Partners Handbook 2019 2020 - Westcott House
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Partners‟ Handbook 2019 - 2020
Welcome to Westcott House
This guide aims to provide a useful basic introduction to Westcott
House and life in Cambridge.
Each year the community changes as people leave, return or arrive. As
a partner, you are welcome to be involved in much of life at Westcott
House and your presence will shape the character of the community as
it forms in the year ahead.
There will be various events specifically for partners during the year, as
well as during the induction period. Partners‟ events are intended to
provide a chance for us to get to know each other and support one
another through what can be a challenging time. While get-togethers
are generally geared towards partners, they tend to have a social bias
and we welcome ordinands and children to join in.
Welcome – we are glad you‟re here and are looking forward to getting
to know you!
Mary and Laura, Partners‟ Reps
Contents
Life at Westcott House 2
Events for Partners 5
Useful Westcott Information 6
Local Information 7
Contact Information 14
1
Life at Westcott House
As a partner, you can be involved in Westcott life as much or as little
as you choose or are able. Some partners attend the daily office and
take part in almost everything, while others rarely visit the college and
might only attend larger events such as formal dinners. Whatever your
situation, you are always welcome.
Notices are sent weekly by email so you can keep up with everything
that is going on in and around life at Westcott.
Food
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are available in the Dining Room on
weekdays during term time. Lunch is served 12.30-1.15pm Monday-
Friday. Dinner is 6.15-7.00pm Mondays and 6.00-6.45pm Wednesdays.
Tuesdays are either 6.00-6.45pm on non-Federation Worship weeks,
or 6.30-7.15pm when there‟s Federation Worship (see below).
There is a simple “fork supper” provided on Thursday at 6.30pm, after
Community Eucharist. This does not count towards your meal
allowance but is provided as part of the Community Evening. No
dinner is provided on Fridays, and no meals Saturday or Sunday.
Families are provided any 12 meals between them each week at no
charge (meals for children aged 5-12 count as ½ a meal each) so you
can choose what suits you best. You can sign in for any meals beyond
this allowance with the cost added to your Westcott bill (2019-20
prices: £5.75 per meal £3.75 per breakfast).
2Chapel
Partners are welcome to join the ordinands at Westcott Chapel for
the Daily Office held on weekdays.
Morning Prayer 7.40am
Evening Prayer 5.30pm (except Thursdays)
Compline 9.30pm (except Thursdays)
Community Eucharist 5.30pm Thursdays in the Chapel (more
information below)
Corporate Compline 8.30pm Thursdays (venue in weekly email
notice) followed by the Greater Silence
On alternate Tuesdays, Federation Worship replaces Evening Prayer,
where the theological colleges within the Cambridge Theological
Federation gather together taking turns to lead worship, in various
locations around Cambridge (details in the weekly notice email).
„Little Saints‟ (with stories, crafts, and activities), and „Dino Saints‟ (with
more high-energy activities and games) happen on a Thursday during
Community Eucharist. Please check Westcott weekly emails or the
Facebook page for specific dates and times regarding children's church.
Children’s groups will run during the opening Eucharist of
term, Sunday 22nd September at 5.30pm.
The current Children‟s Rep at Westcott is Edwin Wilton-Morgan
(ewiltonmorgan@gmail.com).
Community Night
Every Thursday evening the whole community is invited to attend
Eucharist at 5.30pm in the Chapel. All begin worship together before
the children leave for their groups, returning in time to share in the
Eucharist.
3The service is followed by a simple supper where community notices
are given and the Common Room Bar is open. A candlelit Compline
service is held at 8.30pm which is then followed by the „Greater
Silence‟ in all shared House spaces.
Chaplain
Our new chaplain is Annabel Shilson-Thomas. She is available to meet
with partners as well as students for confidential pastoral support.
chaplain@westcott.cam.ac.uk
Tutor Groups
Although by no means compulsory, partners and families are welcome
to join the ordinands‟ tutor groups on Thursday mornings for breakfast
at 8.00am. Venues vary and often tutor group members who live at
college, or very close by, take it in turn to host.
Choir/Chapel Music
The Choir is open to all singers, and sings principally at the Thursday
Community Eucharist, with rehearsals on Monday evenings following
Evening Prayer. Do speak to one of the Chapel Musicians if you are
interested: Jane Andrews (jane@janeandandy.plus.com) and Simon
Macaulay (smjmacaulay@mac.com).
Sports
Sporting activities are coordinated by the Sports Rep, Peter Heath
(petebenheath@gmail.com), including the annual football and cricket
matches against Ridley Hall. Previous members of the community have
also run groups including running, high-intensity interval training (HIIT),
football and pilates, and new groups are always welcome.
