Keep up to date with the latest news at the Ammerdown Centre

1. Events and Courses still to come in 2018...
Thank you for your continued support and donations from us
all at the Ammerdown Centre!
“Great surroundings, great staff, great rooms. In
fact a lovely place altogether”
- A recent guest of Ammerdown on the individual guided retreat
In This Issue
 Updates from our Director
 International Peace
gathering success!
 New Staff
 Ammerdown Updates
 Upcoming courses this
year
 Ammerdown Recipe
Image from the Ammerdown Peace Gathering of the ’Candala of Peace’ by Lizzie Davies
Updates from our Director...
Ammerdown Autumn Newsletter Autumn 2018
AUTUMN NEWS
on a course or retreat, and having fulfilled their mind,
body and soul are now able to move on and flourish.
We have also tailored the strap line, with three simple
words; Hospitality, Peace and Reconciliation. We
have also created a sub brand
for Ammerdown Conferencing – this will help us go
out to corporate organisations to attract them to book
our conference rooms and utilise the gaps when we
are not running courses.
Refurbishment
Refurbishment of the conference rooms are well under way, we have
painted the interior of each of the rooms. We will be having new Flotex
flooring in November and December. New furniture and AV equipment
are currently being sourced, which will bring the conference rooms up to
today’s standards.
2019 Brochure
We have also been very busy putting together the new brochure of
courses, which includes residential courses, short courses and talks. The
brochure has a new look and we have over 100 courses to choose from,
so there is something for all.
GDPR
The General Data Protection Regulations came into force in May of this
year, and we have been busy ensuring that we are compliant. Can I
thank you for responding to my letter, as it is very important that we have
your consent in order to keep in contact with you.
2019
Preparations for 2019 in terms of systems and procedures, we have
been looking at a software system to run the bookings system, which will
be linked into household and maintenance. In March 2019 HMRC will
bring in Tax Digital, which is mandatory and something that all charities
and business will have to adhere to. Therefore, the system that currently
runs all of our accounts is out of date and we will be moving to Sage.
We are also busy with operationally planning the work for 2019, and
creating a budget around this.
Emma Rawlings, Director at Ammerdown
A very warm welcome to the Autumn Newsletter, please find
below a quick update and overview of some of the developments
that have been happening at Ammerdown over the past few
months:
Terry Waite
On Tuesday 17th July, to a packed audience of over 100 guests,
Terry revisited his ordeal of spending over 4 years as a hostage.
Sharing his experiences of how he was treated in captivity, giving a
graphic explanation of how he was tortured and being forced to go
through a mock execution, his experiences
brought tears to several guests eyes. He
told the audience of how he was held in his
cell for 23 hours and 50 minutes every day,
walking around trying to keep fit, only
having access for 10 mins per day to the
toilet facilities. The audience asked plenty of
questions, one being, of how he managed
to mentally cope with this; Terry explained
that he created his books and poems in his head to keep his mind
active. Upon his release he found writing the books very easy, as he
had recited them many, many times in his head to perfection.
August Cream Tea
Throughout August, we held Cream Teas every
weekend out in the garden. A huge success with
the Chefs baking fresh scones
every Saturday and Sunday
morning, the smell was delightful.
We gave local young teenagers the
opportunity to have some weekend
work and earn some money as
waiters and waitresses. We also
linked in with another local charity and had one of
their members here to volunteer. We served 416
Cream teas throughout the month, with a lot of
excellent feedback and social media activity as a direct result.
Rebranding
We have refreshed the brand logo of Ammerdown. As you can see
we have kept the olive green colour and introduced a fresher green
to help modernise the image to help implement and use a pallet of
colours in our marketing. We have kept the dove, not in an enclosed
circle as before, but with an open arrangement of being able to fly
away. This represents an individual who would stay at Ammerdown
Stuart Burgess (Chairman), Emma & Terry Waite

2. Successful Turnout for the Ammerdown Peace Gathering
We were astonished by the hard work and effort put into the beautiful poetry
and artwork created by the children at Kilmersdon Primary School, especially
for our Peace Gathering. Although it was so difficult to pick our favorite, a
brilliant one is featured below.
