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You will hopefully find the answers to most of your questions in the list below. However, if your query isn't dealt with here, please look on the Hayes Conference Centre website, where you will find a great deal of information including a virtual tour of the centre. If you still need assistance, please email Katrina Henderson from our Admin Team.
The Hayes Conference Centre, Hayes Lane, Swanwick, Alfreton, Derbyshire, DE55 1AU.
Tuesday 12 – Thursday 14 May 2026
From 12noon on Tuesday 12 May, lunch from 1pm and the first session is at 2pm.
It finishes at 1:15pm on Thursday 14 May. There will be lunch available before you leave.
All licensed diocesan clergy.
All stipendiary parish clergy are expected to attend; SSMs and Chaplains are warmly invited but are not obliged to attend.
Yes – we will have to pay 100% of the cost of your place. Everyone who wishes to attend has a place and we currently have no waiting list, so there will be nobody to step in if you suddenly can’t make it.
Please contact Bishop Paul direct on bishop.paul@cofeguildford.org.uk
Yes - you will still need to email Bishop Paul on bishop.paul@cofeguildford.org.uk
No – there’s no need for you to send apologies.
We’ll need to close bookings by Monday 20th April latest in order to submit details to The Hayes Conference Centre.
Yes – everyone will have their own en suite bedroom. Delegates attending with their spouse will have a double room.
From 3pm on Tuesday (the Centre will store your luggage until then if you’ve travelled up by train).
If you’ve requested an easy-access room, you will be assigned one.
Yes – there is free, fast Wi-Fi across the site in bedrooms, meeting rooms and communal areas.
No, although you can stream content to your own device via the centre Wi-Fi. There are TVs available for guest use in the Centre’s communal areas.
No – all towels and bedding will be provided, although you can of course bring anything you would like to for comfort, such as your own pillow. There is also a hairdryer in every room, as well as soap and shampoo/shower gel.
We will pass all dietary needs we’ve been given onto the conference centre. They guarantee to provide dishes for vegetarians and vegans, as well as for guests with any of the 14 recognised allergens, as long as these have been advised in advance. Other allergens/intolerances/preferences will need to be self-monitored. There will be a choice of dishes at every meal and the meals are self-serve buffet style, so you can select exactly what you’d like to eat.
No – we are prohibited from bringing any consumables onto the site, due to very strict food hygiene and health & safety regulations, principally to prevent contamination for those with severe food allergies. Any exception would need to be agreed in advance by the front of house team.
No – you can sit wherever you like in the dining room. However, there will be some designated tables at breakfast on each of the two mornings where focussed conversation around certain topics will be facilitated, e.g. Vocations, Youth, Children & Families, Racial Diversity and Net Zero.
Tuesday: lunch, tea & cake, two-course dinner
Wednesday: breakfast, coffee & biscuits, lunch, tea & cake, conference dinner
Thursday: breakfast, coffee & biscuits, lunch
Yes.
Tea, coffee & hot chocolate will be available from 8am until 8pm in the bar area. There will also be a selection of herbal teas is available at the coffee station.
Yes in the bar and restaurant.
From 7.30 am. The first session starts at 8.30 am.
No – you will need to pay for all drinks at the bar yourself, and only card payments are accepted.
Yes – electric car-charging facilities are available on a first come, first served basis. You’ll need to visit reception to pay for a charging session before use. The centre’s chargers typically deliver around 7kW of power and are charged at 50p per kWh (subject to change), which you’ll need to pay for yourself direct to the centre. There is a non-refundable deposit of £10. There are 6 charging points in total at the Hayes.
Yes, there are plenty of parking spaces so that everyone who drives can park on site.
The nearest is Alfreton Station, 3 miles from Hayes centre
The nearest main line station is Derby, then take a bus to the bus station (1 mile)
No.
Yes, though it’s sensible to pre-book.
The Diocese covers accommodation and food costs, however you will need to cover travel costs, with your parish re-imbursing your expenses.
Please talk to your fellow delegates (including all incumbents).
All the main conference halls are step-free and accessible for delegates with disabilities. There are Blue Badge parking bays near entrances.
There are rooms designed for delegates with disabilities, including adapted doors and space for wheelchair users, alarm pull-cords and specially-designed showers and bathroom suites. Let us know immediately if you need one of these and haven’t already told us.
There is an induction loop in the main conference halls. Your hearing aid will need to be on the Telecoil or T setting to use the induction loop. For more information, see: https://www.cct.org.uk/about-us/faqs#faq-55
It is a secure app, it will be available to you when you receive an email confirmation of your attendance and will be live until 29 May 2026. https://lineupr.com/en/privacy-policy
There is a delegate list in the conference app for all who sign into it.
Yes: Bishop Peter Hancock and Bishop Olivia Graham will be available. You will be able to contact them on the app.
Yes: you’ll be able to find other delegates using the conference app, provided they’ve entered their contact details when they use the app.
Use your device to register on the clergy conference app https://isidore.live/guildford26
No, please refer to the programme, but there is free time for you to gather with others for prayer and worship if you’d like to arrange this.
While there will be a full and interesting programme, we recognised the importance for some downtime and leisure time.
The main free time will be:
Tuesday: 5.15 to 6.45 pm
Wednesday: 1.00 to 3.30 pm
Yes, there will be plenty of options for those who want to exercise or enjoy leisure time with others. Options include:
You are expected and encouraged to attend all the programme sessions which will include high-quality speakers and excellent opportunities to learn and grow in your ministries.
Sessions will be streamed to other rooms on site for those who need a smaller group of people or less regimented seating arrangements.
No, the conference app is intended to make the conference paper-free for environmental reasons.
Please inform your Archdeacon or Geoff Andrews (07494 921696)
It will be informal attire throughout. Clergy are not expected to wear collars unless they wish to. You’re welcome to bring sports clothing for football, running or the gym if you would like to take part in some of the physical activities. And you may like to bring something a little more ‘dressy’ for the Conference Dinner.
We don’t have exclusive use of The Hayes, but as far as we know, there are no other groups staying while we’re there.
Please be in touch direct with the Hayes Conference Centre to ask them if this would be possible. This will be a private arrangement between you and the Centre and you will need to cover all costs yourself.