Reeds Hotel: a Social Enterprise in our midst

When you think of the term Social Enterprise you wouldn't normally associate it with a hotel. You wouldn't be alone in thinking like this because being a hotel and a social enterprise is not a commonplace situation; in fact, The Reeds Hotel, situated just off Far Ings road, is the only hotel that is run in this way in the entire Yorkshire and Humber region. Reeds became a social enterprise nearly one year ago, in order to fund further their endeavours at The Odyssey Centre (a place where people with Cancer and their carers can receive help, advice and treatment for free), based just up the hill from the hotel. All the profits from Reeds go to help fund their important work at The Odyssey Centre.

Clearly a picture NOT taken today! Reeds from the front.

Overlooking the pond at the back.

Working very much in tandem with each other, Reeds and The Odyssey Centre are both on the cusp of exciting developments. Within the next three years they both have plans for self-sustainability; including bio-mass boilers, solar panels and Geothermal energy. Reeds are also looking to install 13 eco-friendly cabins, where people from all over the world will be welcomed for respite from suffering from illness.

Up at The Odyssey there will be an Organic food production project set up, with the food grown being sold to Reeds.

All sorts goes on in here, from weddings to conferences.

Reception and bar area.

In the restaurant.

Although Reeds already provide services for weddings and civil ceremonies, they are also looking to expand into 'Green-themed weddings', where local produce will be eaten, recycled napkins used, wedding albums covered in leaves etc. Plus the fact that the hotel will one day be self-sustaining, this will make an attractive option for those wanting to marry in a 'green' way.

They provide a full wedding and civil ceremony planning service.

Reeds also have a welcoming spa treatment area, where you can enjoy facials, massage, body wraps, Reiki, Manicures and lots more therapeutic services designed to make you feel good. Yes please!

Nature's Spa reception area.

Meditation room upstairs at the Spa.

It's a good job there was no wedding there today as the weather was utterly horrendous. Luckily I had taken some photos on a sunnier day for you to see.

I will be back at Reeds and The Odyssey Centre to follow their exciting developments in the near future.

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What is a Social enterprise? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_enterprise

Calling all Barton eateries!

Having been inspired, or rather, shocked at yet more revelations about our food industry on 'Britain's Disgusting Foods' programme on BBC1 last night, I am starting a search for Barton's most ethical food establishment.

I find it difficult to get good Vegetarian options in the town. I was even laughed at when asking about a getting a vegetarian cooked breakfast in a popular cafe. 'Ha ha, what will you have then.. eggs?'. Such ignorance will not make me part with my pennies and I wonder if any other Bartonians care about the state of our food retailers in the local area?

What do I mean by ethical? Well, do you use locally sourced vegetables? Is your chicken free range? Your Pork outdoor reared? Your eggs free range? We have a few Battery Chicken farms in the local area and I for one do not want to support them.

I am concerned that noone will get back to me on this, so I offer a super-duper Blog entry to the most ethical food establishment in the town. Post your comments below. Get in touch and I will come and visit you, so you can show me how ethical you are.

I look forward to hearing from you all!

St. Mary's Church Altar Frontal

Thanks to Viv from the church for her words about this project.

'This project was started in about 2006, and has taken me a long time to get put together! The idea came to me when I saw that the one complete stained glass window in the church is in memory of Ann Tinn in the 19th C I think, wife of a local doctor. It quotes words from Proverbs ch 31, which is a very famous passage about 'A good wife, who can find?' Feminists either love it or hate it! There's a lot of feminist study of women in the Old Testament, and of course this passage is one to look at from that point of view. Since I am an OT professional of a kind, then it seemed to me a good idea that we should make a piece of embroidery to extend the idea of the book of Proverbs into the church itself, brighten up a dull corner of church and so on.

The way I went about it was to suggest that each interested person should take away a small square of cloth that I prepared, read the book of Proverbs, and express something about it which struck them in visual form on this piece of cloth. Thus, some chose one proverb to illustrate, some chose a theme - e.g. lady Wisdom of Proverbs ch 8, who has a counterpart of lady Folly. (Another aspect of the book of interest to feminist scholars). I have made a chart to show who has done which square and why.

