Viney Hill Adventure Centre News Desk http://www.vineyhilladventure.org/newsdesk/ Latest News and Events at Viney Hill Christian Adventure Centre 2008-05-01T12:09:38+00:00 Viney Hill Christian Adventure Centre julie[at]vineyhilladventure[dot]org (Julie Williams) en-gb Copyright 2004 - 2008 Viney Hill Christian Adventure Centre Works Weekend 2008 http://www.vineyhilladventure.org/newsdesk/works_weekend_2008.html It's that time of year again! Once more staff, supporters and some neighbours came together at the Centre for a weekend of fun, food and hard work.

Everyone collected paintbrushes, wheel barrows, spades etc and got stuck into the essential maintenance work of the site. Paths were laid, sheds painted, the new archery area was done and various toilets and showers received a new coat of paint.

Once again staff here could not believe the amount of work that got done, or how hard everyone (including the children!) were willing to work to get everything finished. Add to that some wonderful meals and coffee breaks organised by Brian and Sheelagh and a good time was had by all!

So thank you again to all those of you that gave of your 'down time' to come and help us. You don't know how appreciated you are!!!

We are already looking ahead to next year, when we will again be scheduling the work for the beginning of February. If you would like to get involved or feel you have particular maintenance skills that would be helpful, do get in touch with Haley or Julie on 01594 516162 or email us on info@vineyhilladventure.org.

]]> text/html 2008-04-25T08:22:44+00:00 info[at]vineyhilladventure[dot]org (Julie Williams) General An amusing thought for the day! http://www.vineyhilladventure.org/newsdesk/an_amusing_thought_for_the_day.html Lord, grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway, the good fortune to run into the ones that I do like and the eyesight to know the difference!!

And a thought to ponder:

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery today is a gift - that's why we call it 'The Present'.

]]> text/html 2008-04-08T10:31:23+00:00 developer[at]tomwright[dot]me[dot]uk (Tom Wright) General Planning permission - update! http://www.vineyhilladventure.org/newsdesk/planning_permission_update.html Following our last news item about the above plan, the council planning committee met again on Tuesday 11 March, where our planning application for change of use was agreed.

We can now begin work on preparing the extra ground for use by groups visiting the Centre, benefitting our service to them; also improving our parking facilities and noise management. We are very excited about the prospect of being able to offer wild camping, more room for archery and initiative games, and the possibilities of the environmental garden.

We would like to thank all those of you that gave your support and prayers, and for all the constructive comments received.

And to all those visiting us this year, we look forward to seeing you!

]]> text/html 2008-03-19T16:12:57+00:00 info[at]vineyhilladventure[dot]org (Julie Williams) General Risk Assessments http://www.vineyhilladventure.org/newsdesk/risk_assessments.html We have now produced our new and updated risk assessments that will be available for download from our website.

At the moment however, we have had a slight delay in getting them put on our web page. If you require our risk assessments prior to your group's visit, please call Haley or Julie in the office on 01594 516162 or email on info@vineyhilladventure.org and we will email or post them to you.

Thanks for your patience!

]]> text/html 2008-02-29T10:06:21+00:00 info[at]vineyhilladventure[dot]org (Julie Williams) General Exciting developments at Viney Hill! http://www.vineyhilladventure.org/newsdesk/exciting_developments_at_viney.html The local diocese recently purchased a property adjacent to the Centre here at Viney Hill, and have now leased the house and land to the Centre. The house has been rented out to a private tenant, and the land is to be used for Centre activities.

As you know, we are always looking for ways to better improve our site, skills and service in order to provide you, our visitors, with the best experience for your activity residential as possible. This extra land is going to enable us to extend our onsite activities with a wild camping/bushcraft area; we will be able to move the archery and team building games, enabling us to extend our onsite parking to the benefit of our visitors and our neighbours. Also, as a Centre that feels very strongly about looking after our environment and caring for God's creation, we will also be able to have an environmental garden area.

We have had some constructive feedback from our neighbours in the village regarding the new plans, and concerning the ongoing work of the Centre. This will enable us to move into the future working for the benefit of the groups that visit us, but also thinking about the thoughts and concerns of those who live close to us.

