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Arrival / Departure - Miss Activate - Information point - Free time - Drink stations - Signposting & help - Shop - Meet the team - Unlocking Your Vision
On Arrival:
If you arrive before 3 PM
Feel free to use the spa facilities, take a walk around the grounds, or simply relax. The main bar area will be open for snacks and light meals if you arrive around lunchtime. Tea and coffee will be available in your room and on the Mezzanine starting from 1:00 PM.
From 3:00 P.M - Activate Welcome
When you arrive, you’ll find the Activate welcome table set up at the main hotel reception area, where the team will be excited to greet you from 3 PM.
To ensure a smooth check-in process, we kindly ask that you wait until the official welcome time before visiting Reception and our welcome table. This will allow us to finish setting up and provide you with all the necessary information in one place.
On Departure:
We’re passionate about supporting the next generation as they find ways to share their faith. As they discover their identities in Christ, we love helping them live for Jesus at school and college, reflecting their interests and personalities. The girls meet at various points throughout the weekend to chat, encourage one another, play games, or swim. We encourage them to join the main sessions and some of the seminars. We also love the multi-generational atmosphere and the sense of fun they bring to the event!
Here are some things just for the Miss Activate group:
Friday
Miss Activate meet-up Games Room - (Chester)
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9.00pm: Grab a hot chocolate from the drinks station and meet the rest of the Miss Activate girls.
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Option: Together can choose to go with Polly to the quiz, stay in the Games Room, or head to the Undivided Lounge.
Saturday 2.15–3.15pm – Workshops Round 1
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Metamorphic Rocks! – Jo Hargreaves (Games Room) – Miss Activate Session
Diamonds are formed under intense heat and pressure. This is a message of hope for our mental health. This special session gives the Miss Activate group practical tips for finding diamonds in the mines of their minds.
Under 16 swimming times:
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Saturday: 9:00am–10:00am and 3:30pm–5:30pm
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Sunday: 9:00am–11:00am and 3:30pm–4:30pm
If you have any questions about the weekend, would like a paper copy of the programme, or simply want to find out more about who we are and what we do, please visit the Info Point located in the Foyer, just outside the Main Meeting Room.
We’d also be happy to assist you in setting up a Standing Order if you’d like to make a regular donation to support the work of Activate Your Life. As a token of our appreciation, we’ll offer you an invitation to join the Activate weekend away team for drinks on Saturday evening.
This weekend is for you, and while there’s plenty to do, be sure to take some time to relax.
Enjoy chatting with friends, making new ones, and picking and choosing what you'd like to participate in. You can also enjoy activities like journaling, crafts, reading, or simply taking a break. Here are some suggestions:
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Halcyon Baskets: Colouring and simple activities. Take what you need and return materials when you’re finished. Located in the Foyer just outside the Main Meeting Room, this space can be used while the main meetings are on. Feel free to engage in a way that suits you.
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Create Room: Craft activities with instructions. Pick out what you need and enjoy completing them on your own or with others. Located in the Worcester Room
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Prayer/Quiet Room: Now expanded, the Conservatory is a peaceful space for reflection and quiet time, and the Warwick Room has been enlarged for prayer. Please respect others' space and keep noise to a minimum. Located in the Warwick Room.
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Games Room: Revisit old favourites or discover something new while enjoying friendly competition and making new friends. Located in the Chester Room
Get Active
New for this Year: Psalms & Stretches
7.30–8.30am – Psalms & Stretches – (Exeter)
Please wear appropriate clothing and bring a towel or exercise mat.
Pool and Gym Opening Times
Bring your towel from your room or pay £1 at the leisure area.
There are a few lockers (£1), but please avoid bringing valuables to the pool area.
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Friday
Opening Times: 7am – 8pm
Last Entry: 7pm -
Saturday
Opening Times: 7am – 7pm
Last Entry: 6.30pm
Under 16 Swimming Times: 9am – 10am and 3.30pm – 5.30pm -
Sunday
Opening Times: 7am – 6pm
Last Entry: 5.30pm
Under 16 Swimming Times: 9am – 11am and 3.30pm – 4.30pm
Walk and Explore
Explore the grounds, or take a longer walk or run. Ask for route suggestions at Reception.
Please help yourself. If you need plant-based milk or gluten-free snacks, these should be labelled at the drink stations. Please see a member of the hotel team if you have any queries.
Feel free to bring a small reusable cup if you'd like to reduce waste or buy one from the Activate Merchandise stall.
Trigger warning - If any issues covered have affected you, please CLICK THIS LINK to find organisations who can help.
We are happy to pray with you, but recognise that the support we can give is limited. Please talk to a friend who is able to support you when you return home.
Here is a link to our policies and procedures
Hi, my name is Debbie. I've been with you at Activate for many years and I'm looking forward to seeing you again. Come and chat to me, I'm happy to give recommendations and help in any way I can.
