SPRING NEWS
SPRING HARVEST
SPRING HARVEST IS BACK THIS EASTER! God inspired moments, treasured family memories and life-changing adventures for the whole family
Skegness 11-15 April
Minehead 18-22 April
www.springharvestevent.org It’s not too late to book! Save up to 23% on selected accommodation, with a Covid Protection Guarantee
HELP US SHARE THE EXPERIENCE OF SPRING HARVEST CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION AND PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS
It’s the remarkable Spring Harvest community who walk out of the Big Top and then go out and change the world.”
IN THIS ISSUE 10 reasons to book for Spring Harvest
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Behind-the-scenes with Big Start
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Engaging young people’s faith in 2022
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A Kingdom built on vulnerability
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Spring Harvest Kids Teams: Making an eternal impact on young lives…
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Making Spring Harvest accessible for all
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On Resort Entertainment at Butlin’s
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Restoring the cross, renewing hope, rebuilding lives
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Your Line up for April 2022!
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Family life matters
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Getting to know Sheldon Bangera
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Spring Harvest Holidays
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10 REASONS 9 HOURS OF ALL AGE WORSHIP A WEEK: enjoy family time together worshipping, learning, and laughing.
THE BEST FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT: swimming pools, fairground and amusements, 10-pin bowling, the beach, stunning countryside…what more do you need?
INSPIRING GUEST SPEAKERS AND WORSHIP LEADERS: we have invited some of the most exciting and forward-thinking Christian leaders and speakers to join us.
THE LESS STRESSFUL FAMILY HOLIDAY: no passport or inoculations needed, we’re just a drive away.
SHARE YOUR FAITH TOGETHER AS A FAMILY: all sessions, regardless of age, explore the same themes and topics.
to book for Spring Harvest
UP TO 18 HOURS A WEEK OF KIDS’ PROGRAMME: precious recharging time to take a breather on your own or as a couple.
A SAFE AND CLEAN HOLIDAY LOCATION AT BUTLIN’S: Enhanced cleaning and air purification measures in place on resorts.
OUR COVID PROTECTION PROMISE: our guarantee to all Spring Harvest guests to provide you with reassurance regarding your booking.
AN AFFORDABLE HOLIDAY: with our special offer it’s never been more affordable to come to Spring Harvest.
GET REACQUAINTED WITH FRIENDS: rekindle friendships over a drink in one of the many coffee shops, restaurants, or pubs.
SO, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? MAKE YOUR BOOKING TODAY AND SECURE YOUR PLACE TO JOIN US FOR WHAT WILL BE AN INCREDIBLE REUNION THIS APRIL!
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO MAKE YOUR BOOKING VISIT WWW.SPRINGHARVESTEVENT.ORG OR SCAN THE QR CODE 4
SPRING HARVEST NEWS
CHEEKY PANDAS WILL BE JOINING US THIS APRIL FOR A PANDA PRAISE PARTY AT SKEGNESS AND MINEHEAD! WE GOT TO HEAR FROM PETE JAMES, CREATOR OF CHEEKY PANDAS ABOUT HOW THEY GOT STARTED AND WHAT THEY’VE BEEN UP TO!
HOW THEY GOT STARTED… The Cheeky Pandas started life nearly 5 years ago while writing a children’s song called ‘God Suit On’, about the armour of God. We thought it would be fun to put it out under a different identity, so came up with the Cheeky Pandas. With a limited budget, the help of a great music producer, a filmmaker and a dancer, the track was made and then a music video. We spent £20 on the video! After playing a gig at Spring Harvest’s French Holiday Park, Le Pas Opton, things snowballed very quickly, and some amazing people got behind what we were doing with finances and advice. One of the most significant opportunities was through Archbishop Justin Welby’s Thy Kingdom Come (TKC) initiative. Through making more music videos, I had been asking myself whether it was possible to jump to making a TV series that could broaden our reach and content. At this time the first lock down hit, and we were awarded a Covid relief grant to use for Christian digital resources. This led us to collaborate with TKC on making an 11 part TV series packed with prayer, a song including dance video, live hosts and an animated story.
EXCITING PROJECTS AND PLANS FOR 2022 For this year’s Season 2 series there will be five episodes based on the Fruit of the Spirit, one with a Royal focus to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee. There will also be a Christmas special for later this year. The shows will be fully animated with brand new catchy songs, newly adapted characters, and the famous Treehouse Studio. The series will be ready in April and will be available through various platforms, including Thy Kingdom Come and CheekyPandas.com websites. Scan the QR code to find out more. We are also giving away up to half a million Cheeky Pandas books to school children across the UK! We will be at Big Church Day Out and Spring Harvest, bringing Panda Praise parties.
CHEEKY PANDAS AT SPRING HARVEST 2022 Don’t miss us, we will be at both Minehead and Skegness! There will be plenty of opportunities for children to take photos with the Pandas and receive a FREE Cheeky Pandas story book! Here’s to a Cheeky 2022!
TKC also helped us to produce free digital school and Sunday school resources as well as translating the TV episodes into BSL!
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S E N E C S E H T BEHINDWITH N ALL-AGE BIG START…A ZA WITH EXTRAVAGAN NCE, ART, WORSHIP, DA DRAMA, BIBLE-BASED LOTS OF PRAYER AND LAUGHTER!
e songs never Our catchy them g our heads (and disappoint, fillin uth as we sing hearts) with tr ind ourselves of together to rem . God’s promises g Start is an We know that Bi t of Spring Harves unmissable part r firm favourite fo each year and a , so we thought guests of all ages wn memory lane we’d take a trip do art throwbacks! with some Big St
2016 The Big Start Pirate s Edition! We went travelling on the Go od Ship Gamechan ger to the Promised La nd. Pirates were welcome, costume s were optional. Go d’s Game Changers we ’ll be. Arrr-men!
2017
We put on a west-end extravaganza, our very own ACTS the Musical and what a cracking theme song: One For All.