Today marks a step forward in the process, as our application for change of use of the new land is considered by the local planning authority.

]]> text/html 2008-02-12T12:32:54+00:00 info[at]vineyhilladventure[dot]org (Julie Williams) General New Dates! http://www.vineyhilladventure.org/newsdesk/new_dates.html The following dates are still available for 2008, but hurry because they won't be free for long!

In the Old Vicarage:

21-24 March (Easter Weekend) 9-10 May 16-18 May 14-15 June 25-27 July

On the campsite:

7-9 March is now the only date available until July when we have the following dates:

18-20 July 25-27 July

If you are still looking for a venue for your residential trip and would like to consider any of the above weekend dates do call Julie or Haley in the office on 01594 516162, email on info@vineyhilladventure.org or use the enquiry form on the website.

We look forward to seeing you!

]]> text/html 2008-01-30T15:04:37+00:00 info[at]vineyhilladventure[dot]org (Julie Williams) General Happy New Year! http://www.vineyhilladventure.org/newsdesk/happy_new_year.html Well, here we are back from our relaxing Christmas holidays and raring to go! We would like to take an opportunity to wish all existing and future visitors and supporters a very happy New Year.

We still have some dates available this year, summer weekends do fill up quite quickly so if you are still thinking about making a provisional booking do get in touch soon so as to avoid disappointment!

We are looking forward to seeing all our groups this year, we hope you enjoy your visits as much as we do!

]]> text/html 2008-01-08T12:28:43+00:00 info[at]vineyhilladventure[dot]org (Julie Williams) General Calling all Gap year students!! http://www.vineyhilladventure.org/newsdesk/calling_all_gap_year_students.html The Centre here at Viney Hill, is currently offering Gap year opportunities to students.

So if you are free from April to October and have an active interest in Youth work and outdoor activities do get in touch with us!

Contact Tony Williams (Centre Manager) on info@vineyhilladventure.org. We look forward to hearing from you!

]]> text/html 2007-12-20T11:49:29+00:00 info[at]vineyhilladventure[dot]org (Julie Williams) General Merry Christmas! http://www.vineyhilladventure.org/newsdesk/merry_christmas.html It seems amazing that yet another year has passed here at the Centre. Another year of quality instructing, staff training, planning and looking to the future.

As we go into the New Year, staff are excited by the fresh challenges awaiting us. We have recently acquired some additional land that will be used to even further expand and improve the activities we offer.

We will have our own wild camping are for Bushcraft, new areas for Archery and Team building; all giving us the opportunity to continue to offer new and exciting options to the groups that visit us.

There will also be a brand new "On the Edge" programme, working with children that are excluded or at risk of exclusion, funded by the Peter Laing Trust. The challenging personal journey we offer could take place be in the beautiful Forest of Dean, the Brecon Beacons, or the challenging landscape of Snowdonia.

The On the Edge prgramme includes bushcraft, survival skills, navigation, wild camping, teambuilding and the opportunity to develop leadership skills.

So as this year winds down and Christmas approaches, the staff team here are looking forward to all the new challenges that 2008 will bring us. So a Merry Christmas to all those who have visited us this year, and to all of you who we are looking forward to welcoming next year!

]]> text/html 2007-12-20T11:44:43+00:00 info[at]vineyhilladventure[dot]org (Julie Williams) General Staff news! http://www.vineyhilladventure.org/newsdesk/staff_news.html All those groups that have benefitted from having Hannah lead their activities will be pleased to know that she has decided to join the staff team on a more permanent basis!

The staff team were delighted when Hannah decided to stay on following her gap year with us in a trainee/apprentice role.

For the last year she has worked hard not only with visiting groups, but also doing equipment maintenance on site, and training to gain experience and qualifications; eventually making us wonder what we would do when she left us!

Everyone here at the Centre feel that Hannah will compliment the existing team, and help us to continue to provide an excellent service to those groups visiting us. Hannah herself is very much looking forward to working with returning groups and also those groups visiting us for the first time next year.

]]> text/html 2007-08-31T09:14:46+00:00 info[at]vineyhilladventure[dot]org (Julie Williams) General