Clarendon Centre News Blog

Information & Awareness Day for Refugee Week

2009-06-20T15:45:00.008+01:00

On the 19th June Brighton's Black & Minority Ethnic Community Partnership (BMECP) held a free event at the Clarendon Centre as part of the national Refugee Week. The 'Information & Awareness Day' for refugees and asylum seekers included advice, information and various speakers on a range of practical issues such as health, training and employment, education and benefits. Interpreters were provided as well as live entertainment from a professional lutanist. Delicious food from refugee communities was on offer as well as free teas and coffees.

The event was held in the Lounge which included 20 stalls from various information services across Sussex. The lutanist performed with held from the Clarendon Centre's professional P/A system and the volunteers made good use of the coffee shop facility. A serving and eating area was set up in the adjoining Carey room. The Clarendon Centre was happy to be part of Refugee Week and once more working with the Black & Minority Ethnic Community Partnership.

Brighton & Hove Silent Voices Conference

2009-06-11T14:09:00.012+01:00

On Wednesday 10th June, Brighton & Hove's Drug & Alcohol Action Team in partnership with the East and West Sussex Drug & Alcohol Action Teams held a free one-day conference here at the Clarendon Centre, 'Silent Voices: Listening to Families Affected by Drug and Alcohol Misuse', exploring substance misuse and its effect on the whole family.

The conference was aimed at family members affected by drug and/or alcohol misuse, as well as at professionals working with young people or in the substance misuse field. Building on the success of two previous conferences in 2006 and 2007, the 'Silent Voices' theme focuses on how young people are affected by substance misuse within the family.

There is a real need to help more families affected by drugs or alcohol, as Alison Ede, founder of the Brighton-based PATCHED service (which is run by Crime Reduction Initiatives), explained: "The PATCHED service provides support and services to families, friends, carers or anyone affected by someone else's drug/alcohol misuse. PATCHED recognised the emotional strain each individual experiences; as a result the service over the past seven years has supported thousands of individuals. Therefore the conference 'Silent Voices' enabled others to come together and reach those who are still living in silence."

The conference programme included workshops run by PATCHED, Action for change and the West Sussex-based Families and Friends Project; a key-note speech was given by Mandie Campbell, the Director of the Drugs and Alcohol Directorate at the Home Office ; and personal stories by those directly affected by substance misuse. A Q&A session was held before the end of the day and made use of the mobile phone text system at the Clarendon Centre. An optional support ran after the conference, to provide additional help for those who needed it.

The conference ran across the Clarendon Centre with main sessions and key-note speeches in the Main Auditorium and workshops being run in the Whitefield and Carey rooms. A buffet for the 300 guest was served in the Lounge and prepared in house. The coffee shop was in full use during the day and pastries were served on arrival. Stalls were set up in the Lounge also so that guests were able to gain additional information and speak to professionals one on one.

The Brighton & Hove Drug & Alcohol Action Team (DAAT) is made up of a wide range of services and agencies all working together in partnership, including the Sussex Partnership NHS Trust, Brighton & Hove Primary Care Trust, Brighton & Hove Police, Brighton & Hove City Council, voluntary sector organisations, such as Crime Reduction Initiatives and St John Ambulance, and The Probation Service.

This is the second year the Clarendon Centre has hosted this event and once more it was a pleasure and a success. We look forward to 2010!

Brighton & Hove School Sports Partnership - Longhill Cluster Dance Show

2009-05-30T14:18:00.012+01:00

On Thursday 30 April the fourth 'Longhill Sports Cluster - Evening of Dance' took place here at the Clarendon Centre, Brighton. The show featured performances from over 220 children from the following schools; Longhill, Rudyard Kipling, St.Margaret's, Our Lady of Lourdes, Saltdean and Woodingdean. An audience of over 400 watched the show.

