Detonate is a one week-long (Monday to Friday) daytime activity club run each summer by the churches in Chorleywood.
Detonate is for primary school age children in Years 1 to 6 living in Chorleywood and the surrounding areas.
About Detonate
When and where does Detonate take place?
Detonate takes place at The Russell School in Chorleywood around the last week in July each year. See our website front page for the latest dates.
What age group is Detonate aimed at?
Detonate is for children in school years 1 to 6 ( in the school year ending just before Detonate). Children in the reception year are not eligible to attend Detonate.
What kind of activities can children expect to participate in during Detonate?
During the Detonate day children will be taking part in a number of actvities including, for example, sport, craft, art, games, small group time, big group time etc.
Do children need to bring anything specific with them to Detonate?
Your child will need to bring the following items to Detonate each day:
- Detonate passport
- lunch
- water bottle
- essential medication
- sunhat
- suncream
Is there a theme for each day of Detonate?
There is always an overall theme for the week. Each day will have it’s own related focus on an aspect of that theme.
Who supervises the children during Detonate?
Each child is allocated to a small group (up to 10 children per group) with an allocated Small Group Leader and Small Group Helper.
The small group leader and helper have the primary responsibility for supervising the children in their group for the whole day.
Are the staff members at Detonate trained in childcare and first aid?
Yes, we have a dedicated trained first aid team on site. They will use the emergency contact numbers provided by each parent/guardian/carer to contact you if there is any medical issue.
How are dietary restrictions and allergies accommodated during Detonate?
Children bring their own lunch.
Detonate only provide water and biscuits. If there are any food restrictions or allergies that we need to know about then these can be logged by parents when they apply for a place at Detonate.
What safety measures are in place to ensure the well-being of the children?
Safeguarding is under the authority of the Diocese of St Albans, St Andrews Church Chorleywood and the safeguarding officer for Detonate, Judith Palfreman
The site is secure with a security team manning the gates and vetting all visitors to the site.
All parents have to book their child in each day, they also have a passport for their child which they have to show in order to collect the child at the end of the day.
Medical information and medication is held in First Aid. There is a team trained in First Aid on site all day.
Team Members aged over 16 and in direct contact with the children should have a DBS certificate and are asked to undertake safeguarding training.
The Age Group Leaders have oversight of their team, helpers and children, and are available as a first point of contact.
The site and activities are robustly risk assessed.
Can parents/guardians visit or observe the activities at Detonate?
Parents (or guardians or carers) of the children can visit to observe the final 30 minute session in our main tent on the final Friday of Detonate. Details will be provided just before Detonate starts. We welcome everyone to come and enjoy the Detonate experience for that half hour!
Apart from that Parents are only allowed on site at drop-off and collections times at the beginning and end of the day.
What is the daily schedule like at Detonate?
The timetable may vary, but in general, there are sessions at the beginning and end of the day in our large tent where everyone gathers together for games, music, singing, teaching and all manner of fun. Between those two sessions there are a variety of activites conducted in small groups.
Are there breaks for snacks and meals during Detonate?
Yes. There are breaks for drinks and for lunch.
What happens in case of inclement weather during outdoor activities?
We have under-cover facilities in our marquees and in The Russell School to allow us to cope with wet weather.
Can children leave the premises during Detonate hours?
Only by special arrangement in advance and never without being collected by an authorised parent (or guardian or carer).
How can I remove my child from Detonate before the end of the day?
You will need to register this with us in advance.
What is the registration process for Detonate, and how much does it cost?
Registration is in two parts:
- Creation of a Detonate account by the parent (or guardian or carer)
- Purchase of tickets.
All this is done via the Detonate website.
The cost is £75 for the week. We do not offer pro-rata tickets by the day.
Is financial assistance available for families who may not be able to afford the registration fee?
Yes. Please contact us using the ‘Contact’ menu option and selecting the ‘Bursaries’ option for a confidential discussion.