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Big Start went back to school! You might remember joining the Head of the Drama Club, the Captain of the netball team, the School Band, and the rest of the class at the Big Start School of Prayer! No Rules no Limits!!
2018
ests to We introduced gu Only the Brave! acters ar ch of fantastical an eclectic group e brave m co be we learnt to and creatures as . ng Ki e disciples of th adventurers and
Lockdown didn’t stop us! We had a hoot from home with Ho ly Spirit Histories, looking at the sto ries of Acts, and how we have the sam e power to Glow today!
2020
2021
A specia l Big Start with The You mig Dustbin ht remem Crew. ber joinin with you g us onli r boxes, n e b ins and ti trash ba ns for a sh as we b ig worshipp everythin ed Jesus g we’ve g with ot!
HILARY IN THE HOTSEAT
HERE AT SPRING HARVEST Head Office, I got to catch up with Hilary – the Creative Lead on Big Start, to find out a bit more about the heart behind this extravaganza! 1. If you could define Big Start in three words, what would you say?
2019
GET READY FOR BIG START 2022! EXPECT PLENTY of Shazam, Wow and Kerpow as we join in with the Super Team G.I.F.T. – God’s International Fixit Team! Grab your cape and mask as we learn together how Jesus is the greatest Hero who restores, renews and rebuilds, but also invites US to join his team – to fix up this world with love! So come ready to jump up and join in, we are all in this together. Big Start is a great excuse for adults and kids alike to dress up and we love seeing your costumes! As we prepare to come back together this April, don’t forget you bring your GIFT SuperTeam suits… • Grab your tea towels and sheets to make capes • Cut up an old cereal box to make an eye mask • Don’t forget the allimportant GIFT t-shirt. Information about how to order one coming soon or make your own with a marker pen!
Fun, inclusive and dynamic. 2. Have got a favourite Big Start moment? The moment in Big Start School of Prayer 2019 when thousands of people launched Paper Aeroplane Prayers across the Skyline for others to catch and pray – it was so fun, memorable, and genuine!
COME AND JOIN IN THE FAMILY FUN THIS APRIL. VISIT SPRINGHARVESTEVENT.ORG TO SECURE YOUR SPOT AND SAVE UP TO 23%
3. What makes Big Start special? The fact that ALL ages can be encouraged and inspired together by God’s Word through its engaging and fun delivery.
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ENGAGING YOUNG PEOPLE’S FAITH IN 2022 We know Spring Harvest this April will be full of unforgettable moments for the whole family as we worship, learn, and encounter God together! We spoke to Sarah Covington, our 5-7s Programme Leader for Whizz Kids at Skegness about what makes our kids programme so special. SPRING HARVEST 2022 IS AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY TO WITNESS CHILDREN DISCOVER AND RE-ENGAGE WITH THEIR FAITH IN PERSON. WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES AND HOW WILL THE KIDS TEAMS HELP TO OVERCOME THEM? Everything has been very restricted over the last couple of years, and many are finding it almost as hard to readjust to things opening again as they did to them closing down. I think this is as true for children as it is for adults. When it comes to faith engagement, that has mainly happened at home with family. I think coming together in large groups and engaging with faith alongside so many others may feel a bit overwhelming. The teams are aware of this, and the programmes will involve ways to support them. There will be plenty of opportunities woven throughout the spiritual programme, for the children to have fun and socialise together.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT THAT YOUNG PEOPLE MEET TO WORSHIP AND LEARN?
WHAT MAKES OUR KIDS PROGRAMME AT SPRING HARVEST SPECIAL? They are always special because the opportunity to come together with so many other Christians is such a significant and valuable part of the journey for many children in their faith. I have the privilege of leading one of the teams, and every year I am so thankful for the fantastic teams of volunteers who join us. The way in which they build relationships with the children in just a few days, for the fun they bring and all the ways they help the children to encounter God.
The opportunity to come together with so many other Christians is such a significant and valuable part of the journey for many children in their faith.”
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Learning together is key for our faith, it helps to shape and develop us. Hearing about people’s experiences of God, and sharing opinions, can be a great way for God to speak to us, however old or young we are! It is so important for children to meet with others and to have those shared experiences.
HOW WILL THE KIDS PROGRAMME BE EXPLORING OUR EVENT THEME, ‘RESTORE, RENEW, REBUILD’? The ‘Restore, Renew, Rebuild’ theme is so appropriate for the time we find ourselves in. We will use the stories of Nehemiah to help us think about what that means in the children’s lives and of their families, friends, churches, and wider communities. There will be a mix of creative storytelling, crafts and games, time for prayer and a puppet or two to help us explore the themes and how we can apply them.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE STORIES DURING YOUR TIME SERVING AT SPRING HARVEST? Over the 20 years there have been so many! One that really
sticks in my mind is that of a child who, at one of the programmes, felt that they had been called by God to go on a mission trip; to find a place where they could serve Him overseas. They were incredibly determined to follow it through and, supported by their family, found a mission that gave them the opportunity to serve. Now that child is a young adult who has supported that mission in various ways and is looking to a longer-term future of working with them.
WHY IS 2022 GOING TO BE A YEAR TO REMEMBER FOR OUR KIDS AT SPRING HARVEST, AND WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO PARENTS/ CARERS WHOSE YOUNG PEOPLE WILL BE JOINING US? After two years of not being able to be together, 2022 will be incredibly special and we’re really looking forward to you joining us! Every year, there is excitement at gathering, at what God is going to do, and that is going to be so much greater this year. We are praying that the children’s programmes will be a real blessing for you by giving you the opportunity to attend your own sessions and that the event as a whole will provide plenty of opportunity for family, faith and fun!
BY PATRICK REGAN OBE, MEMBER OF THE SPRING HARVEST PLANNING GROUP AND AUTHOR OF BOUNCING FORWARDS, NOTES ON RESILIENCE, COURAGE, AND CHANGE.