4There is a collection of sports equipment stored in the Common
Room including equipment for croquet, tennis, squash, football and
cricket, all available for use by Westcott members. Check out the
Westcott Facebook page or weekly email notices for any sports that
will be run this year.
Events for Partners
There are various opportunities for partners to get together during the
year. We will canvass your thoughts either in person or by email
during Induction Week and hope to plan a programme which includes
as many partners as want to be involved.
While the Partners‟ Reps will usually organise core events, anyone is
welcome to initiate other events and share any particular interests or
skills. We recognise that the breadth of partners‟ situations will
determine the level of involvement but it is our hope that there will be
something to include everyone. Again, all suggestions are welcome.
During the induction period the following events are specifically geared
towards partners:
Sunday 22nd September from 11.00am – partners may collect
their welcome packs from the tables on the Terrace or in the
Common Room.
Monday 23rd September 8:30-9.30pm – partners‟ social/welcome
time in the bar. Older children are also welcome.
Saturday 28th September from 4pm onwards there is a
Partners‟ BBQ in Old Court. All are welcome! (Suggested donation £4
per adult, £2 per child). Please let Mary or Laura know of any dietary
5requirements; we are used to catering for allergies and don‟t want
anyone to be excluded. (Contact details under „Partners‟ Reps‟ below.)
Useful Westcott Information
Keys
You are entitled to a general access key to open the front and back
gates of Westcott and various doors within. If you have not been given
a key and would like one please speak to Tracey Walton at reception,
ground floor of Staircase C (wtadmin@hermes.cam.ac.uk).
Accessibility
Step-free access to New Court Flats, Chapel and Library is via the car
park gate on Manor Street. A ramp can be made available for D-block
where there is a toilet. Access to the Common Room and Dining
Room is via the main door on Jesus Lane.
Common Room
You are welcome to use the Common Room at any time. You can
choose to become a member of the Common Room by paying a
subscription which funds upkeep, events and facilities (last year this was
£20 for partners). Membership entitles you to vote in Common Room
elections and use the various equipment and facilities paid for by the
community.
The Common Room also contains the bar, which normally opens
Monday-Wednesday 8:30-11:00pm, and Thursday 6:30-8:30pm (after
Community Eucharist but before Corporate Compline). Partners are
welcome to use the bar, and to participate in any events held there.
6Laundry
If you live on site, the laundry room is in the A-block basement. A
wash costs £1.20 but bring your own detergent. The dryers cost 20p
per ten minutes, usually costing around 60p to fully dry a load (the
large dryer opposite the door is the quickest). There is also a rotary
washing line in New Court for shared use.
Local Information
Cambridge is a very transient city and can take some time to get used
to. During term time it is very busy with students and out of term time
it is very popular with tourists, so always feels quite a bustling place. It
has historical and cultural activities in abundance but also has all the
conveniences of modern day life with plenty of restaurants, shops and
supermarkets close to hand.
Transport
Cambridge is small and flat so many people choose to walk or cycle
everywhere. It is worth investing in a good lock if you choose to cycle
as bikes are a common target for Cambridge thieves.
Public transport is not cheap but „Citi‟ buses are very regular and cover
most places you may wish to go. The bus station is on Drummers
Street, just the other side of Christ‟s Pieces. The most direct route to
Addenbrookes Hospital is on Busway „A‟, which you can catch from
New Square (CB1 1EY).
Cambridge Train station (CB1 2JW) is a 20-25min walk or 10min cycle
from Westcott. Trains to London are frequent, with fast trains
(c.45min to Kings Cross / 1hr 10min to Liverpool St) every 30 minutes.
It is usually quicker to wait for one of these than take the slowest train
(c.1hr 30min).
7Taxis are relatively expensive in Cambridge. Panther Taxis is the
largest company (01223 715715) and Cam Cab (01223 704704) are
also reliable. A taxi rank is located next to the bus station on
Drummer Street. Uber also operates in Cambridge, with a fare from
Westcott to the station costing in the region of £6-8.
Healthcare
Many people who live in Westcott use the Bridge Street Medical
Practice, 2 All Saints Passage Cambridge CB2 3LS. To find your nearest
GP office and dentist you can search online: http://www.nhs.uk
The nearest A&E is Addenbrookes Hospital, Hills Road, CB2 0QQ.
The nearest pharmacies to Westcott are Superdrug and Boots, both
on Sidney Street (less than 5 min walk). The only late night pharmacy
is Boots at Cambridge Retail Park (320 Newmarket Rd, Cambridge
CB5 8WR), approximately 5-10 min drive away.