The performances ranged from Year 1 all the way up to year 11 GCSE work. Performances from Longhill students included the Keystage 3 dance club who started the evening with a fantastic piece showcasing four different styles of dance and there were further performances from many of the Year 11 GCSE students. Numerous teachers and parents from the local primary schools have commented on how wonderful it was to see the Longhill students performing, as it shows the Primary children what they can achieve in the future and also to see the outstanding quality of the GCSE work. The Longhill Primary Dance Club that runs at the Deans Leisure Centre for children in Years 3/4/5 and 6 performed eight different pieces.

The evening was a wonderful success in celebrating the fantastic dance work that is happening within all of the schools. Dancing took place in the Main Auditorium with dancers performing on the main stage and on the main floor. Teas and coffees were sold at the coffee shop during the intervals with crisps and snacks also available. This event showed again how versatile the Clarendon Centre can be and we look forward to next year!

New Stage arrives at The Clarendon Centre

2009-04-21T14:24:00.002+01:00

The Clarendon Centre has had the stage in the Main Auditorium replaced. The new stage is higher, stronger and is better sound proofed. The new stage now provides better storage and directing of cabling on and around the performance area. The new stage is stronger and more solid providing a better area for dance and for music and so this is an exciting new addition to the Clarendon Centre.

Poetry Live! at The Clarendon Centre

2009-02-24T15:35:00.013Z

On the 23rd February Poetry Live was held here at the Clarendon Centre for its second consecutive year. With over 800 children in the building and 14 schools from Brighton & Hove represented the day was a busy one, but most definitely a success.

Poetry Live is "an opportunity for GCSE pupils in England and Wales to see and hear live performances from a great selection of the poets they are studying."

The children, Teachers and the Poets made full use of the Clarendon Centre and all its facilities. Sessions and talks were held in the Main Auditorium with the Lounge being available for break and lunch times. Both children and Teachers kept the Coffee shop busy, while the Poets used the Hudson Taylor room, one of our meeting rooms, for their backstage green room. With so many schools represented it was essential to have an on-site staff room for all the teachers, and so the Whitefield room was filled during every break time with teachers stocking up on teas, coffees and other light refreshments.

Simon Armitage, Gillian Clarke, Carol Ann Duffy, John Agard, Imtiaz Dharker and Grace Nichols were the Poets who came to speak and read for the children about their own poetry, with Tony Childs from the AQA Examinations board revealing more about what the examiners are looking when answering questions in exams.

Once more, an event has demonstrated The Clarendon Centre's ability to deal with vast numbers of visitors and to provide each one with their own pleasant personal experience.

Christmas in the City

2008-12-22T11:11:00.008Z

This event was "a traditional Carol Concert with the Alethian Orchestra", led by Dave Fellingham. The orchestra played various traditional carols and once more over the Christmas period, The Clarendon Centre was near capacity. Dave Fellingham has led the Alethian Orchestra for several years and they regularly perform across Sussex together.

Joel Virgo, the leader of CCK, followed the Orchestra with a short talk to finish the morning. This second Christmas carol event at The Clarendon Centre also made use of the Main Auditorium and the Lounge.

"The BIG Story" told at the Clarendon Centre

2008-12-15T10:51:00.010Z

On Sunday at the Clarendon Centre, CCK hosted an event about the Christmas story and what it means. "The Big Story Carol Concert" had The Clarendon Centre at near full capacity. The event took place in the Main Auditorium with the main stage being extended and tiered in order to accomodate the full CCK choir and a six piece music group.

Lou Fellingham conducted the choir with Dave Fellingham speaking between carols and songs, giving a brief overview of the meaning of Christmas. John Hosier spoke to conclude the concert and mulled wine and mince pies were served in the Lounge afterwards through the Cafe.

Church of Christ the King (CCK) serves the city of Brighton & Hove, UK (and the surrounding area), living by and communicating the message of Jesus Christ.

They meet together for worship and teaching on Sundays at 10am & 6.30pm at the Clarendon Centre.

Bellerbys' Exam Success

2008-12-09T12:41:00.002Z

Over three days during December, Bellerbys College Brighton have held their end of term December exams here at the Clarendon Centre.

