Vital Link No 73 Winter 2018 | Page 7

Retreats and Holidays in 2019 We heard from one new holidaymaker, Julie, who hasn’t been on holiday for 8 years because she couldn’t get the support she needed. Our amazing team of volunteers at Babbacombe were able to give her a memorable break, and she told us ‘I’ve loved all of it”. Booking is now open for next year’s retreats and holidays! Owing to popular demand, we’re hoping to secure a second holiday at Center Parcs, probably in September – full details to follow. Please be aware that places on all the breaks get filled rapidly, so if you are interested in joining us, do get in touch as soon as possible. Brochures of 2019 are available now HOLIDAYS Center Parcs (Nottingham) 4 nights 10 – 14 June £425 Treloar’s (Activity holiday – Hampshire) 5 night 29 July – 3 August £570 Brunel Manor (Coastal holiday – Devon) 7 nights 16 – 23 September £775 RETREATS Refreshment week (Brunel Manor, Torquay) 4 nights 15 - 19 April £333 Time out with God (High Leigh, Hoddesden) 2 nights 23 – 25 August £200 For the holidays please contact: [email protected] and for the retreats contact: [email protected] , or phone the office on 01372 749955 to request an application form. Friends old and new on our accessible holidays Out and About This Summer Through the Roof had a busy summer, getting out there at some of the conferences and festivals to make our work known. The response has been encouraging, with many new people signing up as Roofbreakers, or volunteering on our overseas mission trips and holidays. We were at the Methodist Conference at Nottingham University. It was good to speak to so many Methodist ministers, and to see those in charge of circuits and districts take multiple copies of our literature to distribute among the churches in their care. Ros was glad to be joined by Tarnia, one of our Roofbreakers. When describing the role of a Over the August bank holiday weekend, we were at ONE Event Roofbreaker, Tarnia explained that she avoided phrases like in Lincoln, talking about our work to those who visited our “disability champion” or “disability advocate”, preferring to stand in the Expo. Ros once again enjoyed going and joining in explain Roofbreaking as being an accessibility champion. She the accessible worship organised by Livability. reasoned that we all have accessibility needs of some sort, For the fourth year in a row, we had the privilege of being whether or not we class ourselves as having a disability or invited to UCCF Forum, to talk to this year’s university CU additional needs. It may be a natural introversion, or being leaders about the mission field on their doorstep in the unfamiliar with church practice, and we need to be aware of all presence of 280,000 disabled students in our UK universities. It of these needs in our work. was great to see the enthusiasm and commitment of the If you’re a Roofbreaker, and you’d like to be part of our future students who attended this session, and to hear them conference, exhibitions, or speaking work, please do get in expressing God’s heart for seeing everyone included and touch. We’d love to have you along. accepted as equals in the Kingdom of God. www.throughtheroof.org