Roffey Park Origins
Roffey Park was founded in wartime Britain when the well-being of some individuals was being adversely affected by long working hours and wartime anxieties over bombing raids, rationing, and family members in the armed forces.
Our History
In 1943, the National Council for the Rehabilitation of Industrial Workers took the bold decision to set up a Rehabilitation Centre to treat people in industry who were suffering from overwork, nervous strain and depression. The Council acquired two adjoining estates with beautifully secluded grounds in St Leonard’s Forest near Horsham, called Roffey Park and Beedingwood House. In 1946 Queen Mary visited Roffey Park after hearing about the work that was happening here (see image below).
The Rehabilitation centre aimed to treat stressed individuals in congenial surroundings away from the pressure of the workplace so that they could return to the workplace. Utilising a revolutionary, holistic approach that combined individualised medical treatment, dietary supervision, physical education and occupational therapy, the centre treated 1,700 patients in its first two years!
In 1946, the Council formed Roffey Park Institute to meet the growing demand for research and training based on the constructive and educational approach of the Rehabilitation Centre. It also sought to investigate the ‘social problems’ in industry and the workplace, as well as the well-being of employees in businesses and factories. In 1947, Roffey Park Institute ran its first residential programme called Health and Human Relations in Industry and Research Studies.
Our journey to now
In the late 1940s, our work became more focused on well-being in the workplace whilst the Rehabilitation Centre became part of the St Thomas’s Group of hospitals which was absorbed into the newly formed National Health Services. It ran its first bespoke development and international programmes in the 1950s and became an educational charity in 1967.
Now, Roffey Park Institute collaboratively designs and delivers bespoke programmes and tailored support to clients in the UK, Ireland and on an international scale. Although the outward appearance of Roffey Park has evolved since its early years, the core values of integrity and respect for the individual have not changed.
To this day, our mission is rooted in breaking down barriers within workplaces, striving to create environments that are conducive to growth and success. As a charitable organisation, our research drives innovation which delivers measurable impact throughout our solutions globally.
What our client says about our services
About Roffey Park Institute
Roffey Park Institute is a centre of expertise in organisational development and a pioneer of action learning for over 75 years. For the last thirty years, our MSc in People and Organisational Development has been at the forefront of developing the practice and field of OD which enables people and organisations to thrive. Our 2025 OD Conference will take place on 24-25 October at Roffey Park Institute and we’re finalising the details of an exciting programme which includes.
- International keynote speakers
- Practical workshops
- Space and time for learning and networking with practising OD professionals