Bellerbys College is part of the internationally known Study Group which "Helps over 40,000 students fulfil their ambitions every year". They are "global leaders in international education, providing the highest quality educational opportunities for students from over 120 countries".

From English language training, high school tuition to university preparation and placement their expertise is focussed on delivering the courses that international students need. Their leading set of partnerships with top universities provides on and off-campus preparation courses for international students that ensure academic success.

Their objectives are simple: "to build a thriving, world-class business, offering outstanding educational opportunities".

Bellerbys College in Brighton is situated right behind the Clarendon Centre and Bellerbys' Senior Principal, Nigel Addison, described Bellerbys as being "in the heart of Britain's most exciting seaside city".

Over 500 students have passed through the Clarendon Centre in recent days making the most of the Main Auditorium, and enjoying the Lounge and the Whitefield rooms as peaceful places for quiet preparation before exams. The Clarendon Centre looks forward to helping students to fulfil their ambitions by continuing to provide an excellent environment for study and learning.

The Martlets' Christmas Remembrance Service

2008-12-08T10:48:00.001Z

Sunday afternoon saw around 300 friends of Martlets Hospice attend their Christmas remembrance service called "Light up a Life"

"Light up a Life" is a series of very special events that take place all across the country in the weeks running up to Christmas that allow people to remember the lives of friends and family. The services are organised by local hospices and are open to anyone, whether their loved one was cared for by a hospice or not.

For most hospices, "Light up a Life" is one of their best-loved and most meaningful events, attracting hundreds of local people year after year. It represents a time to be comforted and to share hope with others.

The Martlets, based in Brighton & Hove, looks after adults with life limiting illnesses for whom curative treatment is no longer appropriate. This care is aimed at alleviating the distressing symptoms associated with serious illness as well as providing specialist emotional support for the families and carers through the illness and into bereavement.

The Martlets decided to host their "Light up a Life" event here at the Clarendon Centre. Martlets used the Main Auditorium for the service and the Lounge for refreshments and Christmas card sales afterwards.

Red carpet rolled out for the Oscars at the Clarendon Centre

2008-11-10T13:08:00.005Z

Friday evening saw the Oscars arrive at The Clarendon Centre. The Centre hosted an Oscar style event, with red carpet, full size statues and a sit down event for over 250 people in the main auditorium.

Members of the Clarendon Trust enjoyed full VIP service. With members arriving onto a red carpet that extended out onto the kerb side, the conference centre was in full flow. Photographers were stationed in the Lounge and on the Mezzanine floor, as well as the photo booth that was setup in the main hall on one of the balconies. Photos from the event are able to be viewed here.

The Oscars were presented from the front, with red carpet and walkway extending either side of the stage. Two full size Oscars were brought in for the evening, with lighting and sound provided using our own professional p.a and A/V equipment.

Work went into providing members of the Trust with a professional evening that was also full of fun and laughter. Special lighting systems were created and used in the Lounge, including 8 programmable up lighters, and several other spot lights. The Centre here in the heart of Brighton looked fantastic, and was very able to cope with an event of this size and prestige, and a great time was had by all.

Worship School at The Clarendon Centre

2008-10-27T14:16:00.002Z

Worship School is a course designed to equip Christian Worship Leaders, Musicians and Pastors. The course takes place on seven Saturdays between October 2008 and June 2009. Worship School uses all of the conference facilities that are available here at the Clarendon Centre, holding large seminars and meetings in the Main Auditorium, as well as practical workshops, master classes and smaller seminars in each of The Clarendon Centre's Meeting rooms, the Lounge and the Whitefield room.

With an event of this size and type, the Clarendon Centre is an ideal conference venue here in Brighton. Simon Brading, the Worship Pastor at CCK and the Worship School Director, had this to say about the Clarendon Centre after the School's first visit,

"It's a superb building to host the course as it offers us many conference rooms with separate PA rigs and projectors, a large lounge with serving area, and the main auditorium with professional sound and lighting rig - all of which are needed to make the course work."

