Job Opportunities at Sandy Balls

Sales Consultant Full Time

Full/Part Time Waiting Staff at the Bistro and Woodside
Seasonal Warden Couple – 28 days Mid July/August
Full Time Warden – 40 Hours a week

Please phone Jen on 01425 651210 or email jen@sandy-balls.co.uk

New for 2008

Kayaking at Sandy Balls

Book at Guest Services in advance £15 per session 01425 651225.  These special days will be run through the school holidays and will take place on our stretch of the River Avon.

Forestman triathlon speeds into Sandy Balls

Sandy Balls Holiday Centre has been revealed as the venue for the first Forestman Triathlon on Sunday 13 July. Sandy Balls was earmarked as the perfect base and official accommodation provider because of its facilities for both spectators and participants. All strong-willed traithletes will race a gruelling course that includes a 3 mile swim, 112-mile cycle followed by a 26-mile run through the New Forest.

Del Grainger, finance manager and keen marathon runner, has a very personal reason for taking part, he said: “I'm competing for CLIC Sargent, a charity that offers support to the parents of children with cancer. My daughter Becky, who is now 11, had a malignant tumour in her kidney when she was just months old.”

Del said: “The Forestman Triathlon event will take place on Sunday 13 July 2008 at Sandy Balls and in the surrounding area and with up to 200 competitors competing this should be an excellent event.”

For more information on the Forestman Triathlon visit www.racenewforest.co.uk You can make a donation in support of Del by visiting www.justgiving.com/delgranger.

PHOTO CAPTION: Del Grainger limbers up for this year's Forestman Triathlon

Sandy Balls' fun run in sporting memory of James raised £950

Sandy Balls Holiday Centre in Fordingbridge hosted a fun run and activities day on Sunday 27 April in support of the James Salisbury Sports Bursary and raised £950.

Jamess, aged 17, was a lifeguard at Sandy Balls Holiday Centre and pupil of Burgate Sixth Form College before he died suddenly of an undetected heart condition last year.

The bursary has been set up by James' parents following their sad loss, to help develop young sports people of Burgate School and to pay tribute to James' passion and natural talent.

The team at Sandy Balls encouraged guests, staff and visitors to join the fun run. The £5 entry fee was donated to the bursary along with proceeds from the centre's new ‘water-walker' - a giant ball that enables users to pace across Sandy Balls' outdoor swimming pool!

No Sweeney Todd here, just close shaves all round at tempus

The team at tempus at Sandy Balls Holiday Centre is now fully-trained to use cut-throat razors – but not in Sweeney Todd style.

Fiona MacNeil, manager of tempus, said: “The traditional cut-throat razor conjures up images of Sweeney Todd but it's not like that at all! We have all been fully-trained to deliver the new treatment and it's the perfect choice for the men out there who need a little pampering.

“This treatment includes all the traditional elements you'd expect, hot towels to warm the skin and soften stubble, creamy lathers of shaving foam massaged into the face and then the cut-throat is used twice – once in each direction – to ensure an ultra-smooth finish and the closest of shaves. “That's followed by soothing swathes of cool towels to close the pores before more hot towels and the application of a rich moisturizer to complete the treatment.”

tempus's normal opening hours are from 09.00 to 5.30 seven days a week and 8pm on Wednesday & Thursday. For more information on treatments or to make a booking please call the tempus team on 01425 651222.

PHOTO CAPTION: Laura Watts putting her cut-throat skills to the test.

Forest fun comes in ball shapes and sizes

The team at Sandy Balls Holiday Centre has joined the scrum and sponsored Fordingbridge Rugby Club by donating a big batch of branded balls. The popular holiday and leisure destination located in the heart of the New Forest is well known for its support of the local community. The new balls are already being put to use on the training field.

Ian Brown, manager of Fordingbridge Rugby Club, said: “We are delighted with the local support we have received and are grateful for Sandy Balls' contribution. Some of the centre's staff are amongst our most dedicated members.” Four of Fordingbridge Rugby Clubs' longest-standing members work on site at the holiday centre. Dee Stone, manager of The Bistro at Sandy Balls, is now in his mid-twenties and has been playing for Fordingbridge since he was five-years-old. Steve Brown, Tim Donnell and Josh Edwards all work part-time at the centre too.