A KINGDOM BUILT ON VULNERABILITY As I sat nervously across from our previous Prime Minister (David Cameron) our conversation had moved onto how to support some of the most vulnerable people in society. I commented “the church is in every community across this country, with all due respect it will outlast Politicians, it is one of the few organisations designed to care for its nonmembers”. The Prime Minister lent back on his chair and said, “very interesting.” In 2019, The United Nations revealed that a person dies by suicide every 40 seconds, yet governments spend less than 1% of their budgets on mental health care. Lockdowns relating to Covid-19 have created a tsunami of new mental health problems and accelerated existing ones.
has never been more vital for a nation struggling to come to terms with the pandemic and its effect on our mental health. We must invest in our mental health in the same way it is important to invest in our physical health. As the church we have not always dealt with the issue well.
Research shows that groups most at risk of adverse mental health outcomes during the pandemic include young adults, women, those with pre-existing mental health conditions, those from minority ethnic communities, and people experiencing socio-economic disadvantage. Many of these characteristics overlap. Recent data (April 2021) shows the number of people contacting the NHS seeking help for mental health problems is now at a record high.
Over the last ten years we have seen a shift in how the church responds to people struggling with mental health though we still have a long way to go. For me when going through a time of real brokenness the image of Kintsugi beautifully captures what God can do with the broken pieces of our lives. Kintsugi means “golden joinery” in Japanese and is a technique for repairing pottery with seams of gold. This makes the object more beautiful and unique than it was prior to being broken. Making a feature of its scars.
This year’s Spring Harvest theme Restore, Renew, Rebuild
In February 2018, my wife
Diane and I started Kintsugi Hope and have developed material that enable people to meet and support one another through some of life’s challenges. The 12-week facilitated peer-mentoring groups are designed in partnership with leading experts, looking at key themes including acceptance, perfectionism, anxiety, and depression. These can be delivered in different contexts within the community including churches, coffee shops and homes, as well as prisons and homeless shelters. Since March 2020 (first UK lockdown), demand has grown by 452% as the Church continued to seek to support their congregations and community’s wellbeing. Kintsugi Hope moved all the Wellbeing Group Leader training and resources online and by the end of September 2021, had trained more than 1,100 Group Leaders. Jesus had a beautiful way of seeing people’s fragility and vulnerability, loving them rather than judging them. He saw the potential of what and
who they could become. Every time he embraced a person that others thought was a waste of time, we are shown glimpses of God’s intentions for human beings and a foretaste of the fullness of the kingdom of God. If God is in the restoration business and I want to align my values with his, to do all I can to see his kingdom come to earth now, I need to remember no one – not even me – is a lost cause. God’s kingdom doesn’t mimic the traditional power structures but is built on vulnerability, weakness, grace, and acts of justice and mercy. Through them God’s power is revealed. My prayer into this next season is that the Church will be at the forefront of leading a recovery with a heart of gentleness, compassion, and love for its communities.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON KINTSUGI HOPE WELLBEING GROUPS SCAN THE QR CODE OR VISIT WWW.KINTSUGIHOPE.COM
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YOUR LINE UP FOR APRIL 2022!
IT’S NOT LONG NOW UNTIL WE GATHER FOR OUR SPECIAL REUNION THIS APRIL. CHECK OUT SOME OF OUR INCREDIBLE LINE-UP THIS YEAR!
NICK HERBERT DEBRA GREEN OBE CELEBRATION HOST AND EVENING SPEAKER @ MINEHEAD AND SKEGNESS As director and founder of Redeeming our Communities (ROC), tell us more about the charity and how it serves in the restoration and transformation of communities? ROC is a community engagement charity, working together towards safer, kinder communities. We have delivered over 250 community engagement projects in partnership with local churches, public services, and community organisations all over the UK. Reducing crime and promoting safer communities is at the heart of what we do, and we have formed partnerships with Police forces across the UK. As part of the Spring Harvest Planning Group and Board of Directors, what are you most excited about this year? I am just so excited for the future. Despite the challenges we’ve faced recently, I am full of hope that we can recover and rebuild. As we come together, I believe that our corporate faith will take us into the realm of opportunity. I love that Spring Harvest provides the space to help us do that! Our Spring Harvest 2022 theme is Restore, Renew, Rebuild – what does this mean to you and why is it important? One of my favourite books of the Bible is Nehemiah. It’s so practical and full of inspiration for today. I think we as Church need this message as we seek to rebuild our communities. What’s one of your favourite Spring Harvest memories? I have so many! But to pick one, it would be when our family was younger, and we were regulars at Spring Harvest. One day our two girls got back to the chalet to tell us that they had been filled with the Holy Spirit at the kid’s venue and they had both had a vision. They couldn’t sleep (neither could we!) as they were so excited. It felt like Pentecost.
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CELEBRATION WORSHIP LEADER @ MINEHEAD When did your passion for music first begin? When I first became a Christian at 16, my mate at church introduced me to his band who had been doing gigs. This was a new world to me, and I loved it! Not only did it stir a passion for music within me, but it encouraged me to start singing and playing. What advice do you have for aspiring worship leaders and songwriters? Make a habit of spending quality time with God. Be honest about where you need to improve, dedicate time to these areas to develop practically and personally. Write the song ‘in-front’ of you – who are you serving, what is their/your story and try to write for that. What’s the most memorable event you’ve led worship at? It must be playing to about ten thousand people in Budapest at the wonderful ‘Ez Az A Nap!’ event. It was such a privilege to lead worship at a faith-filled and prayer-fuelled event like that. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? Cast your cares upon the Lord for He cares for you! You recently won ‘Songwriter of the Year’ award. Congratulations! What does this achievement mean to you? It was unexpected as I was up against some incredible writers. It was also humbling to be recognised in that way but mostly a joyful and honouring event. Our Spring Harvest 2022 theme is Restore, Renew, Rebuild – what does this mean to you and why is it important? This theme is something my church back in Birmingham has also been exploring too, a sense of God walking through the ashes and rubble of these last few years and filling the foundations with hope and vision for a glorious future that starts now. I’m expectant and excited for all God has in store as we explore these three words… I hope you are too!
