River teaches meditation retreats, groups and courses, and offers one-to-one mentoring for meditators, mindfulness and Buddhist practitioners. Please contact her to find out more. 

She trained as a social worker, psychotherapist and carpenter; since 1998 she has taught creative writing in therapeutic, community and educational settings. She is a former Derbyshire Poet Laureate, has worked extensively with community arts projects, and published poetry, short stories and non-fiction.

A deepening interest in the connections between psychology, embodiment, creativity, activism and spiritual practice led her to an Insight Meditation retreat in 2000. Since then she has been a regular retreatant at Gaia House, Devon, and continues to be inspired by teachings in the Buddhist tradition, and by radical thinkers who seek to address the crises of our times.

She is co-founder of Sheffield Insight Meditation, a Community Dharma Leader authorised by Gaia House Teacher Council, has completed the Bodhi College Dharma Teacher Training Programme, and is a mentor with iBme UK. A long-time peace, feminist and community activist, River sang for many years with lesbian acapella group ‘Deep C Divas’ and ‘Out Aloud’ Sheffield’s LGBT Choir, and is an activist in the LGBTQI+ community.