MAKING A DIFFERENCE 2019
Serving the Naval Family since 1876 CEO REPORT, Our year in figures Craig Fulton 2018 was a busy year for Aggie Weston’s. We continued to refine our pastoral Pastoral service offer for members of the Royal Acts of Navy, Royal Marines and their families, Worker hours Dame Agnes Weston’s Royal but there have also been some kindness Pastoral changes behind the scenes. Supporters 620 per Charity for the Naval Service will be interested to know that we 186,435 conversations (Generally known as Aggie’s) have successfully incorporated as week a “Company Limited by Guarantee.” 1941 Company No. 11114651 With this change in legal status, and by the gracious permission Charity No. 1176596 of HM The Queen, our formal name has changed to “Dame Agnes Weston’s Royal Charity for the Naval Service.” The old Royal Sailors’ Rests (RSR) name has been confined to history, along with the Rests themselves. However, we are still “Aggie’s.” Our logo, branding and presence has Welcome to Contact Us not changed, so we hope that the ‘back room’ work will have passed Locations Aggie Weston’s Coffee bars Pastoral unnoticed to our beneficiaries. These governance changes are very much Scotland visits 17 Castaway House part of our strategy to be prepared for the demands of the 21st Century. 311 Twyford Avenue 11 15 Workers Portsmouth PO2 8RN Many well-meaning charities with laudable aims fail through weak governance, and non-compliance with modern legislation. Thus, while we T 023 9265 0505 30 remain focussed on helping sailors, marines and their families I make no E [email protected] apology for spending time strengthening the foundations. www.aggies.org.uk Our vision is that every sailor, every marine and every member of their PATRONS families should be living life to its “fullest measure.” We think that Volunteers means they should be enjoying good emotional, spiritual and physical Her Majesty the Queen Children health and living in strong relationships. However, the latest published Annual no of Ministry of Defence 17 “Continuous Attitude Survey” shows that 35% of people are dissatisfied benefiting from with Service life, 67% perceive morale in the RN to be low and 75% Pastoral Worker CHAIRMAN OF TRUSTEES are unhappy with the support that their family received at the end of Storybook hours gifted to Cdre Bob Fancy RN (Retired) a deployment. We do not like these figures, but we do believe that they show that the the helping hand and listening ear which Aggie’s Pastoral Waves naval community CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Workers can offer are as vital today as they ever were. 1168 Storybook Craig Fulton MSc 29,760 hours I hope that this short brochure will give you a feel for the scope, nature Waves and value of our work during 2018. Thank you for taking the time to per year Editor read it; I hope that you approve of the efforts that we are making. If you recordings Theresa Pratt need our help, or feel moved to support, then please do not hesitate to Cover Photo get in touch. 740 HMS COLLINGWOOD Haven, HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH ©MoD
“...And so my work is, to say the least, “...I have found all through my life’s experience that while ways and varied, and the spirit of love, and, I hope, methods change, and, we trust, improve, as years roll on, the root common sense, runs through it like principle, “love,” never changes, but “abideth for ever.” a thread of gold.” Dame Agnes Weston Dame Agnes Weston
aggies.org.uk aggies.org.uk Chair of Trustees, Bob Fancy Practical support 2018 marked the centenary of Aggie Young people who decide to leave their Weston’s death and it was wonderful to homes, friends and families and serve in the have the chance to celebrate her life at the Royal Navy and Royal Marines will always Aggie Weston’s motto in life simply was ‘do ye the memorial event in Plymouth in October. have challenges to deal with. These may next thing.’ And that is basically all she did throughout It was really uplifting to get together with be rather different today than they were her journey. She chose to live out her faith by helping staff and supporters, from past and present in Aggie’s day, but they can still prevent people in a genuine and practical way. Today our and to reflect on Aggie’s work and faith, sailors and marines from living life to the as well as the legacy which she left behind. full and supporting the Royal Navy across Pastoral Workers seek to follow her very unpretentious I found myself wondering why this charity the globe. Back in the late 18th and early example by simply rolling their sleeves up and which bears Aggie’s name has stood the 19th centuries a sailor coming ashore just supporting those in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines test of time. Why is the work which she needed a decent meal and a clean bed that