Supermarkets
The nearest supermarket to Westcott is Sainsburys, Sidney Street CB2
3HX which is like a large Sainsbury's Local. There is no parking or
petrol station. Opening times are Monday to Saturday 7.30am-
11.30pm, Sunday 11.00am-5.00pm.
There are also various small food stores nearby, including M&S Food (5
Market Hill CB2 3NJ), Little Waitrose (6-8 Fitzroy St, Cambridge CB1
1EW) and a Sainsbury's Local (52-54 St Andrew's St, Cambridge CB2
3AH), plus various stalls in Market Hill (often called Market Square).
Larger supermarkets around Cambridge include:
8Tesco Newmarket Road CB5 8LD, Monday to Saturday
7.30am-10.00pm, Sunday 11.00am-5.00pm. No petrol station.
Sainsburys Eddington Avenue CB3 1SE, Monday to Saturday
7.30am-10.00pm, Sunday 10.00am-4.00pm. No petrol station.
Asda Cambridge Superstore CB1 3ER (in the Beehive Centre),
opening times Monday to Friday 6.00am-12 midnight,
Saturday 6.00am-10.00pm, Sunday 10.00am-4.00pm. No petrol station.
Aldi, Histon Road CB4 3JB. Open 8am-10pm Monday to Saturday,
10am-4pm on Sunday. There is an Esso petrol station next door.
Most supermarkets deliver in Cambridge including to Westcott House,
although it‟s best to add directions to Manor Street for the car park
and your phone number in case of any confusion.
Shopping
Central Cambridge has most of the usual high street shops, John Lewis,
a good range of independent retailers plus the market. There are two
shopping centres a short walk from Westcott House: the Grand
Arcade and Lion‟s Yard in the centre of town, and the Grafton Centre
a 5-10min walk east of Westcott. There are plenty of charity shops
around the Grafton Centre including ones specialising in furniture.
Cambridge has two out-of-town retail parks near Newmarket Road
(A1134): Cambridge Retail Park (Newmarket Road CB5 8WR) and the
Beehive Centre (Coldhams Lane CB1 3ET). Both have free parking and
a variety of clothing, DIY and homeware stores.
Fitness
There are a wide variety of sport facilities and swimming pools located
around the city to suit adults and children alike. See
9https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/sport-and-fitness or the governing
bodies for particular sports of interest.
Library
Cambridge Central Library (7 Lion Yard CB2 3QD,
https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/central-library-cambridge/) has a
good variety of books and the ability to request others. There are lots
of workshops and events catering for different audiences; „Rhymetime‟
is especially popular with babies and young toddlers (Tuesday-Saturday,
times vary), and „Storytime‟ caters for pre-schoolers (Sunday-Monday).
Cinemas
There are three main cinemas in and around the centre of Cambridge:
Cineworld Cambridge Leisure Park, Clifton Way CB1 7DY
Vue The Grafton Centre, East Rd CB1 1PS
Arts Picturehouse 38-39 St Andrew's St CB2 3AR. Hosts „The Big
Scream‟ every Wednesday at 11.00am which shows new and classic
movies for parents and babies under 1. There is also a Kids‟ club every
Saturday, Toddler Time and Autism-Friendly Screenings.
Theatres
There are several theatres around Cambridge, including:
ADC Theatre Park St CB5 8AS
Cambridge Arts Theatre 6 St Edward's Passage CB2 3PJ
Cambridge Corn Exchange 2 Wheeler St CB2 3QB
10The Junction Clifton Way CB1 7GX
Productions also take place inside many of the Colleges – posters can
usually be seen around town.
Faith and Worship
Please see full list of faith groups at
https://www.equality.admin.cam.ac.uk/projects/faith-and-belief-
practice/directory-faith-and-belief-communities-cambridge
There are many churches of different denominations in Cambridge and
many colleges have chapels with regular Sunday services. Some
partners chose to follow their ordinands to their placement church or
chapel, while for various reasons others choose to find an alternative
spiritual home of their own. Feel free to chat to students, partners or
staff to get an idea of where you might feel most at home.
Synagogue services take place at 3 Thompson's Lane CB5 8AQ
(Orthodox); and Auckland Road, Cambridge. CB5 8DW (reform).
Cambridge has two mosques: Abu Bakr Jamia Mosque, Mawson Road
CB1 2DZ; and Omar Faruque Mosque, Kirkwood Road CB4 2PF.
