Update 8/3/09 : Well it’s taken a while but the rest of the photos are online! Keep clicking through past the ones you’ve seen and enjoy! Thanks for a your comments, keep sending them in, and thanks again for an amazing week!

This is a selection of photographs from what so far has been an amazing week. We are literally in the middle of nowhere which means we have had to come to a local hotel to upload these photographs. They give a really good idea of whats going on and what we have been doing. When we get chance we will put up some more information, but for now enjoy!!

Hello there!

Again, sorry it’s been so long since my last blog, I am going to be better this year!!

First of all, thanks for those of you who have left comments – It’s really nice to hear from you! Some people have been asking about Gap year opportunities at The Briars, and if that’s you then email us using the address on this site, and we can send you some more info and answer your questions. From a personal point of view, working here on team (2002-2004) was one of the best thing I ever did, and also one of the hardest, but its definitely something that changed my life!

This last few weeks, have been crazy with training a new team, saying goodbye to some good friends, and starting the outreach once again! We went to St Mary’s Grimsby for our first reach4 Job, and as always it was incredible! I was so moved by the passion and enthusiasm you guys have! I can’t wait for out school mission on October.

Talking of school missions, we’ve got another coming up very soon, at St Thomas More in Buxton, and that is going to be fab, were just putting the final pieces of it together now and it’s going to be a really great experience.

We also had our first in house programme – St Mary’s from Grantham and you guys were something special! That reconciliation service was amazing! I wish you all the best for you confirmation and we’ll all be thinking and praying for you!

Finally yesterday we were at Ratcliffe College. It was great to work with the year 7’s and to meet some familiar faces that we met when we came last year. Hopefully we’ll be able to come back soon!

Apart from work, not a lot else is happening I’ve started doing a few gigs with a friend called Joe in our band called Cellobelly, and that’s been amazing, but as always its just finding the time to do everything you want to!

I’m on programme for All Saints Yr11 Next week which I’m really looking forward to, so until then……

But not if you have hay fever!!

Hey there, Check this out this is bordering on being a regular blog all of a sudden! Hope everyone is well. First off thanks to all the people who have sent lovely messages and emails recently, they are so nice to receive and they mean a lot so thanks!! Big thanks also to those messages from people I’ve met with reach4 it’s so good to hear feedback, and it’s really nice when people at schools you’ve been to for the first time make the effort to write – so if that’s you thank you especially for your message!

Right whats been going on then?! Well I’ve had a fair bit of time off recently, it was half term, so I caught up with friends and painted my kitchen orange! I’ve also been doing manly things like putting up fences Grrrrr!! I’ve also been lucky enough to catch a few concerts, and take lots of photos so that makes me a happy guy!

This week however is all about Special 6’s taking place on June the 4th at the Moorways centre in Derby. We’ve got close to 1000 people coming this year – Amazing! If that’s you i look forward to seeing you there!

Right I’m off to morning prayer, stay cool, and I’ll post again soon!!

But not if you have hay fever!!

Hey there, Check this out this is bordering on being a regular blog all of a sudden! Hope everyone is well. First off thanks to all the people who have sent lovely messages and emails recently, they are so nice to receive and they mean a lot so thanks!! Big thanks also to those messages from people I’ve met with reach4 it’s so good to hear feedback, and it’s really nice when people at schools you’ve been to for the first time make the effort to write – so if that’s you thank you especially for your message!

Right whats been going on then?! Well I’ve had a fair bit of time off recently, it was half term, so I caught up with friends and painted my kitchen orange! I’ve also been doing manly things like putting up fences Grrrrr!! I’ve also been lucky enough to catch a few concerts, and take lots of photos so that makes me a happy guy!

This week however is all about Special 6’s taking place on June the 4th at the Moorways centre in Derby. We’ve got close to 1000 people coming this year – Amazing! If that’s you i look forward to seeing you there!

Right I’m off to morning prayer, stay cool, and I’ll post again soon!!

Well first of all, sorry for not updating my blog in forever! It’s been ages! Life is busy in the world of a Programme Leader! In fact busy is a bit of an understatement! Apart from the tonnes of work we’ve done with reach4 (check out the pages!) life has been hectic at home – boilers breaking is not fun, there’s been a degree to study for, and there’s been a bit of work to do on the website – you might have noticed! So, while it’s not an excuse its the reason why I haven’t blogged in ages!

At the moment it’s all about Special 6’s! It’s taking place on the 4th of June, and reach4 are in charge this year, so it’s really exciting! There should be some more info up on the site soon. There’s over 900 people coming so it’s going to be awesome!

On a final and more sunny note; I am loving the weather! It’s about time that’s all I can say! This weather is what my car has been waiting for so now, if it’s even remotely sunny, the roof is coming off!! I just hope that this is it now for summer! I’ve been busy buying shorts from Oxfam online – that shop is amazing – check it out!

Right I’m off for a rest hope you’re all cool and I’ll see you soon!

I thought it was about time I wrote something here about my first few weeks in the job. It’s so amazing/weird/exciting/a lot of other adjectives being back at The Briars again. It seems more like 5 minutes rather 5 years since I first started on team! It’s great when you get up to drive to work and when you get there you feel like you’ve just got home!

There’s been so much work to do it’s untrue, and I think I am well and truly out of midnight oil! The website has taken ages, but I’m really pleased it’s finally up and rocking away!

Another thing that is definitely rocking, in Reach4, the outreach team (click on the menu at the top for more info) It’s the area I’m responsible and what we’ve already done is almost as exciting as what were about to do! You can read about the groups we’ve had so far, ALL of whom have been incredible, it’s so cool being able to take the Briars on the road. Danny and Caroline are amazing, and it’s so cool working with them again.

Speaking of amazing and cool, I got some new trainers the other day, they are Onitsuka Tigers, but not any old Onitsuka Tigers, they are the yellow on black Mexico ‘66 ones that Bruce Lee, and Uma Thurman wear in their respective martial arts masterpieces. I’m also incredibly happy about having Vanessa Carlton’s new album – Heroes and Thieves, after a 2 year wait for new stuff. It has made me very happy!

I’ve only been on programme for one week, but it was great working with St Frances and English Martyrs Yr 6 I hope you’re all okay!

I’m getting ready for the 6th form retreat at the moment which I’m really excited about, and I’m also thinking about buying a trumpet!