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Booking your FACT course
For all you need
to know about booking your stay at Tollesbury, choose from the following:
How we do your booking
Booking
form (as pdf only)
Fees
tarriff
Conditions
of booking
Kit
list
Group
leader's booking info
Group
leader's briefing
Teacher's
briefing
INTRODUCTION
These notes are designed to help you enjoy, and make the most of, your visit to Trinity. They are also available for download as a pdf.
ARRIVAL AND WELCOME
On arrival, we will meet you in our car park and assist you and luggage for the five-minute walk to Trinity. After settling everyone in, we will have introductions and talk through with the children the rules of the centre and safety aspects. During your first day, we will also run a practice fire drill.
RESPONSIBILITY
During your stay, you will be looked after by both permanent staff and sessional volunteers, all of whom are trained and familiar with life on board and the various specialist activities. Some staff live in their own quarters on Trinity. While at Fellowship Afloat, you are responsible for the care, safety and conduct of your students. At particular times – i.e. during specialist activities and studies –our staff will take on the responsibility for the children's safety.
Throughout the week they will assist in the running of your programme, providing local, expert knowledge when appropriate. At night we have a member of staff 'on-call'. If you have a problem and need help, the on-call staff member is there to assist. There is an intercom phone situated in the cabin area, which we will show you on arrival. If you have any questions or difficulty then do speak to a member of our staff. Smoking and the consumtion of alcohol are not permitted on board.
ORGANISATION
Each morning at 8.00am, the Fellowship Afloat staff team and accompanying staff meet together in the 'Lookout' to discuss the day's programme, what you hope to achieve during the day and who will be responsible for each activity. We also share a brief 'thought for the day' and a few informal prayers. During this time it will be necessary for you to have one or two staff/helpers overseeing the children's getting-up, washing, etc, so as to be ready for breakfast.
CLASSROOM
The classroom, based in one of our Sail Lofts, is for your exclusive use during your visit. It is the ideal location for you to run follow-up sessions, as the children can leave all their work out if it is not complete. You will be given a key on arrival (to keep for the week) at which point you may wish to put some teaching materials straight into the classroom.
ON-BOARD FACILITIES
- Toilets & Showers. In addition to the toilets and showers for the children, there is a single toilet and shower for the use of visiting staff.
- Sleeping. Foam pillows and pillow cases are provided for each individual.
- Coffee & tea. Tea and coffee making facilities are always available in the galley. Help yourself whenever you would like. After the children are safely in bed you may wish to enjoy a cuppa in the saloon.
- Washing machine and drying room. Available for visitors – see a staff member for instructions
- Telephone. A payphone is available on-board Trinity (01621 869779); you are welcome to make full use of it and receive incoming calls too. We do not encourage children to make or receive calls as this sometimes creates difficulties – though we will be advised by you on this.
- Presentations. TV, video, whiteboard, OHP and flipchart are available for teaching sessions. FACT does not supply other stationery materials.
MEALS
You are invited to sit, along with our staff, amongst the children at meal times. We always wait for everyone to arrive for the meal before starting – even when people are bleary-eyed in the morning; one of our staff will organise the saying of grace and introduce the serving arrangements. After the meal, a few notices will be presented and teams for jobs will be announced. We encourage everyone to remain at the table until this point. Please ensure any special diets are requested before your visit.
DAILY JOBS
Fellowship Afloat thrives on enthusiastic participation of visitors and meal times are a focus for some essential but simple tasks:
- laying tables for the meal
- washing-up (with a dishwasher to assist)
- vacuum cleaning the saloon
- taking rubbish and empty milk bottles to the road.
We will organise the rota and look for the full support of accompanying staff.
BARBECUE
During your final evening we usually have a barbecue, and an opportunity for children to provide some entertainment, a singsong and perhaps a presentation of their work from the week. We strongly advise you to do some preparation for this prior to your visit as, invariably, time quickly runs out during the week.
RADIOS AND CASSETTES
We discourage use of radios and personal stereos on board; apart from the obvious distraction, they easily get lost and broken.
SHOP AND POCKET MONEY
We have a small souvenir shop on board, items 60p - £3.50, also Trinity garments – T-shirts £5.00, sweatshirts £13.00. Sweets and drinks can be bought in the village. We suggest pocket money should be about £5.00 (unless a T-shirt is required). If an RYA certificate course is followed and a Log Book and certificate are required, this cost will be charged extra to the booking.
PROGRAMME EVALUATION
We are constantly striving to improve and develop the schools work we offer. At the end of your stay, we will ask you to fill in and return to us a feedback form with any comments and suggestions for the future.