LOU FELLINGHAM CELEBRATION WORSHIP LEADER @ SKEGNESS Have you got a favourite Spring Harvest memory?
PHILIPPA HANNA AFTER HOURS @ MINEHEAD AND SKEGNESS What are you most looking forward to for Spring Harvest this April? Letting rip with all my new songs! I made an album in lock-down and it hasn’t seen the light of day with any live audiences. Can’t wait. We know you’ve grown up around musicians. What was that like and did it play a huge influence in pursuing your own musical career? It’s all I know really! Music is in my blood and totally a part of my culture. It brings people together and restores hope, happiness, and unity. It made me realise, a career in music is possible if you work hard and do your thing, well. You’re very open about your struggle with anxiety as a teenager and how God played a fundamental part in overcoming it. Would you be able to share more about this? Fear is a powerful force. In my experience the only things stronger are faith, hope, and love. God has helped me navigate through the darkest times in my life. In Him, I know there’s always new life, no matter how shadowy things get. I still need Him every day, especially with new mum anxieties. What’s your favourite worship song at the moment? ‘The Goodness of God’ by Bethel. It really carried my Mother-in-law through her last days before we lost her in December. She was a woman of such strong faith and she always talked about how good God is. I love the song now. Alongside pursuing your musical career, you’ve also shared your heart through literature. Tell us more about that journey? I’ve always loved to write. I do a lot of speaking on stage and love the opportunity to tell stories. For me, writing books is just that! I’m mostly sharing stories from my life that I hope will be helpful for others. My latest book ‘Known’ is an interactive journey aimed at young women. The intention is to help the reader explore and celebrate their identity in God!
One year I led alongside Stuart Townend. It was the year he had written ‘In Christ Alone’ and Spring Harvest may have been one of the first times it was heard publicly. It was such a special moment. The impact was incredible as the words and melody resonated with people’s hearts and brought life into the Big Top. What are you most looking forward to for Spring Harvest 2022? So much! Seeing people, worshipping with people, seeing where God leads us and longing for the Holy Spirit to pour out on us. Our Spring Harvest 2022 theme is Restore, Renew, Rebuild – what does this mean to you and why is it important? Many have experienced brokenness, loss, and disillusionment towards God or the church or what life is about during this season. I hope this week together will facilitate God’s Spirit to restore where things have been lost, bring new depths of revelation and peace, and rebuild where we have felt separated, and pulled apart. What advice do you have for aspiring worship leaders and songwriters? Stay close to God, stay in the Word, and take time to worship God privately. Keep your eyes and ears open, God loves to use our senses to speak to us. Song writing is very personal. When you collaborate with others you must work out what you are not willing to let go but also be generous and open handed to sharpen and bring the best out of a song. You host an online coffee morning, what initially inspired you to start this? In 2020 I launched my women’s conferences ‘Made For You’, a week later the country went into lockdown! After a few months we realised we had the ingredients to pull something together online. We’ve interviewed different people with various journeys of faith and discovered how God has met with them. It has been wonderful to hear how God has spoken in the moment into so many lives.
CHECK OUT MORE OF THIS YEAR’S LINE UP AND BOOK YOUR PLACE AT WWW.SPRINGHARVESTEVENT.ORG OR SCAN THE QR CODE HERE!
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AN INTERVIEW BY LES MOIR
GETTING TO KNOW SHELDON BANGERA IN 2015 I HAD THE JOY OF TRAVELING TO MUMBAI, ONE OF THE LARGEST CITIES IN THE WORLD WITH A POPULATION OF 20 MILLION, TO MEET AND RECORD WORSHIP LEADER SHELDON BANGERA. I was the Artist and Repertoire Manager for Integrity Music who are committed to developing and amplifying the worship of other nations. My role for several years has been to encourage and nurture worship leaders &
songwriters and had been going through and critiquing Sheldon’s songs. We recorded the ‘Raaja Hai Mahaan’ album with 9 songs in Hindi and 3 more in English, using as many Indian indigenous instruments as we could find
in the studio. It was also a delight to get to know Sheldon’s family, his wife Anita, meet his musicians and worship at his Church. This year Sheldon will be leading worship at Spring Harvest Skegness. Recently I was able to catch up with Sheldon.
Sheldon, please tells us about your early beginnings as a songwriter and worship leader, and how you became a follower of Jesus? LES:
I am a worship leader and singer-songwriter from Mumbai, India. I was raised up in a nominal Christian family and have SHELDON:
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I experienced a touch of God and the reality of Jesus, and His power hit me like a sudden explosion. loved music since my childhood. Church music always fascinated me. During my high school years, I drifted away from church. One morning, I was invited to a prayer meeting to help the worship band where my life radically changed. I experienced a touch of God and the reality of Jesus, and His power hit me like a sudden explosion. I had this deep urge to
Our team provided more than half a million meals to people affected and we were able to encourage many who lost their loved ones.” SHELDON BANGERA
commit my life, to turn away from everything else and start serving Jesus. Since then, it has been about 18 years of serving God in different capacities, writing songs, leading worship, inspiring people, sharing my story of hope, mentoring and encouraging younger artists. LES: Tell
us more about your concerts Sheldon... SHELDON: We
have been playing concerts and taking these God-given songs and the sound of India across to different cities. We prayed and asked the Lord for a tour bus knowing that it would become much easier to travel to unreached parts of India. After our association with Integrity Music, we saw many doors open nationally and internationally. Over the last few years, we have toured around 120 cities, towns and villages in India through the ‘India On Wheels Tour’ and the USA besides touring African & Gulf countries. We have seen God’s hand move extensively among campus college students and lives transformed through
our songs. By God’s grace, we have seen several Indian churches across the world sing our songs besides having our most recent album ‘Your Name’ play in pockets of American Radio in the US. It’s been a great decade of seeing God’s hand at work! LES: That’s
amazing Sheldon. Please tell us more about your recent involvement with those in India dealing with the effects of Covid. SHELDON: Over
and serving the community through music and masterclasses.