need support. began in her lifetime still delivering today? for the night. Today the problems are not And perhaps a more important question for always quite so simple or visible, but they Part of the support on offer is the Storybook Waves project, the me as the Chairman of the Trustees is, how can be equally debilitating. Perhaps a young management of which is supported by a grant from Greenwich Hospital can we ensure that her work maintains its sailor might be struggling to settle into the and RNRMC. As well as providing a service for the family at home, momentum for another 100 years? military lifestyle, or a spouse who has just the recording of a story often acts as an enabler to a deeper pastoral moved to a port area is still learning to cope conversation as shown in this example from one of our Pastoral Workers: Aggie was as an outstanding character with the absence of their deployed partner. with a remarkable story, but there were Loneliness, isolation, stress and anxiety “I had a sailor ring last week to ask how he could record a story, I know many outstanding people in her generation, can all be lurking in the background. him well as he attends family events and ‘Who let the Dads Out’ and could and they do not all have vibrant charities Our job at Aggie’s is to keep looking for sense he was ringing reluctantly!! which are still seeking to deliver on their those issues and to keep working out how founder’s vision. I believe that the longevity He called again last night and popped in to record the story. He was very best to provide support in a way which will of Aggie’s charity is partly because the basic nervous and we had encourage people to accept it. For as long need which she saw has not gone away. a couple of false starts, after a cuppa he went for third time lucky and recorded the stories… as we keep doing that, I am confident that Sailor’s and their families still need love and he was so enthusiastic he recorded five! this charity will continue to have a unique support. But perhaps equally importantly, role, and those of us on the Board will keep we have been preceded by a list of We were just chatting as we sorted the paperwork and he started to disclose more about the latest working hard to deliver on it. impressive volunteers, Pastoral Workers and deployment he is leaving for and this turned into the most incredible and profound conversation executive staff who have been alive to the Thank you for your support. that I think I have had during the last 5 years. He was incredibly honest about his apprehension specific needs of their time and have never Here’s to the next 100 years! for the deployment as he knows it’s going to be tough and he had concerns for his family. We rested on their laurels or reputation supported his wife through a difficult time when he was away before and know the family very in delivering on Aggie’s vision. well, but it took the SBW recording and what that means to his family for him to really open up.”
Chaplain of the Fleet, Martin Gough Christian Ethos Aggie Weston was a Christian philanthropist and the The Naval Chaplaincy Service exists to provide spiritual and charity which she founded, and which bears her name, moral leadership to the men and women of the Naval Service continues to operate with an unashamedly Christian ethos. and their dependants and this includes pastoral care. However, The charity’s object is the “promotion of the efficiency of given the number of personnel and families that are part of the the Royal Navy and Royal Marines and the advancement Naval (and Royal Marine) family, this can be a daunting task. of the Christian faith.” However, the Aggie’s team do not When one considers that up to 30% of our Chaplains can be deployed at any one seek to preach and neither do they count their success in time it can be difficult for us to provide the depth of pastoral care that we would the number of people to whom they can ‘convert.’ like for personnel in and around shore establishments. Rather they simply seek to live out the scriptural direction: “let each of you look not only to his own interests but also For this reason, I am delighted to endorse the close collaboration that exists the interests of others” (Phil 2:3–5). An Aggie’s Pastoral between the Naval Chaplaincy Service and Aggie Weston’s. Aggie’s Pastoral Workers Worker will never judge, but will do everything that he or are not Chaplains, but they can provide a consistent presence as Chaplains engage she can to help their beneficiaries to “enjoy life and live it in wider areas and frontline ministries, thus meeting a critical need. Pastoral Workers to its fullest measure” (John 10:10) and to sense the value are a great example of Christianity “rolling up its sleeves” to serve others – because that God places upon them. they care and want to demonstrate God’s love for our colleagues.