The primary aim of Worship School is to teach and develop a deeper understanding of worship and how this applies to our lives, local church and culture. There will be teaching on a vast number of theological topics, with seminars and masterclasses being given by a wealth of speakers, including Joel Virgo, Simon Brading, Stuart Townend, Lou Fellingham, Paul Oakley, Phatfish, Terry Virgo, and special guests Graham Kendrick and Terl Bryant.

The Clarendon Centre looks forward to hosting Worship School over the next 9 months and again, the Clarendon Centre has demonstrated that when at it's full capacity, it is able to perform and deliver to a standard that competes with conference centres across Brighton and Hove.

Kimberly-Clark hold Town Hall at The Clarendon Centre

2008-10-22T11:48:00.008+01:00

On the 22nd October, Kimberly-Clark held their quarterly Town Hall meeting at the Clarendon Centre. Conference call facilities and a full A/V setup were used in the Whitefield room, with Kimberly-Clark's 60 strong Brighton team taking full advantage of the Lounge as a reception area, being served pastries and refreshments by our in house catering team.

Kimberly Clark has been built on the simple yet insightful values of providing quality, service and fair dealing. These values have helped establish Kimberly-Clark as a leading-edge global company that produces superior health and hygiene products used by families and professionals from all walks of life and cultures around the world. Kimberly-Clark employs more than 55,000 people worldwide and it's global brands are sold in more than 150 countries.

The purpose of the meeting was to bring their team based in Brighton together for "an update on the company’s activities, targets and achievements within the last quarter and to pass on company news."

Free WiFi at The Clarendon Centre

2008-09-30T15:15:00.021+01:00

The Clarendon Centre is now a Free WiFi Spot. Across the Brighton based conference facility, in each of the Meeting rooms, as well as the Lounge , the Whitefield room and the Main Auditorium, a free WiFi service has been installed that is now available to all clients and personnel that use the building with password and username available on booking confirmation. The free WiFi is a great addition to the high standard of conference facilities that are available at The Clarendon Centre, whether using it for 2 or 2000 people.

Newfrontiers' Future Leaders train at The Clarendon Centre

2008-09-24T16:12:00.025+01:00

Several times during the year, Newfrontiers, a worldwide family of churches together on a mission, with over 600 churches in over 50 nations, uses several of the conference rooms at The Clarendon Centre, to train its future leaders. It's training courses run for 3 to 4 days at a time with speakers including Andrew Wilson from King's Church Eastbourne, John Hosier from Church of Christ the King based here at The Clarendon Centre and Greg Haslam from Westminster Chapel in London.

Newfrontiers has a passionate commitment to building the church according to New Testament principles, believing that the most effective form of evangelism is worked out from strong local churches. Therefore, the training that they do here at The Clarendon Centre, in the Carey and the Hudson Taylor rooms is essential in providing them with the necessary leaders that they need.

BIMM Graduation at the Clarendon Centre

2008-09-19T15:41:00.031+01:00

BIMM (Brighton Institute of Modern Music) hosted their graduation ceremony at The Clarendon Centre on the 18th September, making use of the Lounge, the Whitefield room and the Auditorium.

"At last, a real school for real players...BIMM rocks!" - Ace (Skunk Anansie)

The Brighton Institute of Modern Music runs various full-time and part-time programmes from entry level to BA Honours degree for guitar, bass, drums, vocals, song writing and live sound/tour management and their ceremony at The Clarendon Centre catered for around 400 people, including 80 students.

During the main ceremony in the Auditorium, the graduands were addressed by BIMM Head of Higher Education Mark Irwin, BIMM Principal Vaseema Hamilton (MA), and the University of Sussex Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) (VC) Prof Joanne Wright.

Photographers Ede & Ravenscroft were setup in the Whitefield room, making sure the graduands' day was recorded properly. Live bands played in the Lounge and the Auditorium before and after the main ceremony, testing and demonstrating the Professional A/V equipment in both locations to be of industry standard.

The bar in the Lounge was in full swing and busy guests were served by The Clarendon Centre's friendly staff throughout. BIMM was a pleasure to have in the building and once more demonstrated the strengths The Clarendon Centre has at putting on events and conferences of this size.