Activate Your Life merchandise including mugs, notebooks, cards, tote bags and more. Take a look and have a chat!
Activate Your Life team
Guests this weekend
Polly Bidwell
Works in mental health research and development. Known for her warmth, she creates spaces where people feel valued. She loves family, friends, plants, playing games, and encouraging her children to embrace kindness.
Shalomie Brown
I love people and have a heart to see people deepen their relationship with Jesus and experience the fullness and freedom he can bring, in both their lives and the world around them. I currently volunteer in my local church in the area of prayer and desire to see people grow in prayer and intersession to see his kingdom come and will done in these days. In my spare time, I love to watch films and shows!
Beth Gillman
Plays drums and loves food! Beth enjoys being outdoors, spending quality time with friends and family, and supporting others to feel accepted and loved.
Jo Hargreaves
I am a registered psychotherapist, and I specialise in integrating theology and therapy, neuroscience and scripture to help people be transformed by the renewing of their minds (Romans 12:2). I’m planning a session for your Miss Activates, speaking at a main session, running a seminar, and answering questions on the panel. I’m looking forward to coffee, cake, and chats with many of you! Mostly, I love people and my hope and prayer is that my words, whether written or spoken, meet you exactly where you are at.
Heather Kass
Heather spent 15 years singing in care homes and at charity events, using music to bring joy, comfort and connection especially to those often overlooked. She now balances managing a small business with raising her two children (aged 14 and 11), but still sings regularly at her church’s monthly afternoon tea. Heather has a heart for encouraging women of all ages and believes in the quiet power of kindness, creativity and showing up faithfully in the everyday.
Jaz Potter
Has been in full-time ministry since 1996. Jaz is a pastor at Gateway Church Ashford. Born in India and raised in a Sikh family, Jaz came to know Jesus aged 12 years old. She enjoys making, designing and beautifying things!
Kate Pinnell
Enthusiastic and passionate about most things but especially introducing people to the good news of Jesus, offering hospitality, and Christmas!
Jade Reynolds
Passionate about sharing her faith and inspiring others, Jade co-authored ‘Able to Laugh’ with her husband, John. A regular speaker at various events, Jade uses her life experience to combine storytelling and faith with a love for community, fun, and adventure to make a lasting impact.
Sarah Rhodes
Attending Activate weekends and being mentored by the godly ladies there over the last 8 years has played a huge part in her growth from a student to where she is now. Sarah in 2025 is a wife, mum of two very energetic young children, worship leader at church, centre back (defender) on her football team, and youth content creator at work, but amongst all that there's nothing she likes more than taking time out with a coffee, catching up with a friend and getting stuck into theology debates or a good psychological thriller.
Rachel Welsby
Rachel lives in Stockport with her husband John and their blended family of five children. She is usually found teaching Pilates, enjoying music, playing football, or making kimchi. Rachel leads Psalms & Stretches, a 45-minute physical meditation that weaves gentle movement with words from Scripture. The session is welcoming, adaptable, and suitable for all ages, abilities, and levels of experience, creating space to move, reflect, and rest together.
If you are interested in booking a speaker, organising a Day Away, or exploring how Activate can support your church, we would love to chat to you. Come to the Info Point and we will happily answer any questions you have.
Activate is so much more than just a Weekend Away.
We depend on donations to continue to hold events, help subsidise Activate days away, cover our running costs, and so much more. If you’ve been impacted by Activate Your Life and have a heart for our work to continue, could you consider a one-off or monthly donation to support us? Thank you for your prayers and support. Activate Team
"Very inspiring and relatable speakers, great to be surrounded by friendly ladies and have time to reflect, pray and worship."
Since the charity started in 1965, we have depended on supporters and volunteers who have been generous with their time, money and resources. We call these supporters our Activate Ambassadors.
Always striving to support the smallest to the largest groups and events, we believe in providing quality speakers for groups of 15 or 615 people! Through your generous support, it's wonderful to be able to say 'yes' to a church in a far-flung place with limited resources, as your help can cover our travel costs.
Our two part-time employees are funded by your generous support. Come along to Unlocking Your Vision on Saturday afternoon to find out more.
Find all the information you need by clicking the buttons below!
Activate is so much more that just a Weekend Away.
Sometimes it can feel quite lonely as a Christian today and it was such a treat to be together with so many!
Knowing we're not alone and there are plenty of other people in similar situations and being given the tools to help us move on.
Feeling empowered and surrounded by wonderful women
So glad to hear such relevancy and realness that makes the message one that I feel easily able to respond to in my everyday life.
At the meeting I felt that God is asking me to organise a community event. So I really appreciate the opportunity to step back and hear from God - thank you.
What a gift to hear your personal stories & the encouragement that I matter to God.
After being a Christian for many years i was feeling a bit discouraged. It was refreshing to hear how the gospel can be shared today without it being so formal. It made me feel comfortable with who I am!