aggies.org.uk aggies.org.uk What is Pastoral Care Aggie Weston’s has provided pastoral care in one form or another since our founder established her first Sailor’s Rest in 1876. In recent years we have refined our definition of what pastoral care is. o or r roa Through our drive to improve we have sought advice and best practice and have worked with several other organisations, such as the Samaritans and AlcoholConcern. We have now become associated e e s urg members of Pastoral Care UK – the most widely recognised authority in this field. By our definition, which is broadly based on the recognised definition used by Pastoral Care UK, pastoral care means “listening, encouraging, comforting and supporting” and offering practical assistance when we can. We do not offer Where counselling, which is a more highly regulated service that the publicly funded RNRM Welfare Team delivers for the naval service. Pastoral care is more simply about seeking to be there with an ear to listen and a heart to care when someone has a need to talk or unburden. os we are “ReachOut” is an international mental health service which helps young people up to the age of 25 through tough times. We provide 30 pastoral They say that “if you are going through a tough time, talking to someone really is one of the best things you can do. Talking out loud about what is in your head and explaining it to someone else, even if it doesn’t seem to make sense, helps to clarify workers at 17 locations things that are worrying you. By keeping things to yourself a situation can seem way more overwhelming than it actually is” across the UK. Of course, this leads to the question – “who should I talk to?” That is where Aggies Pastoral Workers can help. By being around in the coffee lounge, toddlers’ group or games evening we hope that our team will be making themselves available for a conversation. For anyone, without judgement and in confidence. eo i o s o e o i g oo
a eig How Pastoral i k eig u a Support helps
Below are some of the comments we have rk o u i ro e received from our feedback survey: o er “The help and support that I have received from Nicola during one of the most u rose difficult times of my life has been amazing. She has always been there for me and oo e offered helpful advice when needed as well as just being a listening ear.” rake “We have popped into the coffee shop in Helensburgh. The team are so friendly and welcoming. Aggies also supported us to visit the area before we moved. I would highly recommend this service.” o e ouse e so or s ou “Tom has helped to support my family through a very tough year. Given how new he is the post, he has helped to create an incredible sense of community and we know that his door is always open and his kettle is always on.” “As a recruit in the military, times away from family can become very stressful especially when I have children at home. The pastoral workers are very helpful at all times no matter what the issue they are discreet fair “I just want you to know how much you all helped me and shaped me. confidential and always greet everyone with open arms and a smile. Life would be difficult without the hard work the pastoral workers I literally can’t thank you all enough. If it wasn’t for the haven that the put in.” Rock Café can be, for all ranks, both I and many others that I know “Warm, welcoming and above all I was made to feel that would have really struggled during our training. So from the bottom of I could talk in a safe environment with someone trustworthy. Invaluable.” my heart, thank you, and I will always have a strong love for this place.”