Managing Director of Sandy Balls, Tim Howell, who became a vice chairman of the Club at the start of the season, commented: “We are very proud to support the Club. The team is doing really well and we wanted to do our part in making sure that they are well-equipped for the tough season ahead.

The team has enjoyed some great success this season and are currently fourth in the league, having been promoted to the first division of the Hampshire league. Fordingbridge Rugby Club runs two senior teams and a mini section which caters for boys and girls aged four to twelve years. The Club welcomes new players and members of any age and ability.

PHOTO 1: Managing director Tim Howell joins the scrum with members of the Fordingbridge Rugby Club.

PHOTO 2: Managing director Tim Howell with Micheen Stone, head of Guest Services.

Sandy Balls staff set for shopping spree

The entire team at Sandy Balls Holiday Centre will be hitting the January sales with a bumper batch of Marks and Spencer's vouchers as a reward for their hard work during 2007.

The seasonal surprise was sprung by the centre's management and has been given to both full and part-time staff members in recognition of a record-breaking year of sales, improvements and refurbishments - all topped-off with the installation of Forest Ice a covered outdoor synthetic ice rink at the heart of the centre! Sandy Balls' 150 strong staff will now be able to celebrate '08 with a retail treat - anything from a new addition to their wardrobe or some tasty food and wine.

Tim Howell, holiday centre manager, commented: “This year has been very busy, fruitful and most of all fun! “Everyone has put in an enormous amount of effort to ensure that whilst we completed the multi-million pound investment project we were able to make it business as usual for our guests. “This is just a small way of our being able to say ‘thank you' to the team for all their hard work. Quite simply, they are as important to the business as our naturally beautiful location!”

Full-time members of the team have scooped £100 Marks and Spencer's vouchers, with part-time colleagues collecting £50 ones to spend on their choice of goods.

PHOTO CAPTION: Preparing to spend, spend, spend! Guest Services manager Micheen Stone with members of the Sandy Balls team.

Simon says enjoy yourselves'  

It was smiles all round as Annie and Megan Howells stopped by to enjoy a break in a luxury lodge courtesy of Sandy Balls Holiday Centre. The Howells were one of two local families who recently enjoyed taking time out at the award-winning New Forest destination which donated the holiday to the charity Simon Says.

Annie and daughter Megan, 10, first received support from Simon Says when Megan found it difficult to cope after losing her father suddenly to a heart attack. Thanks to Sandy Balls, a stay in the peaceful heart of the New Forest has offered the young family a chance to escape and unwind although Megan has been keeping mum busy by enjoying the fun and activities on offer.

Annie said: Simon Says has been a lifeline for us, attending the support group has enabled both Megan and I to speak freely to both trained volunteers and other bereaved families in the knowledge that they do understand how we are feeling. It has enabled us to share and learn from each others experiences. Sandy Balls is in such a beautiful location, we are both really grateful for the opportunity to get away from home and its routines and memories and have some fun a huge thank you to Sandy Balls and Simon Says.

BBC presenter Sally Taylor is the proud patron of the charity that has helped teachers, parents and health workers to support children who need help to cope with their feelings. People frequently underestimate the impact that death has on children and how important it is to move on in the right way whilst holding on to the memories.

Around one in 25 children and young people of school age have experienced the death of a parent, brother or sister and many more are affected by the death of someone close. Simon Says' goal is to ensure all bereaved children and young people and their families have access to support wherever they live in Hampshire and however they are bereaved.

We all enjoy working in such wonderful natural surroundings , said guest services manager Micheen Stone. I am delighted that Sandy Balls donation to Simon Says is helping to put a smile on the face of these youngsters.

If you require information about Simon Says child bereavement support please visit the website www.simonsays.org.uk or telephone 02380 647550.

PHOTO CAPTION: From the left, guest services manager Micheen Stone, Megan Howells and mum Annie.