VES Team End of Week Update | Spotlight on Transformation!
Dear wonderful VES team,
Hope you are well - and thank you again for another good week together.
As we head into our final week of term, I just want to say a heartfelt thank you for all you’ve carried this term. It is making a difference in people’s lives week by week.
Spotlight this week: Transformation
Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve seen the completion of the new mural at the ACH - painted by local Croydon artist Alec Saunders.
It’s been brilliant to watch it take shape - and even more encouraging to hear the response from students, team, and other venue users. It has genuinely changed the space.
Alec explains the piece as a reflection on change - "butterflies travelling great distances, guided by instinct and hope". He connects that with our students' journeys: crossing borders, learning new languages, and being transformed through courage, resilience, and community. Even the materials themselves - repurposed paint given a second life (with a dash of gold!) - carry that same theme. It’s a perceptive read of what we are at VES.
As we head into Easter, I’d want to go one step further. For us, it’s not only “change” - it’s resurrection, “all things made new”. Many Christian traditions have seen the butterfly (the key motif in the mural) as a kind of creation parable of the gospel: into the cocoon - like a tomb, and then out into new, living, brilliantly vibrant life. Ultimately, the resurrection is our hope. Not just gradual change, but real new beginnings. Not just improvement, but life where there wasn’t life before. This is Easter that we're about to celebrate. Whatever your circumstances at the moment, I pray for you and everyone connected with VES, that we will know and experience the very same power that rose Christ from the dead. Ephesians 1:19-20
Final Week of Term - Key Dates
Just to re-flag clearly:
Wednesday 25th March - No Classes There will be no VES classes this Wednesday as we focus on Thursday.
Thursday 26th March - VES Easter Party 10:30am–12:30pm
We would love to have you there - even if you can only pop in for a portion. If you’re happy to help with games, activities or the hot cross buns (even in a small way), please do sign up via the link and let us know, it really helps us plan well - https://croydonvineyard.churchsuite.com/events/kx0o06gj
It’s always one of the most joyful mornings of the year - a great chance to celebrate, connect, and finish the term together!
VES Dashboard - Week at a Glance
20 classes delivered across 4 days (plus 1 creche session and 1 youth drop-in)
191 student sessions enabled
55 team sessions given
Weekly participation number: 261
+78% increase on this time last year
Behind each of those numbers is a person being welcomed, taught, and encouraged - thank you for making that possible.
Looking Ahead
Last session of term: Thursday 26th March (Easter Party)
Easter break: Two weeks
Summer term starts: Monday 13th April
And just to mention - the Vineyard Leaders’ Gathering (27–28 April) is coming up, and ticket subsidies are available for VES team - hit reply and let me know if that's of interest.
Thank you again for all you carry and all you give - it really is a privilege to build this community together.
Have a great weekend, and I’m looking forward to seeing many of you next week.
Much love,
Andy Brims
www.vineyardenglishschool.org.uk
PS — You can find all recent VES team updates here, along with lots of VES team resources here:https://www.vineyardenglishschool.org.uk/team-updates