Our team provided more than half a million meals to people affected and we were able to encourage many who lost their loved ones.
We thank God for everyone who stood to join hands in this difficult time especially as India saw the second wave crisis. I myself was severely affected by Covid with about 45% lung infection but my comeback story became a means of encouragement to many. God gave us new songs about healing that have deeply impacted the community during this time.
the last couple of years as the Covid crisis hit and concerts came to a standstill, we did our best to perform at online events and even host online awareness concerts to raise support for those affected in the Covid crisis.
We were able to restore, renew and rebuild broken lives during the pandemic through our online training programs, prayer teams
We are so looking forward to you leading us in worship at Spring Harvest 2022. What are you most excited about personally and as a worship leader? LES:
I am greatly excited about Spring Harvest this year and eager to see God moving. I am particularly excited to be visiting from India and carrying some our Indian flavour and sound to the English space. SHELDON:
stir up revival among his people. I am excited to see the restoration, renewal and rebuilding of God’s Kingdom in the lives of so many, especially the young as we share stories of hope and encouragement from what God’s done in our own lives. I am so excited to fellowship with other believers and artists to chat about all that God’s been doing and also to join safely back together as we celebrate God’s goodness together in the UK and in India alike.
SHELDON WILL BE JOINING US THIS APRIL, LEADING WORSHIP AT SKEGNESS! REMEMBER, IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO JOIN US – BOOK NOW AND SAVE UP TO 23%! VISIT SPRINGHARVESTEVENT.ORG OR SCAN THE QR CODE
I want to see people encounter God in a fresh way and that God would
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SPRING HARVEST KIDS TEAMS:
An eternal impact on young lives… As we look ahead to Spring Harvest 2022, we’re so excited to gather back together. Of course, Spring Harvest and the history-making and special moments that are made each year would not be possible without our willing volunteers! Many volunteers return year after year, reunited as a family who have fun together and are always eager to use their gifts to serve others. This includes our incredible kid’s teams who help make an eternal impact on young lives. We got to sit down and speak with Andy and Alan, our Children and All Age Event Leaders. Here are some stories from their amazing work!
What is one of your favourite things about serving on team? There are lots of things I love about serving on team! Perhaps one of my favourite things is seeing children experience God in lots of different ways and experience special moments with God and carrying these in their hearts when they go back home to their families, friends and school. ANDY:
I also love seeing team members feel better equipped to take back their skills into their own children’s ministries and churches.
Favourite moment or story whilst serving on team? I’ve helped lead the Chatterbox programme for ANDY:
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8-11s which is such a special time. It’s an opportunity for young people to share their questions about God, life and chat through them. We don’t always know the answers to their deep spiritual questions, but it’s an opportunity to hear their heart and share an important message of stepping forward in faith. Our kids programme is fantastic at offering different projects and activities that the children can really engage in. One year we had a prayer tent which included a ‘Well’, where kids could throw in pebbles and pray for people that they struggle to agree with. I remember watching the children really engaging in this activity, including watching one child pause and pray intently before they placed the pebble in the well. ALAN:
What has been one of your favourite event themes to explore with the kids? ACTS the Musical was one of my favourite event themes – the kids really loved engaging with the theme in 2017, which explored passages about the early church, including how we learn from the early church and apply that truth to today. ANDY:
What are you most excited for this April?
What makes the kids programme so special?
Whilst the church has found new and different ways of supporting each other during the pandemic, it will be such a special time coming back together safely in person this April. Parents and carers can see their children engage in our programme, where they can help discover and re-engage their faith. It’s great being able to see the children take the things they’ve learnt back home to help grow their faith.
ALAN:
ANDY:
I love getting to hear stories of children recounting stories to their families back in their chalets after a session or on the car journey home! ALAN:
The pre-teenage years are so fundamental, it’s important to take these years seriously and join children in their spiritual journey. Spring Harvest is for the whole family, it’s a safe and special place for everyone.
What would you say to prospective volunteers? Spring Harvest is a place full of energy and vibrancy. You are always learning and it’s an incredible privilege to play a part in young children’s early journey of faith. ANDY:
Don’t think you are just ministering to children; they are ministering to you!
JOIN OUR HUGE FAMILY OF VOLUNTEERS! You CAN ALSO be part of incredible Spring Harvest moments by serving our guests on one of our teams! When you join our extensive family of volunteers, you’ll have the opportunity to use your gifts, make friends for life and enjoy the event from a very different perspective.
TO FIND OUT ABOUT VOLUNTEER TEAMS AND HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED, VISIT SPRINGHARVESTEVENT.ORG/VOLUNTEER OR SCAN THE QR CODE
MAKING SPRING HARVEST ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE Accessibility is all about ensuring everyone feels part of the event! We’re committed to making space for everyone to encounter, be inspired and transformed by God at Spring Harvest. We have an incredible team who help make Spring Harvest an inclusive place both before and during the event, from our Additional Needs Coordinators who are available to talk to guests prior to the event to our incredible Customer Care team and trained Volunteer Stewards team who are available on-site to make all feel welcome and to answer your questions and offer assistance. We want to ensure everyone feels part of Spring Harvest and has access to the programme, both on-site and online. We got to speak to Kay MorganGurr, our Disabilities and Additional Needs Advisor to Spring Harvest, about the importance of accessibility and how we are seeking to create an inclusive space where everyone feels welcomed and included. Here are some of the ways that we make the Spring Harvest experience as accessible as possible for everyone.
