Paul Henderson-Grey

Officially, today is my last day working for Quakers in Britain. It has been a real privilege working for Friends and the organisation BYM that both supports Quaker communities and undertakes Witness in the World.

In my roles as CEO of Quiet Company and more recently as Head of Estates, I have been supported by amazing colleagues both at Friends House and Swarthmoor Hall which I am so pleased to see is reopening soon.

When I came for my interview some 16 years ago I was asked what would I like to achieve and I said I wanted to make Friends House a destination experience, not a building to just walk by. Well, I think the teams I’ve managed have definitely achieved that. Together we’ve made it an award-winning and sustainable venue, as well as fully refurbishing Swarthmoor Hall.

So that’s job done and now it’s time, after 48 years of working, to start a new chapter in my life alongside my loving husband.

We're reopening! The long awaited moment is finally here! We're reopening Swarthmoor Hall on Friday 29 March. Find out more in our newsletter! - https://mailchi.mp/3582b60a7b64/reopening-swarthmoor-hall

🌅 As the sun sets on Swarthmoor Hall, we're thrilled to share exciting updates for 2024! 🎉 Get ready for our grand reopening in Easter, featuring the Old Hall, our gardens and grounds, our charming café, and a revamped shop. Dive into the new Swarthmoor experience with our new audio tour! 🎧

🙌 Join us in celebration from 15 July as Quakers in Britain host a week-long celebration to honour Margaret Fell and George Fox, co-founders of Quakerism. Enjoy music, family activities, crafts, talks, and captivating tours of Swarthmoor Hall!

🙏 Embrace spiritual journeys with the return of our Quaker Pilgrimages in June 2024, offering a unique exploration of historic meeting houses and early Quaker sites. More details coming soon. Pilgrimages are open to all.

📅 Throughout the year, expect a lineup of diverse events to build on the incredible support we received in 2023. Your presence means the world to us! 🌍

👀 We can't wait for the adventures that 2024 holds and hope you'll include a visit to Swarthmoor Hall in your plans. Which adventures await you next year? Share your plans below! 👇

It’s beginning to look a lot like Winter at ❄️ Our site was literally covered in snow over the weekend, and we think it gives a beautiful look to the Hall. What do you think?

Enjoy the peace and quiet of the Hall this Winter, book one of our guest accommodation now (link in bio ☝️).

Your warm and cosy stay in the picturesque Cumbrian countryside awaits. Who’s booked in already? 😀

Congratulations to an amazing team of people.

💥 Let's kick off the weekend with a dose of ! Wrapping up the week with a 5-star review and some fantastic feedback from a satisfied client.

📣 "Nothing was too much trouble"; we consistently go the extra mile to ensure our clients enjoy the best event experience. That's why we have an impressive 4.6 TrustPilot rating 🌟

✨ Experience exceptional events at Friends House: https://bit.ly/FHbookingenquiry

A buzzing garden - Swarthmoor Hall Kevin Line, our Plantsman, returns for another blog about our buzzing garden. Find out more about the latest additions to our garden.

Congratulations 🎉

Swarthmoor Hall Swarthmoor Hall Email Forms

We're hiring! We're recruiting a HEAD RECEPTIONIST to join Friends House and be a great addition to our team.

HOURS: 35 hours per week
SALARY: £33,118 per annum
CONTRACT: Full time, permanent
LOCATION: Friends House, Euston Road, London NW1

We are seeking an experienced, professional Head Receptionist with a strong events & conference/hotel focus and a minimum 2 years high quality Head Receptionist/Reception Supervisor experience, delivering outstanding service and exceptional customer care.
- You must have been responsible for a busy reception/front of house operation within a comparable venue or property and have led large, highly-focused reception teams
- You must be totally dedicated to the delivery of service excellence, the full engagement of high performing teams and customer service that exceeds all expectations
- You must have experience of staff recruitment, induction, training and development
- Be fully conversant with all necessary fire evacuation, licensing and Health & Safety legislation and building compliance
- You must possess all the necessary leadership qualities to succeed in the role and be highly effective at engaging and motivating members of the team to perform at the highest level
- Above all you must be able to adapt your supervisory and leadership style to meet the needs of our clients, delegates, friends and stakeholders
- The individual must be courteous, knowledgeable and professional with humility and grace, yet be confident and passionate about the work they perform.

As Head Receptionist, you will work full-time as required by the operation 35 hours per week. You will be required to work 5 days from 7 including occasional evening and weekend working. You will need to be flexible with the days and times you are able to work, although most shifts will be Monday to Friday during the daytime.

Friends House is offering an outstanding package to the right candidate and the opportunity to play a major role in the further success of one of London's most important conference and meetings venues. You will be offered a starting salary of £33,118.00 with an annual increase, exceptional pension scheme, CPD, employee benefits and generous holiday allowance.

Only candidates eligible to work in the UK or have a valid UK work permit/visa will be considered for the position.

Closing date: 8am, Monday 4 September 2023

Interviews: 11/12 September 2023

We are committed to equality in all our employment practice and to safeguarding children and adults at risk and expect all our staff and volunteers to share and uphold this commitment.

Quakers have a faith commitment to equality and encourage and welcome applications for posts from all sections of society. You do not have to be a Quaker to apply for this post, but we expect you to uphold the values of our organisation.

If this sounds like you, find out more and apply here: https://bit.ly/FHopenjobs

⏰ Our labyrinth is ready for our August Bank Holiday Open Weekend. We're sure little ones will love it!

🌱 The labyrinth is located in our meadow and is just one of the spaces you will be able to walk through on the day.

☕ With the option to relax in our café with a cuppa and a cake, we think this is the perfect August Bank Holiday outing!

📅 When: Saturday 26th, Sunday 27th, Sunday 28th August
⏰ What time: 10am - 4pm daily
📍 Where: Swarthmoor Hall Lane
Ulverston, Cumbria, LA12 0JQ

🌼 Introducing our gardening team 🌿

➡️ Left to right: Kevin - Part-time garden lead, Graham - Garden volunteer, Nick - Part-time general assistant, Niel - Garden volunteer ( Niel also works part-time for the National Trust as a gardener).

🌷 They're all restoring our gardens and grounds and ensuring they look thriving and beautiful when we reopen.

👣 If you come to our August Bank Holiday Open Weekend, you can see their work and stroll through the gardens.

📢 Calling all Euston visitors! Are you in search of a 100% vegan and vegetarian cafe?

Look no further than Seed Cafe at Friends House! 🌱✨

Treat yourself to a delectable array of plant-based options, including our newly introduced iced drinks and smoothies. Make it a point to visit us before or after your meeting or event.

🌱🥗🥤

Really glad to share the Quiet Company annual review for 2022 and to take this opportunity to congratulate the whole team for an thier amazing contributions.

📣 Our 2022 Annual Review is now available to read!

🎉🌟 We're pleased to share our first fully operational year since the pandemic, with growth and success across all businesses.

📈👏 Click the link to read the full review and learn more about our commitment to Quaker values of integrity, sustainability, and social responsibility.

http://ow.ly/UcnQ50O0jBz