Groups for Young Children
There are plenty of baby and toddler groups around Cambridge held at
churches and children‟s centres. The following are some groups within
easy reach of Westcott:
Tiddlywinks, Eden Baptist Church (1 Fitzroy Street CB1 1ER) is a
group for babies and pre-school children with their parents/carers.
They provide a range of activities for children, refreshments for adults,
11and a Bible story to share. £1 per family. Tuesdays during school term,
10.00-11.30am.
The Ark at Michaelhouse (Tuesdays 10.30-11.30am in term time) is a
service of Holy Communion for pre-school children and their carers
and is almost always attended by some Westcott families. The aim is to
allow adults to worship without worrying about keeping their children
still and quiet, while the children feel at home and actively included in
the service. The service is followed by tea, coffee and biscuits.
New Creations (Holy Trinity Church, Market Street CB2 3NZ) for
mums of children aged 0-11. Coffee, cake and activities for adults with
a fully DBS checked creche for children 18m-4y. Wednesdays in school
term, 10.00-11.30am http://www.htcambridge.org.uk/new-creations/
First Steps, Christ Church (Christ Church Street CB1 1HT), a
playgroup for 0-4 year olds with stories and songs, craft activities, child
health teaching for carers and refreshments. £1 per family, Wednesday
or Friday mornings, 10am-12pm (due to high demand, families choose
either the Wednesday or the Friday group). Term card for Autumn
2019 is downloadable from
https://www.christchurchcambridge.org.uk/s/FIRST-STEPS-CARD-
AUTUMN-2019-v2.pdf.
There is also a monthly group for male carers (Daddy & me), which
takes place on the first Saturday of the month and is for all Dads (and
male carers) and their 5-and-under-year-olds It starts at 10:00 am and
finishes around 12.00 with songs, a Bible story and craft, plus a range of
toys for different ages, including young children, available. Tea/coffee
along with toast and bacon sandwiches are available. it takes place in
the downstairs hall at Christ Church.
St Andrew‟s Street Baptist Baby and Toddler Group (43 St Andrew's
Street CB2 3AR) is a friendly, group with snacks for adults and children
12and the best music of any toddler group in central Cambridge! £1 per
family. Most Thursdays 10:15-11:45am in school term.
Further afield, Shake Rattle and Roll (https://www.shake-rattle-roll.org/)
meets on Tuesdays 10:00-10:45am (Orchard Park Community Centre
CB4 2EZ) and Fridays 10-11am (East Barnwell Community Centre CB5
8RS) for rhyme, rhythm and action songs (and even dancing!) followed
by tea and biscuits. Tuesday sessions (Orchard Park) are £4; Friday
sessions (East Barnwell) are £5 per family or £45 for a 10 session pass.
For the most up-to-date recommendations, have a chat with
other parents at Westcott.
Playgrounds
There are many green spaces and parks in and around Cambridge. The
nearest playground is a small play area on Christ‟s Pieces (behind King
Street, approx. 3 mins from Westcott). A larger pirate-themed play
area and skate park can be found on Jesus Green, next to the river.
Many other small playgrounds are dotted around the city. In the
summer, Lammas Land and Abbey Splash Pad are particularly popular.
13Contact Information
Partners‟ Reps
Each year the community elects a few individuals to represent partners‟
interests within it. Mary Betley and Laura Scott are the Partners‟ Reps
until Easter 2020. We are here to help support any needs you might
have and organise get-togethers for mutual support.
Whether you are looking to get very involved in life here or less so, if
we can help you with anything please let us know.
Mary Betley Laura Scott
marybetley@yahoo.com laura_scott@blueyonder.co.uk
07718 587332 07791 461500
14Westcott Facebook Group
Many (but not necessarily all) ordinands and partners find Facebook a
useful way to communicate informally with notices, impromptu events
and everyday queries. You are welcome to join the “Westcott House
Common Room” group.
Partners‟ WhatsApp Group
Depending on interest, we may establish a Partners‟ WhatsApp Group
for partner-related information, queries, and activities.
Westcott Website
There is extensive information on the Westcott website about many
aspects of the college which you may find helpful:
http://www.westcott.cam.ac.uk/
The College Handbook provides further information on college and
community life. Ordinands should be given a paper copy but it may
also be viewed online. The login details to view this and other
resources online are:
Username: Members
Password: Hort12
Other Useful Contact Details
The office issues a fully updated list of staff and student contact details
each term by email. Below are some existing contact details which may
be useful:
Principal Rev‟d Canon Chris Chivers principal@westcott.cam.ac.uk
Chaplain Rev‟d Annabel Shilson-Thomas chaplain@westcott.cam.ac.uk
Senior Student John d‟Silva john.d-silva@blueyonder.co.uk
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