MAKING A DIFFERENCE 2015 For the Glory of God and the Good of the Service “The glory of God” said St Irenaeus, “is a Contact Us person fully alive; and the life of a person is Aggie Weston’s Editor Dame Agnes Weston’s Castaway House Theresa Pratt the vision of God”. Royal Sailors’ Rests 311 Twyford Avenue I wonder if this quote was in Agnes Weston’s mind when and express the impact of (Generally known as Aggie’s) Portsmouth PO2 8RN she coined our motto: “For the Glory of God and the Good our work because by doing T 023 9265 0505 Cover Photo of the Service”. Certainly her goal – and ours as we seek to so we can further improve Registered Charity No 238748 E [email protected] Agnes Weston and Sophia Wintz continue her work – was to see the Royal Navy and Royal our practice. Our accounts, Scottish Charity No SCO39718 www.aggies.org.uk Marines, and their families, enjoying “life in all its fullness”, which can be read online to quote Jesus’ expression of the impact his life and death at the Charity Commission website, tell the numbers, but makes possible. important as the numbers are they tell only a part of it. It is PATRONS said that a picture tells a thousand words; and even a few It is therefore not only with great pleasure but also with Her Majesty the Queen words can suffice to tell a great story; so over the following genuine pride in all of our dedicated and hard working Ministry of Defence pages we tell, in both image and word, the narrative of our staff that I present this brief showcase demonstrating just response to the needs of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, some of the impact of the charity’s work. Agnes set up and their families, today. From bacon rolls to Braeholm CHAIRMAN OF TRUSTEES her first Rest because the Bluejackets and their families had lunches; holiday clubs to Haven cafes; Alpha courses to Lt Cdr Paul Nelson RN real needs, and because she could make a difference. The picnics; Montage Mondays in Plymouth to the many bedtime Rests were phenomenally successful – and as the needs stories recorded in establishments and in ships worldwide: CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER changed, she was always ready to introduce new strands the story is written in lives changed for good. I pray that The Revd Simon Springett MA RNR of the work; new expressions of her faith. These quiet and these pages give you a vision of the results: happier families; practical developments were shot through with the golden more confident sailors and thoroughly cared for Royal cord of Christ-inspired love: a savings bank; support for Naval Marines, all, in those words of Saint Irenaeus, “fully alive”. widows; temperance and Bible work; warm clothing and Christmas puddings for those fighting in the Boer War. In On behalf of the Trustees and staff, I offer you my deepest her autobiography she quotes with evident approval a saying thanks for your support, and my prayers that God will bless of Admiral Lord Nelson: “My ships are changed; my guns you through these pages. are changed, but the spirit of my men remains the same”. Always there was an effect: lives enhanced and improved. In part this is a thank you letter to Her Majesty the Queen and the Ministry of Defence as our Patrons. It aims also to demonstrate to our partners and supporters the good use The Revd Simon Springett MA RNR we have made of the money, time, resource and energy they CEO have so generously given to us. But we also seek to measure ©www.royalimages.co.uk Who we have helped.... 3738 people helped by Pastoral Workers, Champions and the In 1895 Queen Victoria bestowed the to Admiral Sir William King Hall who Ark Project title of “Royal” upon Agnes Weston’s in 1873 gave permission for Agnes 3738 work; confirming the decision by to arrange events on board ship; Royal Warrant, and graciously saying remarking: “Don’t be afraid to let 1029 families helped by our staff and projects “that it was a fitting title for a Royal Miss Weston come on board”. Agnes 1029 work”. Aggie’s is proud to retain Royal recalled later that “Captain Wilson of patronage to this day. HMS Impregnable, who had won the Victoria Cross, was characteristically the 9592 people used Braeholm either as accommodation or as a The patronage of the Ministry of first to allow me on board”. 