Count Everyone In: Our friends from Count Everyone In enable us all – especially those with learning disabilities, to join in worship and explore the daily themes! Their sessions include lots of worship, Bible teaching, prayer, singing, dancing, drama, craft and Makaton signing! Their vision is to enable every individual and church in England and Wales to welcome adults with learning disabilities so that they can know Jesus and grow in Him. They will be running morning and afternoon sessions at Minehead (18-22 April 2022). Look out for their Makaton workshop too!
BSL Interpreter team: Our British Sign Language Interpreter team are available across our breaks and make our communications more accessible to people using British Sign Language (BSL) to communicate. For Spring Harvest Home ’21, we focused on making our online event accessible as possible. This also included our superb BSL team who provided on-screen sign language interpretation for evening celebrations, morning Bible teaching and the all-age, all-action Big Start.
Venue accessibility: Most of our venues are accessible by wheelchair. New venues and exciting extensions at Butlin’s, including the brand-new entertainment venue Studio 36 at both Minehead and Skegness have been built with accessibility in mind, offering easy access for everyone. Our stewarding team are also onsite to help guests access ground floor venues.
Speech to text provision: Our speech to text service helps ensure guests with either a hearing loss or who have become deafened have access to enjoy our teaching sessions. There will be a speech to text service available at Minehead and Skegness this year. For those with visual difficulties, we offer braille or large print versions of the songs to be sung during the evening celebrations, this allows everyone to enjoy the Spring Harvest worship experience.
Supporting adults with learning difficulties and additional needs: Our youth and children’s teams will offer some provision for those who need support with additional needs. We expect all teams to have a quiet area for children who may need some time out. There is a Disability and Additional Needs Consultant at every Spring Harvest break for anyone who needs support.
FIND OUT MORE… Accessibility is all about ensuring everybody can enjoy the experience of Spring Harvest so do remember to contact us at access@springharvest.org if you have any questions around accessibility and this year’s event.
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT WHAT WE CAN OFFER, PLEASE VISIT SPRINGHARVEST.ORG/ACCESSIBILITY OR SCAN THE QR CODE HERE
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ON RESORT ENTERTAINMENT AT BUTLIN’S WITH MULTI-MILLION-POUND facilities on offer at Butlin’s you can enjoy a fun-packed family break. There is so much on offer: crazy golf, milk shakes, the beach, cappuccinos, sports tournaments, soft play areas, Little Stars Fairground, cream teas, ten pin bowling, snooker, ice cream, or find one of the many places to sit and relax with friends.
Splash Waterworld This award-winning water park is one all the family will love. Whether you want to speed down one of the many water flumes, gently cruise along the lazy river amongst the tropical plants or splash about with your smaller kids in their calmer area, there is fun to be had no matter what the weather outside!
Entertainment Alongside all the incredible facilities that Butlin’s offers, there is also a full Spring Harvest programme of entertainment filled with afternoon matinees, workshops, late-night stand-up comedy, music and more to enjoy! The well-being and safety of guests is a priority and
our friends at Butlin’s have been busy behind the scenes making some brilliant changes and additions to their sites, with Covid safety at the forefront of everything. So, get ready to join us for a fun week, where every improvement, development and facility serves to enhance your Spring Harvest experience!
CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES RESTAURANTS & FOOD COURTS
Traditional Funfair Both Butlin’s resorts have a traditional funfair which include a variety of family rides including dodgems and vintage stall games. For those aged 5 and under there is as a specially designed Little Stars Fairground with rides more suited to them so all the family can enjoy the fun.
If you are not in self-catering accommodation, or just fancy time off from cooking, Butlin’s has you covered with an assortment of restaurants to try out.
AS YOU MAKE THE JOURNEY THIS APRIL TO BUTLIN’S FOR WHAT WILL BE AN INCREDIBLE SPRING HARVEST REUNION, YOU CAN ENJOY LISTENING TO OUR ‘EN ROUTE TO SPRING HARVEST 2022’ SPOTIFY PLAYLIST WE PUT TOGETHER!
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There is a wealth of activities for young children from rides for tots to soft play and adventure playgrounds, as well as the high ropes, go karts, climbing wall and more for the older kids.
There’s never been a better time to book... WITH UP TO 23% off selected accommodation and a Covid protection guarantee, there has never been a better time to book! We all need something to look forward to and our special Covid protection guarantee means you can secure your place and book with confidence. You can cancel at any time up to 72 hours before your holiday start date and get every penny back. So, what are you waiting for? Join us in 2022 by
securing your place now! It is a reunion you will not want to miss!
SCAN THE QR CODE OR VISIT SPRINGHARVESTEVENT.ORG TO FIND OUT MORE AND TO SECURE YOUR PLACE FOR 2022!
MEETING ONLINE THIS EASTER NOT ABLE TO JOIN US IN PERSON? DON’T WORRY, YOU DON’T HAVE TO MISS OUT. WE WOULD LOVE YOU TO JOIN US ONLINE! SPRING HARVEST HOME IS OUR ONLINE EVENT RUNNING AT THE SAME TIME AS THE SECOND EVENT WEEK IN MINEHEAD. This year’s event theme is Restore, Renew, Rebuild. As with our on-site events, we’ll be exploring how God wants to restore, renew and rebuild our friendships, families, churches and communities. Although we can’t fully recreate the on-site fellowship and experience for you, you’ll be able to tune into what’s happening at Minehead as we stream part of our programme directly to you in your home. Specifically, our Big Start extravaganzas, our Bible Teaching and
Evening Celebrations will all be streamed live from Spring Harvest Minehead! Spring Harvest Home won’t just be streamed content from our physical event. We’ll also be broadcasting some sessions and interviews that are exclusive to Home ’22, including a special online youth celebration! Spring Harvest Home is a great way to introduce your friends and family to Spring Harvest. Just invite your friends or small group around and watch together. It’s so easy to feel connected to the event.