When I put it together, I didn't want it to be symmetrical, as then it would look like a bed quilt (some joked that it did anyway!) and wanted it to have a bit of movement about it, hence it is sort of off to one side. The idea is that the strips in between are like weaving, and an the left hand end it is 'unfinished' - as though waiting for us to weave ourselves into the text, which the people have done who have studied in and produced designs, and the idea is that we continue to do so - every time we read a text, it is different because of the new person we have become.

Do you have a story about your project in Barton? Please let me know. Email me at daretoknow@mac.com.

Barton Blog is looking for writers

Do you enjoy putting a few words together? Would you like to come along with me to some events in Barton and do a bit of a write-up? I'm far happier with my camera than with a pen so would very much welcome some assistance in this area. There is no fee, just the satisfaction of contributing to this popular blog and of course a good excuse to get out and about to speak to people. If you are looking for experience in this field, it also looks great to have your words in 'print', so to speak. You need not come to everything I go to, just anything you can.

If you are interested, please email me at daretoknow@mac.com

The Odyssey Centre

Located just outside Barton on the junction between Westfield Road and Gravel Pit Road sits The Odyssey Centre, a charitable organisation that offers holistic and complementary therapies to people suffering from Cancer. The Centre is situated in a beautiful house and location, with possibly the best views of the Humber and bridge you are likely to get. I stumbled across the place whilst out walking one day and luckily for us they agreed for me to have a look around and do a report for the Blog.

Outside the front of The Odyssey Centre.

The Odyssey Centre and Reeds Hotel are very much partners in this project. Now having the status of a social enterprise, Reeds' profits are put straight in to helping the centre continue it's valuable work in helping sufferers and their carers have access to therapies that complement other treatments. In fact, the Odyssey Centre started at the Reeds Hotel in 1996 but quickly outgrew the space and in 1999 moved to the new home up the hill. Since then they have helped hundreds of people.

One of the therapy rooms.

Aromatherapy oils.

Types of therapy on offer here are Reflexology, Aromatherapy, Indian Head Massage, Swedish Massage, Reiki and also simply the space to relax and sit in comfortable and calm surroundings. Odyssey clients are referred to them by medical professionals and range in age, in their illnesses and at what stage in their illness they are. They do not charge for their services but do accept donations.

The entrance and hallway.

The Centre was presented with the 'North Lincs Council Small Business of the Year 2009', award, giving the centre the recognition it deserves and hopefully raising their profile.

Reiki Bear.

There are shelves full of books in a very relaxing sitting room.

These are developing times for the Centre, with big plans afoot for becoming 'Green' and self-sufficient, installing wind turbines and organic gardens.

The sitting room, with views over the Humber.

I was here but a short while, but found the Odyssey Centre a very relaxing place to be. I will no doubt be visiting again to promote their fundraising events so watch this space...

The large garden attracts plenty of wildlife to watch.

www.theodysseycentre.org

www.bwreedshotel.co.uk

National Marriage Week display at St. Mary's Church

Thanks to Viv from St. Mary's Church for sending in a picture and some information about this.

"Our branch of the Mothers' Union decided we needed to do something to mark National Marriage Week, and so Sheila and Brenda put together the display which is the white cloths and things at the back. There are various wedding things on it, invitation, flowers that had been on wedding cakes, and on the MU noticeboard in church there are some prayers pinned up. It'll be there for this week, and taken down after next Sunday."

After receiving Viv's info about the display I went down to the church and took some further photos. I'll also be posting pictures of the altar frontal Viv has overseen the production of, which you can also see at the front of the picture below.

Eerie, Spooky...

As the mist and thick cloud sat over Barton yesterday, I took a walk down to Hoe Hill via Pasture Lane and back past the bridge, which was all but hidden behind the thick grey veil. It was a bit sinister to say the least!

One of the ponds on Pasture Lane: completely still, all you could hear were the crows squawking.

An abandoned boot in the undergrowth: who would want rid of such quality footwear? How can you lose such a big and heavy boot? Sinister...

The long road, shrouded in mist...

Litter city the end of Pasture Road: whoever frequents this area has no regard for their environment. All you have to do is put the bottle back in the car and put it in the bin when you get home; it's not rocket science!

Creepy leafless trees lined the puddle-ridden track.

On a sunny day this would be a beautiful view, were it not for the actions of a fly-tipper who has left their rubbish. Disgraceful...

The tide was so low, I was almost tempted to take a walk over the river!

Where's the bridge??

Send in your eerie and spooky shots of Barton and I'll put them on the Blog.