AT Blog 21 November 2008

This week we have had the pleasure of Northfleet Technology College in the main house and despite the jovial pranks played between staff and students it was great to have them stay.

We now have a full weekend ahead of us with a visit from Hampton Youth Project and our lodges are occupied as well. For more information on Avon Tyrrell and what great facilities we offer please view our website http://www.avontyrrell.org.uk/ or for more information email your questions to info@ukyouth.org or call us on 01425 672347.

We have said a fond farewell to Christine who has been with us over the past couple of years as a General Assistant. Having worked in almost all departments she will be sadly missed as she is off to New Zealand to catch up with her sister who is away travelling. Christine took a voluntary plunge into our lake to say bye bye to staff, mad girl……

Site projects include the continued work on the straw bale classroom which is nearly completed internally and the re-instigation of our Reed Bed to support our sewage plant. Any world experts on sewage plants who would like to give the charity some free assistance with this project would be more than welcome, please contact David on 01425 672347 or email info@ukyouth.org

Finally for all those who have visited us over the years and met this chap, can you remember his name? He sometimes says Cooool in a very funny way! Answers next week.

Have a good week all

AT Blog 11 November 2008

Well what about the weather yesterday, certainly if you were a duck you may have appreciated the wind and rain. Despite the weather we welcomed Ropley C.E. Primary School and the weather just did not seem to stop them enjoying themselves and having fun. It is good to know whatever is happening outside, inside there is lots of fun and laughter to be had - the spirit of children cannot be broken.

Last week we had Cupernham Junior School visiting; they had a good week and left us the artistic work shown below. it is nice to see the natural materials from our grounds fuelling their imagination.

This time of year we cannot guarantee the weather which is why we reduce our prices, but many schools find that the children have just as much fun and the price reduction means that they can make their residential more inclusive and bring more of their class/year group to enjoy and develop from their stay. We have even introduced the Junior Achievement Awards to help occupy the children in the darkening evenings and provide them with a portfolio diary of their stay, evidencing their achievements and making sure that almost everyone goes home with a certificate. For more information on this and Avon Tyrrell please view our website http://www.avontyrrell.org.uk/ or email info@ukyouth.org or call 01425 672347.

The maintenance team have begun their winter programme of upkeep for Avon Tyrrell and have started decorating the bedrooms. They have also kept on working on the straw bale classroom and last week with the help of Rob and his staff from DCRS the second coat of lime render went on the internal walls. Our staff also began boxing in the remaining internal walls. Progress continues and we hope to have a completed building by Christmas.

AT Blog 3rd November 2008

Well the shorter days are now with us but this has not stopped our visitors enjoying themselves and making the most of our site and activities in the daytime and utilising our facilities in the evening, be it in the main Grade 1 listed Avon Tyrrell House or our well equipped lodges. Recent visitors have included Shoaling College of Technology who had a split week with 2 x 100 children visiting us and having a thoroughly great time. Both groups also left us with a lovely fruit cake which the staff enjoyed with their morning coffee. Do not forget for more information on Avon Tyrrell please view our website http://www.avontyrrell.org.uk/ or email info@ukyouth.org or call 01425 672347.

In the last 10 days Scottish and Southern Electric have finally switched us over to an underground supply of electricity and removed our over head power supply. We are very grateful that this work has been completed as it undoubtedly makes our site safer.

The straw bale classroom has moved on fantastically well in recent weeks with the support of Rob Buckley. The internal floor is now in and the roof has been covered and planted with sedum plugs and the lime plastering has started. The setting of this building down by our small lake makes it such an idyllic spot for our visitors to enjoy in the future. Whilst there is still plenty to do we can finally see the end in site.