MORE DETAILS Spring Harvest ’22 is going to be an incredibly powerful time whether you’re joining us in person or online. We’ll come back together to worship, learn, and laugh together once again. If you can’t come to Skegness or Minehead, why not consider buying a ticket for
Watch our platform guide here:
Spring Harvest Home ’22. Give God space to do something new with you in 2022.
Spring Harvest Home 22 will be streamed on our custom-made and easy to use platform.
Tickets are not yet available to purchase, so keep your eyes peeled. Visit our website at springharvestevent.org for more information!
If you didn’t join us last April or want a refresher on how to navigate the platform, scan the QR code! Our platform guide will show you everything you need to know, from where the live sessions will play automatically to how to access the ondemand sessions and more.
ONLINE TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE END OF FEBRUARY! RESTORE RENEW REBUILD
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RESTORING THE CROSS, RENEWING HOPE, REBUILDING LIVES How you can help Iraqi Christians put hope at the centre
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” JOHN 1:5
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FATHER AMMAR IN RENOVATED AL TAHIRA CHURCH
IF YOU VISIT Iraq, you might be surprised by what peppers the skyline above the churches: neon crosses. Across the country, churches remain a visible, tangible presence. They are cities on a hill, refusing to hide their light under a bowl (Matthew 5:14-15). They are a symbol of hope to the people. But it’s no small thing that churches are so visible. In fact, it’s incredibly courageous. During the invasion of socalled Islamic State (IS) in 2014, many Christians were killed or fled the country. Churches were destroyed, defaced or even turned into shooting ranges by Islamic militants. The houses of known believers were daubed with the Arabic letter ‘ نN’ – meaning Nazarene, or Christian. IS militants also removed the crosses from the roofs of churches. They tried to take away hope. But they did not succeed. Although IS was eventually ousted in 2017, the effect of their presence is still felt. Most Christians have not returned to Iraq, and for the few who have braved the return, many found their homes, churches and livelihoods destroyed. The rebuilding and restoring process has been slow – but Iraqi Christians are becoming more and more courageous
each day. This is thanks, in part, to the ongoing prayers and generous support that Spring Harvest delegates have provided Open Doors partners over the years.
Iraqi Christians are putting hope at the centre, thanks to you. We first brought the plight of our persecuted church family in Iraq to you in 2015 when we shared the story of families like Noeh’s, who was only eight years old when he was driven from his home – packing their lives into plastic bags and literally running for their lives. You rose to the challenge and stood with them through prayer and financial support. Restoring the crosses to the churches is an important part of the restoration process. Father Ammar leads Al-Tahira church in Qaraqosh, Iraq. He shows a picture of a cross knocked off the church by IS, and then shows us the restored cross. “When IS took all of the crosses
off the churches in 2014, we were reminded once more how important this symbol is for us,” he says. “The church that we are in now was a shooting gallery for IS. The cross on the dome was restored soon after our return in 2017, but we have just recently finished the reconstruction of the church.”
The cross reminds us of the victory of Jesus over death and pain. Yes, we face many troubles, but we believe one day we will get rid of this pain and be with Jesus.” Malcolm Duncan – a regular face at Spring Harvest over the years – travelled with Open Doors to Iraq in 2015 to see the difference Spring Harvest guests are making. While there, he kept a diary – and, in the midst of a refugee camp, something stood out to him: “Once again there is a fairy-light cross here. It stands at the very centre of the building. The brightness of the lights
on the cross is accentuated because it stands at the end of a dark corridor.” Iraqi believers are determined to stay and share the light and hope that comes from knowing Jesus with those who need it the most. Thanks to you, Open Doors is empowering churches in Iraq and across the Middle East to become Centres of Hope – churches supported by Open Doors meeting local needs, whether that’s strengthening discipleship and church leadership or providing trauma care and microloans to help rebuild livelihoods. And they are making a huge difference to thousands of people’s lives! Dalia from Iraq received training in women’s ministry through a Centre of Hope. Now she organises regular Bible studies for up to 150 women! “I feel the Holy Spirit is at work in us during the meetings; it’s such a joyful feeling,” Dalia says. “When I hear that a woman is preparing the Bible study at home, together with her husband and children, that really makes me happy.”
PUTTING HOPE AT THE CENTRE IN 2022 AT SPRING HARVEST this year, we’ll be unpacking the Restore, Renew, Rebuild theme in our seminars. Come and find us in the Exhibition, see us on the mainstage and join us as we learn with our persecuted
church family, who know that, in the rubble and in the ruins, Jesus is always present. Can’t wait until April?
indigenous people of this land. We need the Christians around the world to stand with us and support us.”
“As Iraqi Christians, we have to stay here,” says Steven, an Iraqi believer who is committed to sharing the gospel in his community. “We are the
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE COUNTRIES WHERE FOLLOWING JESUS COSTS THE MOST AT WWW.OPENDOORSUK.ORG.
Father Daniel, a church leader in Iraq, will be joining us at Spring Harvest! Hear how he, with your prayers and support, is helping to put hope at the centre through children’s ministry and trauma care.
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FAMILY LIFE MATTERS AT CARE FOR THE FAMILY, we believe that every family should have somewhere to turn to for support in both the good times and when family life is challenging. So, for over thirty years we’ve worked to strengthen couples, equip parents and support those who have been bereaved. In many cases we’ve helped families strengthen their foundations, so they can stand against whatever comes their way in the future. And for others we’ve provided hope and support to allow them to begin to rebuild their lives. Here are some of the ways we’re able to do that.
FOR PARENTS WHATEVER SITUATION you are raising children in, we want to do all we can to support you in your parenting adventure and help you lay strong foundations for your children that will last a lifetime.
