FULL DETAILS (including contacts and booking info) FOR THE FIRST 3 EVENTS
LISTED BELOW ARE ON THE WEBSITE

www.edwardcarpentercommunity.org.uk

Autumn Sustenance & Halloween Weekend,
The Wetherdown Hostel, Hampshire,
31 Oct 2008 to 2 Nov 2008, 2 nights

Escape Christmas Gay Men's Week,
Manorbier Youth Hostel, Pembrokeshire,
20 Dec 2008 to 27 Dec 2008, 7 nights

New Year Gay Men's Week,
Wasdale Youth Hostel, Wastwater,
27 Dec 2008 to 3 Jan 2009, 7 nights

Having the Time of Our Lives (to be finalised),
The Birchcliffe Centre, Hebden Bridge,
10 Apr 2009 to 12 Apr 2009, 2 nights

SOME OF THE DETAILS ARE BELOW

**Autumn Sustenance & Halloween Weekend**

What better way to celebrate Halloween than to enjoy a sustaining weekend in
the South Downs. Ted Vidler, Ian Williams are organising a weekend at The
Sustainability Centre near Petersfield, in Hampshire. Squirrel away some
enjoyable memories of autumn leaves in the Centre's 60 acres of woodlands.
You'd be nuts not to join us to learn a few tips on saving those winter fuel
bills (not to mention the planet). You can even find your woodland burial
spot here. Ramble in the beautiful surrounding countryside, including the
nearby South Downs Way. Meanwhile, you can help us try out this venue which
is new to ECC. Camping and Croquet are both possible here.

The Wetherdown Hostel

www.earthworks-trust.com/html/wetherdown_hostel.html

is part of The Sustainability Centre. Built on a former country estate there
are some beautiful trees in the grounds. Nearby views extend to the Solent,
and there are excellent walks in all directions. The eco-friendly
accommodation is basic but meets our needs, offers very good value for money
and two to a room. It is also suitable for people with most disabilities. On
the downside, the buildings offer all the architectural delight that one
might expect from a building formerly part of HMS Mercury, an RAF signals
station and training school.

The breakeven cost for the week is £86. We propose to offer three-tier
payment scale - £66, £86 and £106.

This includes meals (self-catered - help with cooking appreciated) from
Friday night until Sunday tea time. The weekend will include a few walks on
the Downs, some workshops, an opportunity to learn more about making your
own life more sustainable with some experts from the centre, some good food,
good company, and of course, if Ted has anything to do with it, croquet.

**Escape Christmas Gay Men's Week**

There have been ECC events at this time but not for some years, and this is
in answer to many requests for another.

We do not intend a religious content but leave that to men's own discretion.
There will be services locally for those who wish to attend them.

As any winter week's weather might prove too cold for many outdoor
activities, the organisers hope that there will be many things on offer from
the membership, and then there's always eating, dreaming and perhaps
reading!

As you might expect, we would encourage you to consider what you could offer
to the community in a 'cabaret' and in other workshops or events.

In case you were worried, Lionel is very keen not to appear as Santa but,
there you are, he is the spitting image.

Martin, the former warden at Wasdale, will again be catering for us.

Already we have men who have 'earmarked' a place, so don't be too long in
deciding to book. We are looking forward to seeing you there.

Breakeven: £265. At Manorbier Youth Hostel in Pembrokeshire, Wales, with up
to 36 places available. It is for men who do not enjoy the commercialisation
of this period in the year and who would enjoy spending the time with others
in a traditional-style week.

Organised by Graham and Lionel.

Scale of Charges

Annual Income : Charge for the week

Up to £6,999 : £180
£7,000 - £10,999 : £230
£11,000 - £14,999 : £280
£15,000 - £18,999 : £320
£19,000 - £22,999 : £340
£23,000 or more : £370

**New Year Gay Men's Week**

Come and celebrate the New Year in community! Edwin Henshaw, Norman
Mackenzie and George Pearce invite you to apply to join this popular gay men's
week. Our job is to enable the week to happen, welcome you and keep things
ticking along. To do so we'll keep the familiar structure for an ECC week -
two big meetings, one to say hello and one to say goodbye, and base groups
that meet every day (heart circle possible). The rest of what happens will
be up to those attending to organise - so we invite you to contribute your
energy, creativity and ideas to help make the journey into 2009 memorable
and gay! There will be scope to run and attend activities and workshops - in
past years these have included dancing, singing, meditation, massage,
story-reading, early-morning jogging, a cabaret soirée, and of course the
New Year celebration.

The surrounding area offers many fantastic walks at both low and high
level - bring decent boots, warm clothing and waterproofs if you'd like to
get out on the fells.

But you don't have to be energetic. You might just want to relax by the fire
with a book, play games, sit up late gossiping, make new friends, talk
seriously, don coats and hats for a short winter stroll, share hugs and
laughter and most of all have fun with other gay men.
We have 33 places available and sleeping will be in shared bunk bedroom
accommodation of between four and 14 beds.

We will reserve 10 spaces for first-time attendees at an ECC event until
November 1, 2008, after which all places will become available to anyone on
the waiting list. In previous years the bookings filled up very quickly and
people are already asking for places.

The building can present some physical challenges. If you have concerns or
queries about this please contact Norman Mackenzie before booking [contact
details on website].

We have sole use of Wastwater Youth Hostel, a lovely old National Trust
building in the Lake District with its lawns running down to the shores of
the lake, in one of the less-visited parts of Cumbria.

The average (and breakeven) cost per head of running the week is £290. This
price includes full board and great vegetarian food, with no hidden extras.
There will be a special celebration on New Year's Eve. For people on very
low income or with additional costs there will be a limited number of
bursaries available. If you wish to apply for a bursary (which could include
help with travel costs) please send a letter with your booking form
explaining how much you can afford to pay. Applications will be referred to
the ECC treasurer to ensure funds are available.

Scale of Charges

Annual Income : Charge for the week

Up to £4,999 : £165
£5,000 - £7,999 : £220
£8,000 - £10,999 : £265
£11,000 - £13,999 : £310
£14,000 - £17,999 : £355
£18,000 - £21,999 : £390
£22,000 - £25,999 : £410
£26,000 and over : £425