Pure Associates Ltd training at the Clarendon Centre

2008-09-16T12:23:00.007+01:00

Pure Associates, a creative telephone fundraising agency have regularly been using the Carey room at The Clarendon Centre for two day training events for their staff. Pure Associates are committed to providing the highest level of service to the charities they work with and to all their supporters. They focus on maintaining high quality calling, supporter satisfaction, achieving excellent results, ensuring added value and cost effectiveness to their clients fundraising and so their training is of great importance. Pure have helped demonstrate the capabilities of the Carey room and the versatility of the various Meeting rooms at The Clarendon Centre.

Weekly BMECP Drop-in at the Clarendon Centre

2008-09-02T11:24:00.009+01:00

Brighton's Black And Minority Ethnic Community Partnership (BMECP) have hosted a drop-in every Friday over the past few weeks in the lounge at The Clarendon Centre, aimed at helping people into employment through access training and one to one support. BMECP have also been offering help with finances and assisting in access to other council services.

The team have been using the Lounge, making great use of the cafe and the professional sound system to create a relaxed and friendly atmosphere in which people from all over Brighton have felt welcomed.

STS Discos at the Clarendon Centre

2008-08-01T12:43:00.008+01:00

Around 300 European students from Brighton's STS Language School attended a series of six discos at The Clarendon Centre over the summer period, culminating in an entertaining Pop Idol event on the final evening. The students, from several European countries such as Sweden, Finland and Hungary, primarily used the Lounge, making the most of its high quality AV equipment.

A staff member serving on the evening was quoted as saying;

"It was a great evening, around 60% of the students were dancing at any given time and the all seemed to be enjoying it".
Naomi Fuller - Bartender

The Clarendon Centre's bar was open all evening with two of our friendly and helpful barmen on duty at all times.

It was a great night for everyone involved and demonstrates, once more, the versatility of the Lounge at The Clarendon Centre for events of either similar size or function.

Mark Driscoll at The Clarendon Centre

2008-07-14T17:05:00.021+01:00

An estimated 1,000 people visited The Clarendon Centre on 13 July 2008 for a dynamic meeting where guest speaker Mark Driscoll spoke to Church of Christ the King.

Mark Driscoll is an American minister. The co-founder and preaching pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Washington, he co-founded the Acts 29 Network, and has contributed to the "Faith and Values" section of the Seattle Times. He helped start The Resurgence, a repository of missional theology resources.

The Main Auditorium reached its full capacity and the downstairs Lounge and Whitefield Room housed many more with a video overflow link of the event being broadcast.

The Clarendon Centre easily caters for conference events of this size.

The new website ...

2008-06-16T09:44:00.006+01:00

The Clarendon Centre has been in existence since 1996 serving as the primary base for Church of Christ the King as well as serving as an excellent conference venue for local business, community and charity events.

As well as being part of the Brighton Fringe Festival, demand and interest in The Clarendon Centre has grown not only as a conference centre but also as a venue for graduations, music concerts and even Oscar style events. This growth is largely due to the centre's unique offering at affordable prices, so we have created this website to launch our new logo and to further raise the profile of this fantastic venue here in the heart of Brighton!

Brighton Arts Festival

2008-05-20T21:28:00.016+01:00

The Clarendon Conference Centre, hosted an outstanding Jazz Night as Part of the Brighton Fringe Festival. With nearly 500 people from across Brighton and Hove in attendance the audience was treated to an assortment of world class Jazz from musicians such as Mark Edwards, Martin Van Gent & Dave Fellingham.

Brighton & Hove Council - Drugs & Alcohol Team

2008-05-06T09:47:00.014+01:00

The Clarendon Centre recently hosted the Brighton and Hove Council's Drugs & Alcohol Team's Annual Conference. It was an excellent event which promoted the team's outstanding work and helped raise further awareness whilst encouraging many in this vital field. They were able to use the internal digital broadcasting system to visually communicate the work they do and thoroughly enjoyed the fantastic food provided for them!