From speaking to countless parents, we know one of the main concerns mums and dads have are the rising levels of anxiety and struggles with mental health in children and young people. But we believe that you, as parents, have incredible power to help your children build strong emotional resilience. This spring Katharine Hill will be bringing our popular event, A Mind of Their Own, to the road. It’s packed with practical and preventative tools for you to use at home and will explore the science of the mind and why children act and react the way they do. You can also grab a copy of Katharine’s
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book of the same name, which has more tried and tested strategies to help you nurture your child’s resilience. We’re also passionate about helping parents pass their faith onto their children, but we know this can be a real challenge, especially if they just don’t seem
interested in God or church. Our brand-new online event, Foundations for Life, will help you establish small yet foundational practices to nurture your child’s unique connection with God, both in church and at home, and inspire them to explore faith throughout their life.
FOR COUPLES WE’RE FIRM BELIEVERS that setting time aside to invest in you, as a couple, will benefit every relationship and help you go from strength to strength. Our online event, Date Night in a Box, is the perfect opportunity to do just that. You’ll get a mystery box of goodies delivered to your door, with activities to do together (both during and after the event), plus engaging content streamed directly into your home. It’s everything you need to bring the two of you closer together.
FOR THOSE DEALING WITH A BEREAVEMENT COPING WITH the pain and heartache of losing a loved one is always difficult. We want to help those who are living with loss to discover hope for the future, and the strength to rebuild their lives and the lives of their families.
This year, we’ll be running events, both online and inperson, for those who have been widowed at a young age and parents who are dealing with the heartbreak of losing a child. All the events will offer understanding, encouragement and hope and are run by those who understand first-hand the pain of untimely loss.
Every relationship is different, but they all experience ups and downs – there are the romantic times when the sun seems to be always shining, and the tough times when winter seems to have set in. We want to meet you where you’re at in your relationship, whether you’re taking your very first steps or have been married for years.
YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR EVENTS, RESOURCES AND THE SUPPORT WE OFFER BY SCANNING THE QR CODE OR VISITING CFF.ORG.UK/EVENTS
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Spring Harvest Holidays is part of the Spring Harvest family. We run a four-star holiday park near the coast of western France. Our vision is for guests to enjoy a superb holiday in a beautiful environment, to be refreshed and renewed: spiritually, mentally and physically. Cathy Burton has led worship here for many years and enjoyed family holidays here too. We spoke to her and husband Paul about why they enjoy holidaying with their family at Le Pas Opton (LPO).
WHAT FIRST DREW YOU TO BOOK A HOLIDAY WITH SPRING HARVEST HOLIDAYS? In 2011 Cathy was asked to lead worship for a week. We were having a particularly tough time both personally and financially, so saw this as a chance to get a holiday. We were very thankful for the opportunity and have been back every year since. PAUL:
HOW DOES YOUR HOLIDAY HERE APPEAL TO EACH OF YOU? I love the relaxed nature of the site, it’s very safe, our kids have generally just roamed the site freely from the ages of about 7 upwards. There are lots of families, we have made lifelong friends at LPO and meet up regularly back in the UK. Cathy really enjoys the meetings and gets a lot from them, but the holiday is not meeting led. If you have non church going family members you can happily go for a week and not go to a single meeting. What is brilliant though is the positive atmosphere and meeting up with friends. PAUL:
I’ve loved the atmosphere of LPO from our very first year. I find it a very warm and inviting place to be. In the morning Bible studies there is a genuine hunger for fellowship, learning, and sung worship. It’s a special place to lead. The sheer volume of singing is breath taking! CATHY:
WHAT IS IT THAT BRINGS YOU BACK TO THE SITE EACH YEAR? PAUL: Friends,
the weather, the pool, fellowship, the kids love it. Leading worship, friends, seeing my kids happy, plus the wine, cheese and baguettes – of course! CATHY:
FROM A PARENT’S POINT OF VIEW WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT SPRING HARVEST HOLIDAYS? The kids and youth work is lovely: the couriers strike a great balance of getting the kids to enjoy a great holiday, whether it’s sporty stuff, arts and crafts, bouncy castles, face paints, crazy games – with the added special times of learning about their faith and about CATHY:
relationship with God. I’m grateful for the input from the courier team – they are genuine superstars. We really feel at home there and have made such great friends which is why we keep returning. Our kids love it, they are now aged 12-17. PAUL:
DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE THING TO DO ON SITE OR IN THE VENDEE? I love the pool, meeting up with old friends and having BBQs. The local beach is also very good. PAUL:
I agree with Paul, plus visiting Apremont and time at the bar in the evenings. The kids enjoy making friends, swimming, and the sporting activities. CATHY:
DESCRIBE SPRING HARVEST HOLIDAYS IN ONE SENTENCE. An extremely valuable family holiday. PAUL:
It’s like being part of a bigger family, I am so grateful for the rest and fun that I have – it’s a great place to retreat, reflect, relax, and yet fit in so much fun and laughter. CATHY:
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT SPRING HARVEST HOLIDAYS WWW.SPRINGHARVESTHOLIDAYS.COM
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SUPPORT THE MINISTRY OF SPRING HARVEST! OUR VISION is to be active 365 days a year, helping people and churches encounter the living God, inspiring confidence in Jesus, transforming people and communities. This includes the delivery of Spring Harvest events, resourcing churches and schools, and enabling partner organisations to deliver their visions.
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SPRING HARVEST IS BACK THIS EASTER! SPEAKERS AND WORSHIP LEADERS INCLUDE:
PRICES 19 1 FROM £
RECHARGE WITH US Do you need to recharge, an opportunity to relax? Come and find rest and restoration this year at Spring Harvest ’22. With our winter offers it’s never been more affordable to come. Prices start at just £119! Will you join us?
Skegness IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:
11-15 April
0330 100 9331
Minehead 18-22 April
0330 100 9332
Thousands have already booked in but there's still space for you! SPRING HARVEST 14 Horsted Square, Uckfield, TN22 1QG
TEL:
01825 769000
EMAIL:
info@springharvest.org
www.
springharvestevent.org
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TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR 2022 SPRING HARVEST EVENTS
Essential Christian, registered charity number 1126997, a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales, number 06667924.