking of our friends, the 3 Dads Walking, who have raised so much money and awareness for PAPYRUS over the years, and everyone who has supported their incredible work.

If you are running for PAPYRUS this Sunday and are now unsure of what support will be available, please get in touch with Quinn’s Retreat.

📩 Send us an email [email protected] and we will do everything we can to make sure you have somewhere to go and people around you on the day.

You’ve trained.
You’ve fundraised.
You’ve shown up.

Now let us show up for you. 💛

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08/09/2026

💙 Some news is difficult to read. This is one of those stories.

We are deeply saddened to hear that PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Su***de has gone into administration and that HOPELINEUK has ceased operating with immediate effect.

For years, HOPELINEUK has been there for young people, parents, families, friends and professionals who were worried about su***de. For many, simply knowing there was someone they could contact — someone who understood — was a lifeline.

To suddenly lose a service like this is heartbreaking.

Our thoughts are with the PAPYRUS team, volunteers and, most importantly, every young person and family who has depended on their support.

We sincerely hope that, through the administration process, a way can be found to bring this vital service back.

Because the need hasn't gone away.

Young people will still struggle. Parents will still be frightened and not know where to turn. Families will still need support. Professionals will still need specialist advice.

Su***de prevention cannot be the responsibility of one organisation. It has to be a collaborative effort.

And this news highlights something that we at Quinn's Retreat feel very strongly about

💙 Funding matters.

Behind every charity and community organisation are real people working incredibly hard to provide vital support.

There are buildings to maintain, training to provide, safeguarding responsibilities, resources to pay for and, most importantly, people who need someone to be there when they reach out.

Goodwill alone cannot keep essential services running.

And this is why the news feels particularly heartbreaking when we think about our friends, 3 Dads Walking

Following the devastating loss of their daughters to su***de, Andy, Mike and Tim took on an incredible challenge, walking hundreds of miles to raise awareness and funds for PAPYRUS and its su***de prevention work.

They walked because they wanted to help save lives.

They walked because they wanted other families to be spared the unimaginable pain they themselves were living through.

They walked because they believed that something had to change.

To see PAPYRUS now facing this situation is incredibly difficult, particularly knowing how much effort and fundraising has gone into supporting the organisation and the vital work it has done.

💙 Our hearts go out to The Three Dads Walking and everyone who has supported their campaign.

Their work, and the work of so many others, shows just how much people care about preventing su***de. But people shouldn't have to walk hundreds of miles and raise millions of pounds simply to keep essential support available.

Su***de prevention needs long-term, sustainable funding.

So if there is a charity, campaign or community organisation whose work matters to you, please support them if you can.

Donate. Fundraise. Volunteer. Share their posts. Talk about their work.

You never know when something you share might reach the person who desperately needs it.

And please remember that charities supporting people after su***de are just as important as those working in prevention.

At Quinn’s Retreat, we support people living with the devastating impact of losing someone they love to su***de. We know that the need for support doesn't end after a funeral.

The grief continues.
The questions continue.
The pain continues.

And sometimes, months or even years later, people still need somewhere safe to turn.

That is why organisations like ours need your support too. 💙

⚠️ **Please note:** HOPELINEUK is currently not operating, so please do not share or signpost anyone to their previous contact details.

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts and needs urgent support, these services remain available 24/7:

📞 **Samaritans:** 116 123
📱 **Shout:** Text **SHOUT** to 85258
🏥 **NHS:** Call 111 and select the mental health option
🚨 **Emergency:** Call 999

We cannot allow vital support to disappear simply because the funding runs out.

We need to keep talking.
We need to keep supporting.
We need to keep fundraising.
And above all, we need to keep people here. 💙

Quinn’s Retreat will continue to do everything we can to support families bereaved by su***de and to shine a light on the importance of su***de prevention and compassionate bereavement support.

But we need our community beside us.

💙 Together, we can make a difference.

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