HMS Drake’s chaplaincy Haven gets a makeover and re-launch Sailors and Royal Marines from Devonport have welcomed the bright new environment and facilities after the re-launch of ‘The Haven’ in HMS Drake.
Part of the Chaplaincy and managed by Aggie Weston Pastoral Workers, ‘The Haven’ helps provide pastoral support to those serving, and service families by reaching out to those in and around the area, whether through events at ‘The Haven’, departmental or ships’ ‘Pop-Up Stand-easies’ around the base, or by strengthening those establishing links with other agencies of the Royal Naval Welfare Services.
The Aggies Pastoral Workers build on the original work done by the founder of Aggies – Dame Agnes Weston in 1876, supporting Sailors and Royal Marines and their families with a strong Christian Ethos driving all that she did.
New to the Chaplaincy Pastoral team at Devonport are Kate Thorn and Simon Reckless, who have worked tirelessly to bring the re-launch together.
Chaplain Tim Wilkinson said,
“Kate and Si, our Aggies Pastoral Workers have breathed new life into the Haven. It now looks welcoming and loved. But most importantly Kate and Si are friendly, wise and compassionate; always looking for ways they can help and support our people”.
“We really can boast a number of great improvements to the layout of The Haven”, said Kate.
“We’ve look to make it all feel a bit more accommodating, new art displays on the walls and an art corner where people are invited to try out their artistic capability, new plants, a newly refurbished pool table, hot drinks availability and access to a kitchen area, as well as a tourist corner with up-to-date information on local attractions shopping and entertainment for those new to the Plymouth area. It really is a one-stop shop”.
‘The Haven’ now has two areas, Haven 1 is designed with comfortable sofas, TVs, DVDs, books, games and a pool table for those wishing to relax after a hard day.
Haven 2 is intended as a multi-functional space which is more secluded and peaceful, capable of hosting a range of different activities such as monthly movie nights on the projector screen, Yoga nights run by serving personnel who have expressed an interest in leading the class, two weekly ladies’ nights including mocktails and a Parent and Baby/Toddler area for ‘Storytime’ sessions during the day, and lots more.
Haven 2 also has a specific area where deploying personnel can record popular children’s stories for a loved one through the Aggies Storybook Waves programme.
These recordings are then sent off to Aggies HQ for editing, and sound effects are added before a Storybook Waves pack is then sent out to the deploying person’s family with the recording (including a message from the parent), a copy of the book, a children’s deployment journal for the child to fill out during the deployment, with a range of emotion emojis on each page from happy to sad, and some nice tokens and a miniature medal for the child.
Simon added:
“Both Haven 1 and Haven 2 have new 24/7 opening hours, for those who are working late or on shift work and need space away from their rooms to come and relax.”
To accompany the new schedule of upcoming events, people are invited to join the Aggies Devonport ‘WhatsonWhatsApp’ group to stay up to date with the latest activities at the Haven.