aggies.org.uk aggies.org.uk Partnerships Aggies 100 – Dame Agnes Aggie Weston’s is fortunate to have several partners who help make our work possible: Weston, a life well lived Greenwich Hospital RNRMC He loves the books, we read both at home every night. He really enjoys being read to with the other children by an grant for pastoral workers at 1918 marked the centenary of the death of Agnes adult other than mummy and daddy. He really enjoys the craft HMS SULTAN Weston. So in October we took some time to reflect session afterwards too. I have nothing negative to say other on her life and her great legacy of a charity that is than we don’t want the sessions to end!” – Culdrose Book Club The grant from RNRMC has helped support still delivering support to the Royal Navy. Current and the work at HMS SULTAN, and in particular “I know that some of the families were struggling with previous members of staff and trustees along with means that we can offer support in the relationships and missing parents. The blossoming friendships representatives from other partnership organisations afternoon as well as the mornings. has been amazing to see and there have been so many gathered in Plymouth for a short service at Aggies “A Phase 2 recruit visited the Haven instances where I have looked around and seen the young grave in Weston Mill Cemetery followed by several times. She was struggling with people engrossed in conversations with each other and a reception at Plymouth Guildhall. enjoying playing together. A couple of the children were the course, very unhappy and there also The service at Weston Mill was led by Revd Bill Gates, reluctant readers but through the sessions their confidence significant issues in her family life. The Chaplain to the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines, has grown and they actively engaged and volunteered to combination of these events meant that she thought the only with reflections of the life, works and legacy of Aggie from read!! The families have enjoyed the sessions so much that way to resolve them was to leave the Navy. The PWs and the Revd Janice Honey-Morgan – Chaplain to Royal Naval Air I hope we can run a Tues tea time club for the few weeks left chaplain at SULTAN had several chats with her. As a result the Station, Culdrose, Simon Thomas – Pastoral Worker at HMS of term.” – CTCRM Lympstone Book Club. recruit manged to talk to her Divisional Officer and get some DRAKE and Revd Dr Scott Shackleton – Deputy Chaplain of time to help with the family issues. This helped her see the the Fleet. course and the Navy in a different light and she has decided Royal Marines Charity grant to remain in the Navy.” – Pastoral Worker HMS SULTAN for extra pastoral support at At the end of the service wreaths were laid by the Lord CTCRM Lympstone Mayor of Plymouth, Aggie Weston’s Chair of Trustees, Greenwich Hospital RNRMC grant for community The Royal Naval Association and the Military Kids Club work in Plymouth and Gosport The grant from RMC means from Widewell School. that we can provide support to At the reception there were presentations from Capt Mike This grant support the well-established practical community families as well as the recruits at Barritt – Ex Chair of Trustees; Mr Des McCarthy RNA – projects to improve the life of naval families around the SFA Lympstone. a previous beneficiary and Mr Norman Sandy – an Ex Missioner estates of Widewell (Plymouth) and Rowner (Gosport). “I use Aggies for the social side and the charity’s first Pastoral Worker. “They provide an invaluable service. I moved to a new area with my 2 sons they are 2 and 5 year old. They both love Mr Norman Sandy and his wife Margaret cut the spectacular and attended a few toddler playgroups but was left feeling the groups we attend and they are very comfortable with the celebration cake made by Sergeant Tristian Merrick RM. so isolated until I went along to an Aggies group. From then people that run it who are amazing with the children. Always I only attended Aggies sessions.’ – User of the Aggie’s Stay take time to speak to my boys. We would be lost if we didn’t and Play, Rowner have the groups as they are little support network as we are all so far away from our families .” – Parent at CTCRM Lympstone “I was not in a great place, I was a young mum and new to the area, The Ark totally changed my life, gave me a positive Libor grant for a pastoral worker for focus and Jenn taught me to sew, which is a skill I now use often. Because of the confidence this has given me I am now HMS PRINCE OF WALES starting to do charity work in a woman’s refuge and hope to This new project for 2018 provides a Pastoral Worker based run sewing courses! And that is all thanks to the staff at the within MOD CALEDONIA in Rosyth to provide support, Ark, I can’t thank them enough for giving me the confidence primarily for the Ship’s Company of HMS PRINCE OF WALES, to make changes to mine and my children’s lives.” – User of and their families, during its build. The