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FAQs

Derwent Project

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some answers some common questions. We’d love to hear from you if you’d like to know more, write to partners@keswickministries.org.

No, the plan is to refurbish the Pencil Factory, not to demolish it.
The plan is to remove extraneous metalwork, restore and renew the façade to its former glory.
No. There is accommodation, but this is for our volunteers during the Convention – and is a like for like arrangement with our current facility at Skiddaw Street.
Yes – for volunteer accommodation during the Convention and for small groups who use the facility at weekends. The same arrangement as we have at our current facility at Skiddaw street.
That would depend upon the size and nature of each conference.
No. We will continue to feed our volunteers, during the Convention, from the dining facilities in the new building, just as we currently do at Skiddaw Street. We will continue to encourage participants at any of our events to use the town’s eating establishments.
The design will include flood resilience and will see the lower ground floor raised by 1m to above the water level reached during Storm Desmond, December 2015.
The car parks will be fully operational outside of the Convention weeks on both Rawnsley and Pencil Factory Sites. Provision will also be made for visitors to the Pencil Museum all the year round.
The plan is that it will be put up for sale, in order to fund the refurbishment of the Pencil Factory. We have an obligation to the Charity Commission to obtain the best value for the site.
People access and egress during the Convention is going to be a key part of the next stage of our design process.

It will provide:

  • A Conference Centre that will attract visitors to Keswick
  • Create employment
  • Provide much needed extra car parking space for the town
  • Host the pencil museum.
  • A new facility for local activity groups
Where possible we will invite local contractors to tender.

Keswick Convention – Your Questions Answered

Frequently Asked Questions

Accessibility

Visit our accessibility page to find out more about provision on site.

The 2024 dates are as follows:

Week 1: Saturday 13th – Friday 19th July 2024
Week 2: Saturday 20th – Friday 26th July 2024
Week 3: Saturday 27th July – Friday 2nd August 2024

Q&A’S ABOUT CONVENTION DATES

The 2024 dates are as follows:

Week 1: David Gibson
Week 2: Andrew Sach
Week 3: Vaughan Roberts

Confirmed speakers and other programme information will be available soon.

Keswick Convention takes place annually, bringing together thousands of like-minded Christians who want to hear God’s Word, become like God’s Son and serve God’s Mission.

There’s a wide programme of activities and events to get involved in and you can choose whatever you would like to attend. See the pages throughout this website to read about what’s on offer this year, what happened last year, how you can book accommodation, where to park and how you can get involved.

This summer’s programme will be released closer to the time of the event.

For an idea of what the Convention programme looks like during the week, you can browse the programme from last year using the button below.

View the 2023 Programme

Keswick Convention is held on the Pencil Factory site in Keswick.

The address is:

Keswick Ministries, Rawnsley Centre, Keswick, CA12 5NP

View the Site Map

We are thankful that through the generosity of our supporters we are able to make the Convention available to all, without the need to charge for any events. This means everything is free, including the children’s and youth activities (apart from an occasional ticketed concert).

Of course, the budget is substantial. We estimate that if every adult attending for a week gave £135, Gift-Aided where possible, we would reach our budget. We recognise that some people can’t afford this much, whilst others may be able to give more. So during each week we provide opportunities for people to contribute as they feel able. 

No, there is no registration or booking needed to attend the event.

Registration is required  for those attending the Kids and Youth programme: Keswick Kids & Keswick Youth – Keswick Ministries 

You can find more information about the Keswick for Kids and Keswick Youth programmes here: Kids & Youth – Keswick Ministries

You can find this on the Pencil Factory site, located in the Packing Hall with TV relay. Open for morning Bible Readings, Evening Celebrations and the Keswick Lecture.

Parental supervision is required at all times. Baby changing facilities available.

We respectfully ask that the crèche is only used for children under 3 years of age.

On the Convention site, there is a relay venue in Base Camp. This is a smaller space seating space and a quieter venue during meeting times.

Keswick Methodist Church will be relaying Bible Readings and Evening Celebrations throughout the Convention. The premises are fully wheelchair accessible, loop system, suitable for the visually impaired, and dog friendly.

Watch on YouTube – All Main Tent sessions on Livestream and seminar sessions on catch-up following the event.

We dont keep a list of accommodation in Keswick; however we do have a shortlist of places to help you start your search on our Plan Your Visit page.

 

Yes, there will be a Count Everyone In programme this year taking place in week 1 (15 – 21 July). 

View the programme: Count Everyone In at Convention 2023! – Keswick Ministries

There is allocated seating inside the main tent towards the stage where there is also a BSL signer. There is also allocated seating at the back of the Main Tent. Stewards will be able to help you locate these areas on arrival.

The Relay venue in the Packing Hall is also wheelchair-user-friendly.

Disabled Parking will be available on the Rawnsley site, on a first come first served basis for Blue Badge holders.

There is no convention Parking on the Pencil Factory and Rawnsley site for the duration of the Convention. If you are driving into town, please use the existing town car parks: Car Parks (keswick.org)

Large Print and Braille are available for Main Tent meetings. Please ask a member of the Welcome Team or Convention Reception for a copy.

A loop system operates in the three main venues and at the majority of the seminar venues. In the main venue, those wishing to benefit from the provision of BSL Interpreters can sit in the designated area in front of the platform.

 

Keswick town and local area is very dog-friendly with hospitality, shopping and attractions that are all dog-friendly, not to mention beautiful walks to explore the countryside.

We do not allow animals on to the Keswick Convention sites and in meeting venues except for guide, hearing, or registered assistance dogs, including those in training. Our security team have a responsibility to check this on entry. Please bring the dog’s ‘Assistance Dog’s (UK)’ identification book (or the appropriate international equivalent) with you.

Due to health and safety reasons, we do not allow emotional support animals on the Convention site.

For those wishing to watch a relay of the Main Tent sessions, Keswick Methodist Church will be live-streaming Bible Readings and Evening Celebrations throughout the Convention. The premises are fully wheelchair accessible, loop system, suitable for the visually impaired, and are dog friendly.

Yes you can. Our security team will carry out bag searches for everyone entering the site, so please consider what you bring with you. Bags over a certain size and other items may be stopped by security.

The Convention reception is located in the Admin Block, next to the Main Tent and will be open during site opening hours to answer any questions.

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Keswick Ministries