Articles from our blog
featuring guest authors
How ParentShield “school-proofs” any mobile phone
Mention mobile phones to any teacher and you'll receive a look that says more than a few thousand lines! To make everybody's life a bit easier, a new service available at parentshield.co.uk has been launched that allows any parent to safely provide a mobile phone to...
Churches urged to take steps to prevent arson
. Specialist insurer Ecclesiastical has issued guidance to churches to help prevent arson and the devastating impact it can have on a church and the community it serves. Arson poses a major security challenge for churches. Fires are often started by arsonists, or by...
Retaining Records – Part 2
John Truscott is currently contributing a number of one-off articles, although this particular one comes in two parts. This is a continuation of the article in the previous issue on the setting up of a Document Retention Policy. Last time and this I consider what...
Expect the unexpected
So, here we are in the first quarter of another year 2022! The so-called Season of Goodwill has come and gone: or has it? Unlike other constituents of the United Kingdom and, indeed, selected other countries, England enjoyed the Christmas and New Year season with an...
Schools can learn from temperature monitoring technology
Schools need to keep on top of maintenance and repair costs and keep their buildings in the best possible condition to help children fulfil their potential. This is where being forewarned is being forearmed, says Derek Richardson, an environmental manager for Ellab...
No space: no problem!
Having experienced the cancellation or postponement of just about every event imaginable as a direct result of the Coronavirus pandemic, it is a great relief that things appear to be getting better. As we reflect on life prior to lockdowns and restrictions the...
Retaining Records Part 1
John Truscott is currently contributing a number of one-off articles, although this particular one comes in two parts. This time and next he recommends churches to set up a Document Retention Policy. In this and in the second part in the next issue I consider what...
ETC fos/4 Lights the Way for Pioneering High School TV Channel
Wycombe High School invests in ETC fos/4 LED panels to deliver studio and location lighting for exciting new TV Channel initiative led by Bob Massie… Wycombe High School (WHS) is an Academy Grammar school for girls, located in the Buckinghamshire town of High Wycombe....
Focus on Professional Church Trades
Looking after a church building is a complex and challenging task. Whether it is a Grade I listed medieval country church, a Victorian inner city chapel or even a modern suburban building, finding expert help can be a time consuming task. That’s why the National...
What do churches need to do to prepare for winter?
Every year winter brings with it risks that can affect churches and churchgoers, including storm damage, localised flooding, burst pipes, slips and trips Each of these pose different challenges and should be taken into account ahead of the winter season. For example,...
Disability design
The importance of this topic John Truscott is currently contributing a number of one-off articles. Recent titles in this series have included ‘Mission metrics’, ‘Staff sessions’, ‘Handover help’, ‘Filing features’ and ‘Joyful joiners’. This time he considers what...
Exhibiting in the new normal
During the past year or more, so many events have had to be either cancelled or postponed because of the Coronavirus pandemic, that many of us seriously wondered if life as we knew it would ever return to normal. And now we seem to be crossing the threshold into a new...
Outdoor musical instruments bring more than just music to a child’s education
Parents, teachers and primary aged students have had to experience the grating sound of a beginner’s violin or the cold ‘toots’ from a recorder. None of these sounds are conducive to developing a child’s love of music. In this article, Robin Ashfield, director of...
Monitoring technology can bring churches peace of mind
Churches are major landmarks in rural and urban areas. Preserving ecclesiastical architecture from damaging conditions within a building, whether a chapel or cathedral, is as important as protection against the outside elements. This is where being forewarned is being...
Joyful Joiners
John Truscott is currently contributing a number of one-off articles. Recent titles in this series have included ‘Difficult decisions’, ‘Able Assistants’, ‘Mission metrics’, ‘Staff sessions’, ‘Handover help’ and ‘Filing features’. This time he considers how to...