Huge Thanks to Kilmersdon Primary School!
On Friday 21st September, the UN International Day of
Peace, people of all faiths and none, were welcomed to
Ammerdown to hope for peace.
We gathered around an interactive Candala of Peace. (A
Candala is an illuminated art form designed to light up
our world, created by Lizzie Davies). We heard readings
about peace from the different faiths; we remembered
people and places in need of peace in our world and in
our own homes and communities. There was live music
with Cellist Jehanne Bestoni, mime poetry and a song to
sing. We tied ribbons of peace on our peace tree, hoping
for peace, and each of us was given an origami crane, to
take home and give to someone to share the peace of
the evening.
The evening was part of the Ammerdown Interfaith
Project. The Ammerdown Interfaith Project (AIP) was set
up to address faith and race related hate crime. It’s
hoped that through connecting people, listening to each
other’s stories and sharing them on again, we will break
down prejudices; remember our common humanity and
our need to belong; and be inspired to make a
difference.
The AIP is funded by the Methodist Church, The
Beeston Community Trust and The Ammerdown Centre.
For more information:
Email: interfaith@ammerdown.org
Tel: 01761 433709
Christine Clinch, Head of The Interfaith Project at Ammerdown
Christine Clinch (Head of Interfaith) - Leading the Peace Gathering Service Tying on the blue ribbon of peace.
Lizzie Davies Performing her Mime Poem.
A poem from one of the children of Kilmersdon Primary School.
Update on the Curtains...
We were extremely grateful for the donations
received to go towards new curtains for the
Centre.
This improvement has yet to be made, as we
are currently in the process of getting
permission to change the windows from
English Heritage.
Fear not however, as the donations have
been stored safely away ready for when
these improvements can be made in the near
future.
New Faces At Ammerdown
Tina Hartnell
Marketing and Sales Officer
I am delighted to have taken on this
new role, which is certainly out of
my comfort zone! I have just
completed a degree at Bath Spa
University, studying Film, Television and Digital
production. Although the role does not directly
relate to my University course, so far it suits me
down to a T, with the organisational, yet creative
skills that it requires. So far I feel I have fitted in well
with the team and have found that Ammerdown is
an amazing place to work!
Annette Thomas
Kitchen Assistant
Annette has started working in the kitchen as kitchen assistant, replacing Erin who left to attend university.
Abigail Wenmoth
Personal Assistant to the Director
Hi, my name is Abigail Wenmoth and
I am very pleased to be part of the
team here at The Ammerdown
Centre. I am Emma’s PA and I also
run the HR function for the centre. My previous
work career includes many years in food retail as
HR and Training and also the Healthcare sector as
an Administrator. I look forward to many years at
Ammerdown and meeting you all during your stay.
Graeme Brown
Estates Assistant
I am so pleased that Emma chose
me for the position here at
Ammerdown as the staff here are so
friendly and have made me feel so
welcome. I have been a bricklayer, roofer and
general builder for most of my working life and for
the last 10 years gardening has been my passion,
so I am in a happy place now, that’s for sure!
Sylvie Williams
Out of Hours Manager
My name is Sylvie and I joined the
Ammerdown team in July of this
year as night duty manager! I am
looking forward to meeting lots of
new people and learning more about
Ammerdown!
Dale Suckling
Out of Hours Staff
I found myself at the end of a chapter, so
a family friend suggested I take a look at
The Ammerdown Centre. After my
interview being successful I have
now worked here for six weeks. I have definitely
been challenged at times, but found a very friendly
team and atmosphere. I feel like I fit in well with my
keen interest in walking, nature and wildlife!
Matt I’Anson
Out of Hours Staff
My name is Matthew I’Anson, I have
worked at Ammerdown for 4 months
now and have enjoyed every minute,
some of you may know me from my
time as a volunteer over the past six
years.
Previously, I have worked within the financial and
retail sector’s, mostly in a customer service position,
I bring a lot of experience with me, you will find me
open and approachable, if there is anything I can do
to make you stay even better, please do not
hesitate to ask!
My main weakness would be the lack of hospitality
experience, especially around the bar as I don’t
drink, but I will do my best to fill any short comings
asap.