Lighthouse Thame and Villages is a free-of-charge, week-long children's holiday club, organized by a voluntary committee drawn from a number of local churches of different denominations. The initiative came into being in 2007 and the annual event usually takes place in the last week of July. Activities include drama, bible teaching, music, craft and sport, and is hugely popular among local children. Given its rapid growth, organisers are keen to ensure that the holiday club continues in a successful form, and have released the following statement.
Lighthouse Committee Statement
November 2017
Lighthouse Thame and Villages has grown from strength to strength for the last 10 years. Having started in 2008 with 300 children and 280 helpers, this year it ran with 1,000 children and almost 500 helpers. The fantastic volunteer team enabled it to grow – not just in numbers but in fun, creativity and many other ways too. The systems set up 10 years ago now need to be reviewed to make sure the success of Lighthouse continues into the future.
Consequently, the Lighthouse Committee has identified the need to refresh various elements of Lighthouse, including how the week itself runs and its administration. It is also time to set up new governance arrangements that meet the needs of a growing charity. This will involve a very significant amount of work, which needs to be the focus for the coming year.
We have come to the difficult decision that we are unable to run Lighthouse in 2018 at the same time as making these essential changes. It will mean that our future has every opportunity to be even better, whilst continuing to be the safe and fun environment that it has always been.
The Committee has consulted closely with key local church leaders who have given us their unanimous support. We have not made this decision lightly, and realise it may cause disappointment. But we hope everyone will understand that we need to allow our volunteer leadership team the space to refine, develop and restructure to build for the future.
We are so thankful for the hundreds of volunteers without whom Lighthouse would not be possible. We will be back in 2019 – and look forward to seeing you then for another fun week at Lighthouse.
For any enquiries please contact Ulrike Kibble, phone: 07549 534330, email: communications@lighthousethame.org.uk