9592 Defence is a second singular honour coffee shop for the Charity: its roots going back aggies.org.uk aggies.org.uk How we help... Cosy Coffee Champions The Ark, Plymouth HMS Nelson HMS Sultan “Without Cosy the 3-4 month “Gets me out the house and “I managed to achieve both levels “I have felt so much better talking “Monday morning ‘stand-easy’ deployments would be very socialising: I meet loads of people 1 and 2 in Maths and English all with you and can see things clearer is ‘bacon-butties-in-the-Haven’ difficult. I feel like I can come here from the community. My oldest son because of the fantastic work that now.” morning. The objective of providing and receive some much needed enjoyed Champions holiday club Jenn and Lorna do. Jenn helped me bacon rolls is to raise awareness support, a shoulder to cry on or and staff are warm and welcoming, to achieve my level 2 in Children’s of the Haven and to make some someone to listen to my problems. and you always get offered a cup of and Young People’s Work and money for charity. We now have The whole pastoral team are a huge tea when you come in, snacks are Paediatric First Aid, which also led to an average production of about help and are always there when we good for the children and the cakes me becoming a Childminder. I am 120 -140 bacon rolls. We give need them.” are good for the adults!” From a thankful to Jenn, Lorna and the Ark between £300 - 400 a term to a “As a serving member of the RN Navy Mum in Rowner Gosport. Project.” variety of charities. I find comfort knowing that my “They’ve shown me friendship, “The Haven provides a sanctuary family has somewhere to go and given me support, introduced me to of peace and fun - a different kind that there is someone ready to chat new skills and given me confidence of downtime to the mess deck. who understands the issues we as in myself and that is priceless. It is a It’s the little things that make the Armed Forces families face, even if very special place to me.“ difference, on an emotional level it is a sensitive issue.” - just having a good mug of tea and sitting on a sofa is an amazing feeling! “Without this facility and its staff the students and DOs would lose a very valuable resource thus increasing daily stresses and more Montage Mondays, seriously affecting the greater Plymouth pastoral care.” “A massive thank you to Aggie’s for the funding for the craft materials: RNAS Culdrose it has enabled us to reach out to other service spouses without being “My family and I would really like to burdened with how we are going to thank you greatly for your kindness fund it. Victoria’s help with getting and presence in our time of need. the centre booked out and her You have been a great remedy support to those on the course is towards our time of healing.” really valued. To be honest, without Aggie’s this course wouldn’t be happening.” Braeholm so helpful with our son he really CTCRM enjoyed his holiday and talked Aggie’s Breakaway about you all the way home.” “The support of the staff is incredibly “Had a ball. Definitely a forever Comment received after Gary and helpful, they provide and maintain an memory.” Jan hosted an Aggie’s breakaway for RN families in a bunkhouse outside essential safe haven away from the “We can’t thank you all enough Aviemore, owned by the Royal Navy. hectic and stressful times in training. for a fab weekend, Gary’s cooking For some of the families, because of For me personally I would have was amazing, the company was their significant ill health, this was struggled without them as I have wonderful and you two do such their only chance to get away and spent many months in Hunter Troop a fabulous job, we enjoyed every they took full advantage of the fun recovering [from injury].” Recruit in moment of it. The kids can’t wait on offer. final stages of training. to go again they had such a lovely “You have been my lifeline, time, and thank you for being Thank you.” aggies.org.uk aggies.org.uk Storybook Waves Where the Royal Navy and Royal Marines work... Total number of recordings made for the year ... we make a difference! ending 30th March 2015 = 344 Number of Volunteer Editors = 11 There are 6 deployed recording kits on board ships and in Oman. The plan is for the number of deployed kits to increase in the Cosy Coffee forthcoming year. HMNB Clyde RM Condor, Arbroath Quotes from Service Users: Braeholm 83% of service users said they felt that Storybook Waves would help their child to “Storybook Waves is absolutely fantastic, remember them. could not fault it.” 76% said that would recommend “I cannot fault Storybook Waves, and the care Storybook Waves to a friend or colleague.