Ark, Widewell Plymouth. “The need for pastoral work at Rosyth is instantly apparent. Annington Trust grant for The community is a mixture of people who face the usual Story Book Waves Book problems of naval personnel and their families but the Club circumstances of many are in significant respects more transient than normally experienced. The Book clubs have been going The first pastoral problem with which I have had to deal strong, from Helensburgh to originated from a married female sailor. Typically, it was Culdrose. a situation where early intervention from official sources could “My 3yr old son & I have been have proved counterproductive. The fact that the impartiality to 2 book clubs at Culdrose and confidentiality of Aggies ministry was recognized and Community Centre. accepted was encouraging. Just being able to talk about the problem has, through self help, produced the answer in what was a delicate situation.” – Pastoral Worker Rosyth
aggies.org.uk aggies.org.uk Growing the Team Letting the light shine This year we recruited two new pastoral workers, two new trustees, one member of the HQ team and an existing pastoral worker extended his support to a new establishment. While our Pastoral Workers provide support HELENSBURGH ROSYTH to naval personnel as a practical expression of their faith, it is an honour when the value of their support is recognised by the wider Jenny Rowe Naval community. This year three of our I have just been working with Aggie’s for two and Jim McRae a half months and what an exciting time it has been I enjoy this new task immensely and Pastoral Workers received awards. here as we anticipate the reopening of the church am happy and proud as a born and bred and the Drumfork club. There is an air of anticipation Fifer to offer my help and support on as we look to God for direction. We were invited to behalf of Aggies. The need for pastoral Simon Thomas help with the Carol Service on the Base last month work at Rosyth is instantly apparent. and it was a great opportunity to make links and The community is a mixture of people who have conversations and we look forward to seeing Simon Thomas, Pastoral Worker at HMS DRAKE, was awarded a Naval face the usual problems of naval personnel how these opportunities develop as well. Base Commander’s Commendation from Commodore Ian Shipperley. and their families but the circumstances Where: Cosy Coffeehouse and Chaplaincy Centre of many are in significant respects more Simon earned the commendation for working alongside RNRMW Churchill. transient than experienced in normal – Plymouth as they re-launched the community centres catering for the if such a thing exists – appointing and Impact: making new links in the Navy community drafting. It will be an interesting journey. families across the city. It was noted that Simon “provides an invaluable around us and raising awareness of Aggie’s. link across the Devonport community.” Where: Rosyth and HMS PRINCE OF WALES Impact: Providing support to the naval The award also recognised Simon’s hard work as an Aggie Weston’s personnel drafted to Rosyth to work on the Pastoral Worker, which places him alongside families across Plymouth PLYMOUTH new Aircraft Carrier HMS PRINCE OF WALES and enables him to help with pre-deployment events. Jan Brennan Brian Green Jan Brennan was one of our Pastoral Workers based in Helensburgh, As well as setting up the new Haven at RM Bickleigh PORTSMOUTH I now provide 12 hours per week support to the and she retired in October 2018 having been with Aggies for over recruits at HMS RALEIGH. Niaomi Dart 8 years. She was responsible for setting up the very successful Cosy Coffee House in Churchill Square in Helensburgh. Where: HMS RALEIGH I’ve only been with Aggies since June at Impact: providing support to the new recruits, Castaway House, but I’m finding it very At the ceremony known as “the Submarine Oscars”, held just before so they get to know what Aggies can offer right rewarding to be working with a good team Jan retired, she was recognised for “the valuable contribution she had at the start of their naval careers (in the office and with our PW’s) and it’s made to supporting the families of serving submariners.” good to feel like we make a difference to our beneficiaries. Kathy Smith Where: Aggies HQ, Castaway House TRUSTEES Impact: Provision of administrative support Kathy Smith is one of our Pastoral Workers at HMS COLLINGWOOD. for Aggie Weston’s head office In December 2018 she was awarded a Captain’s Efficiency award from Captain Robert Vitali. Steve Martin Kathy joined HMS COLLINGWOOD in December 2013, firstly as a Pastoral Aggies has played such a huge part in our family’s life. I was challenged to accept the claims of Jesus Worker but took over as the Coffee Bar Manger in October 2017. by an Aggies worker at the Devonport rest when In the citation it is stated: “In every way Kathy, has been a strength to I joined up in 1979. My wife Helen (who was Adeola Oludemi a QARNN) and I did most of our ‘courting’ at Aggies the Aggies Charity, Chaplaincy, but more importantly to the many naval in Rowner, and held our evening wedding reception I was approached by a member of my MSc personnel and families she daily interacts daily with. Always welcoming, there. We were regular attenders at meetings cohort and asked if I might be interested in and always willing to give her time she exemplifies the mission statement supporting Aggie Westons’ through service as and Bible studies where we learnt so much about of the Aggie charity “to be ‘the sailor’s friend’. To listen, support, comfort, serving as a Christian in the RN. When I left the a trustee. I knew nothing of the charity but was RN in 2007 after 28 years I ran the Naval Christian deemed suitable for the role on at least 2 counts. encourage, and provide practical help and knowledge of specialist advice.” Fellowship, and worked very closely with Aggies on 1) I have a strong Christian faith and 2) I don’t have many projects. Helen served as a Pastoral Worker at any connections with the Navy or Royal Marines so As well as managing the coffee bar, Kathy often uses her gifts of guitar Haslar Hospital and HMS Nelson during this period. can maybe bring a different perspective on some playing and singing to lead music in the chapel services and her ability I am now working for Christian Vision for Men as things. I am passionate about enabling people and infectious enthusiasm helps to uplift worship. the Operations Director, based up in Chesterfield. to experience God’s love away from the church When asked to become a Trustee I knew it was right environment which is the essence of what Aggie’s for me at this stage, to try and put some of that does. The charity also gives me somewhere to have experience of the RN and Aggies to use in some a positive impact using the learnings from my 30+ small way for a new generation of sailors. years of working in and with teams.
aggies.org.uk aggies.org.uk Thank you! All that Aggie’s does would not be possible without the generosity and commitment of our volunteers, supporters, and partners. Thank you for your donations, grants and legacies, which allow us to provide the resources needed to support the naval family. Our Thank you for helping to provide facilities and equipment, giving us a place to create home from home spaces. Stewardship Thank you to our volunteers, who work tirelessly to ensure projects run Aggie Weston’s used to own smoothly and efficiently. a number of properties. When these Thank you for your prayers and words of encouragement that are were sold the money was carefully a blessing to the entire Aggie’s team. invested, and we receive a regular annual income from this source. Thank you to the organisations who have helped make the work of Aggies While this annual income from possible, and to the partners we have worked with in 2018. investments does not cover the cost of our output, it does cover the inevitable expense of management and governance overheads which Thank you to the organisations who have helped make the work of Aggies any charity must deal with. This possible, and to the partners we have worked with in 2018. allows us to assure all donors and grant givers that 100% of their donation, grant or legacy will be spent on the delivery of our projects.
Aggie Weston’s is proud to RNRMC RMC Greenwich Hospital RNRM Welfare state that it has never engaged in third party fundraising and does not use third party or commercial fundraisers. It will never share the details of any donor or supporter with another organisation.
Naval Chaplaincy Annington RMRMCF Reading Force Service Trust
Libor Privy Purse Charitable Trust
Get Involved
Donate Aggie Weston’s You can donate at www.aggies.org.uk, or by using the has partnered with donation slip provided with issues of ‘Ashore & Afloat’. “Remember a Charity” to make writing a Will easy and not too costly. Volunteer Visit www.rememberacharity.org.uk/making-a-will/start-will- There are volunteering opportunities available with us. online/ or call on 0330 606 9578 and quote RACWILLS01). For example, Storybook Waves relies on volunteers who Through this arrangement Aggie Weston’s supporters can generously give their time to the project. Editing stories that benefit from a 20% discount Will-writing offer with Co-op will delight children is fun and rewarding. For information on Legal Services. this and other volunteering opportunities, visit our website. If you would like to speak to someone at Aggie Weston’s Leave a Legacy about leaving a gift or legacy in your will, then please call The work that Aggies started would not be possible without the 02392 650505 and ask to speak to Nicki, our Financial Director. support of friends and supporters. If the work of Aggie Weston’s has touched you, or your family, in some way and you would like to help us to keep the work going for another 100 years, then Aggie_Westons aggiewestons please consider remembering Aggie Weston’s in your Will. [email protected]
aggies.org.uk