Our Approach
At the heart of Midlife Reimagined is our Life Story approach, developed over 25 years of professional practice. It’s an invitation to share your story, what has shaped you and where you are now, with space to imagine what you’d like the next chapter of your life to be.
You choose what you would like to share and explore.
“The beautiful surroundings, careful structure with time to rest as well as creative ways to explore our individual life stories made this programme absolutely unique.” — 2026 retreat
The Week, Day by Day
Monday
Arrive by 3pm, settle in, meet the group and begin the week together.
Tuesday
Looking back at the turning points that have shaped your life.
Wednesday
Taking stock, with time to explore what has been asking for your attention.
Thursday
Looking ahead, deciding what matters to you now and shaping how you want to live in the years ahead.
Friday
A morning to bring the week together and gather what you want to carry with you as you head home. Depart at 12pm.
How the days work
Over five days, we explore the stories you wish to share through conversation, reflection and creative exercises. Familiar stories can look different, and new ones can begin to emerge.
For example, we’ll invite you to bring an object from your life that has meaning for you, and to share the story of the object, why it has mattered over the years, and what it means to you now.
There are four group sessions each day, with two hours each afternoon that are yours to rest, sit in the peaceful walled garden or walk the woodland and river paths.
“The work was stimulating without pressure, at a calm pace that I really needed.” — 2025 retreat
“This week has been safe and held. It has felt like a fresh start.” — 2026 retreat
Meet Karin and Alison
Alison O’Connor
Karin Diamond
Midlife Reimagined was created by Karin Diamond and Alison O’Connor, co-founders of Re-Live, a life story charity based in Wales. For more than 25 years they have supported people at times of change through their Life Story practice, across health, education, corporate and community settings, in the UK and internationally, including Japan, South Africa, Brazil and the USA.
Karin is Re-Live’s Artistic Director and a Global Brain Health Fellow at the University of California, San Francisco. Alison is a therapist, trainer and supervisor. Both are Churchill Fellows and co-authors of Creating Life Story Theatre (Bloomsbury, 2025). Close friends for over 35 years, and in midlife themselves, they designed this week especially for people at this stage of life, and facilitate the week together.
“I am in awe of Karin and Alison’s skills, compassion, patience, humour and humanity. You have the ability to make everyone feel special, listened to and heard.” — 2026 retreat
Practical details
Where: The Coach House, Sharpham Trust, South Devon
Dates: 26–30 April 2027 and 13–17 September 2027
Timings: arrive by 3pm on Monday, depart 12pm on Friday
Group size: twelve people
Price: £1,250, including your private en-suite room, all meals and the full programme. Early bird £995 if you book by 30 November. You can pay in full or in three instalments.
Access: your room, the Coach House and the walled garden are all accessible. Talk to us about any access needs.
Next steps
Have a question? Email us, and we’ll reply within two working days.
Interested in joining us? Book a free 15-minute chat, with no pressure and no commitment. After your chat, if you’d like to go ahead, we’ll send you the booking details.
If you have any access, sensory, communication or dietary needs, just let us know and we’ll talk with you about how we can support you.
The Coach House, Sharpham