News and Events
News
Events
You are welcome to join us at our Community events. It is always a good idea to phone and confirm that you wish to come. Have a look at our calandar.
Refurbishment of Zacchaeus house completed
We recently completed our refurbishment of Zacchaeus, our oldest house. Janet had lived in the house since it was first opened in 1978, but with no downstairs bathroom it no longer suited her needs. To enable her to continue living in the house – and to support others with limited mobility – we have spent nearly £100,000 to:
• Create two ground floor rooms for people with learning disabilities with limited mobility to access a new downstairs shower/wet room
• Create a spacious kitchen/dining room
• Build on a new sunroom (not a conservatory) with excellent views of the garden. Move the old wash room to a new location
• Build a new office (lacking in the old house)
Watch our film, made by our Dance and Drama workshop
Watch a visual representation of the beatitudes by the members of our Community.This film was made by our 'Dance and Drama' workshop which is led by our friend, the writer, Richard Everett. It is our first film project and we loved making it and hope to do more. 'The Beatitudes' is part of a bigger project we are working on based on the themes of Peace and Love. It will feature interviews and thoughts by people with learning disabilities living in the community - so look out for it! Meanwhile we all hope you enjoy our film and share it with everyone! Oh, and thanks for watching!
Future of L’Arche dance and drama secured
Thanks to a donation from The Souter Charitable Trust we are able to continue with the successful dance and drama sessions led by Richard Everett. Richard is a former actor and playwright (he wrote Entertaining Angels, starring Penelope Keith) and founder member of Riding Lights Theatre group. He has been leading L’Arche’s dance and drama group for over two years, reintroducing us to Community Pantomimes – a tradition that had been long forgotten. Last years pantomime, ‘Goldilocks and the biggest pantomime in the world’ (also including extracts from Cinderella, Aladdin and Snow White) was a sell out performance. Visit his website: Richard Everett.
L’Arche Uganda supported
Dorothea Jahne, a German who used to work in the L’Arche workshop in Bognor, has been busy supporting the L’Arche community in Uganda. She spent three months in the Kampala Community last year, developing a love and appreciation for the people there. Knowing they had recently been through a tough time, she raised funds to enable all the assistants to go out for a meal at a local restaurant. She followed this up with a sponsored walk to Santiago de Compostela. And so earning money for the whole community to go for four days to the Queen Elizabeth Nature Park in the West of Uganda – the first time that many people in the Community had been on holiday.
Chris Bemrose, leader of L’Arche Bognor, also supports the community, leading retreats and training sessions, and providing support and mentoring to Monica, the Community leader. Read more about the Community at support Uganda
Vacancies for people with learning disabilities
We are looking for two people with learning disabilities who would like to join L’Arche Bognor Regis. One would be suitable for someone with limited mobility. We are always happy to show people around the community – even if you think you will only want a place in several year’s time. Please contact Chris Bemrose for further details.
Ed the first non-resident member of L’Arche Bognor with a learning disability
We are very pleased that Edward Sobey recently became the first non-resident with a learning disability to become a member of L’Arche Bognor. Being a member enables him to eat every week in one of our houses and participate in regular events such as days of reflection, our annual pilgrimage, Community birthday, monthly prayers, core members meeting and monthly Community Gatherings. Edward recently moved to West Sussex from Northamptonshire and lives with his parents. If you – or someone you know - would like to become a member of L’Arche Bognor, please contact Chris Bemrose in the office.
L’Arche at the Big Church Day Out.
For the first time ever, L’Arche Bognor took part in the Big Church Day Out at Wiston House in West Sussex over the May Bank Holiday weekend this year. Fred, George, Joanna, Chris, Sebastian and Emily braved the wind and the cold to talk to people about coming to L’Arche, whether as people with or without disabilities. We also a wide range of cards, candles and books on and about L’Arche.
Come to Bognor and see the world!
We are currently taking applications from people who would like to join the Community as assistants from September 2011. If you – or someone you know – would like to join an active, vibrant and international community, please contact Carmen Benea, Assistants’ Coordinator on assistants.bognor@larche.org.uk.
Bognor blog takes off
There have been over 2000 hits on the blog kept by Chris Bemrose, Community Leader. The blog is a place where he shares the application of gospel passages to organisational development and leadership in the context of L’Arche Bognor Regis. Try it out on: Blogspot
St Wilfrid’s Wives Group help L’Arche
For the past 23 years Lois Brown in liaison with St Wilfrid’s Wives Group hold an annual Coffee Morning for L’Arche. Our Garden produce and Workshop products are for sale, along with homemade cakes/jams, stalls and a raffle. This year it raised over £500 for L’Arche ion Bognor and around the world. Thanks to everyone involved!
L’Arche fundraising group to be established
With funding from statutory authorities increasingly under threat, we are planning to establish a small group of people to spearhead our fundraising events in the local community. Money raised will be used to fund some of the smaller but significant extras that can make a real difference to people’s lives, ie spiritual and community activities which Local Authorities are unwilling or unable to fund.
We have recently raised funds to:
• Enable virtually everyone in L’Arche Bognor to go to Trosly, France, where the first L’Arche Community was established in 1964
•
Enable a person with a learning disability and an assistant to attend a L’Arche Friendship retreat – a week long retreat with people from other L’Arche Communities in the UK where they can explore the meaning and implications of friendship.
If you would be interested in helping to help us raise money for such events, please contact Mary Ann Bart at L’Arche on 01243 863426.
Events
| WHAT | WHERE | WHEN |
|---|---|---|
|
Coffee Mornings An opportunity for people to join us for a cup of coffee and buy what we have been producing recently |
The L’Arche Workshop 51, Aldwick Road Bognor Regis PO21 2NJ 01243 821 201 |
Wednesday mornings (generally 3rd Wednesday of every month) 11am |
|
Yurt Prayers Come and pray with us in our Yurt (tent). These times follow a simple format and usually last for 30-45 minutes, followed by tea or coffee in one of our houses |
Contact the Office for more details on: 01243 863 426 |
Usually once a month on a Thursday at 7.30 pm. |
|
Thursday Lunchtimes An opportunity for people to join us for a bowl of soup or similar and get to know us a little |
The L’Arche Workshop 51, Aldwick Road Bognor Regis PO21 2NJ 01243 821 201 |
Most Thursday lunchtimes at 12.30pm. |
|
Friends and Family Day Join us for an afternoon where we celebrate the year and think ahead to Christmas. Tea and refreshments. |
Contact the Office for more details on: 01243 863 426 |
Usually last Saturday in November or the first Saturday in December |
Community pantomime See on a pantomime like you’ve never seen it before! |
The Sycamore, back of 188 Hawthorn Road, Bognor Regis |
Usually mid December. |
|
Pilgrimage Join us for a day’s walk and reflection |
Contact the Office for more details on: 01243 863 426 |
Usually end of May |
51a. Aldwick Road,
Bognor Regis,
West Sussex P021 2NJ.
Telephone: (01243) 863426
Fax: (01243) 840383
bognor@larche.org.uk