How can parents/guardians get in touch with Detonate staff in case of emergencies?
Use the contact form on the website or come to the Russell School during the Detonate day.
Are there any religious components or teachings involved in Detonate activities?
Yes, Detonate is a Christian Holiday Week run by the chuches in Chorleywood and we will be talking to the children about faith and Jesus at times during the week.
Is there a dress code or any specific clothing requirements for Detonate?
No. But children’s clothes need to be comfortable for a range of activities including craft and simple sport. And of course appropriately for the weather.
Some children like to dress in colours to reflect their main group:
Greens (years 1 & 2)
Blues (years 3 & 4)
Reds (years 5 & 6)
Registering on the Detonate Website
How do I sign up/register on your website?
Assuming that you are not already logged in, you should click on the ‘Login/Register’ menu item at the top of any page on the Detonate website.
From the login page you should then click on ‘REGISTER’ near the bottom of the page.
You will then be presented with the ‘Please Register’ page where you will invited to create an account.
What information do I need to provide during the registration process?
To create an account on the Detonate website you will need to provide the following information:
- your first name
- your last name
- your email address
- your chosen password
Once you have a verified account you can then move on to register with as a parent (or guardian/carer) of a child wishing to attend Detonate, or as a Team Member wanting to assist with running Detonate, or both. To complete those registration processes you will need to provide further information to us.
Is it mandatory to provide personal information during registration?
Yes.
As a parent (or guardian/carer) you need to tell us key information relating to you and your children such as
- contact an emergency contact information
- children’s medical contact information
As a potential Team Member assisting with running Detonate you will need to provide us with significant information about yourself in support of your application. We can help you with completing this if necessary.
Can I sign up/register using my social media accounts?
No, at the moment we do not support this.
I'm encountering issues with the registration process. What should I do?
You should message us via the ‘Contact’ menu option. Please select the appropriate option to contact us either as a Parent (or guardian/carer) or a Detonate Team Member.
Your message will be responded to as soon as we are able. Detonate is run by volunteers and so response times may be variable, please bear with us.
Do I need to verify my email address after registration?
Yes, we will send you an email with a link to click to verify your email address. You will not be able to login to your Detonate account until you complete this step.
What should I do if I haven't received a verification email after signing up?
Please check you junk mail. If you have not received an email after 3 hours please contact us via the ‘Contact’ menu option on our website and explain that you have not received your verification email.
Can I change my registered email address or username later?
If you need to change your email address, please contact us via the ‘Contact’ menu option on the Detonate website.
Do you share my registration information with third parties?
No. Your information is held for the sole purpose of administration related to the running of the Detonate Holiday week and will only be use by authorised members of the Detonate Team.
We will not pass your information on to other third parties.
Payments are processed through our arrangement with St Andrew’s Church Chorleywood and financial transactions may be seen by authorised administrators at St Andrew’s.
Can I delete my account/profile after registration?
Yes, if you wish us to delete your account and your associated data please message us via the ‘Contacts’ menu option.
If we delete your account before Detonate is held you will not be able to send children to Detonate or participate as a Team Member.
I forgot my password. How can I reset it?
Please follow the ‘Lost Password’ link from the login/signup page.
Is there a minimum age requirement to register on your website?
Other than in exceptional circumstances Team Members must be at least in school year 8. People younger than this should not normally register on the Detonate website.
Children wishing to attend Detonate should not register; their parent (or guardian or carer) should register and purchase tickets for them to attend Detonate).
Do I need to agree to terms and conditions during registration?
There are a number of confirmations that we seek from both Parents and Team Members. These are presented as mandatory checkboxes to be completed as part of the registration process.
What should I do if I suspect someone else has accessed my account?
Please a) request a password change via the ‘Lost Password’ option on the Login/signup page and b) let us know via the ‘Contact’ menu option on the website.
Is there a limit to the number of accounts I can register?
Normally one account per email address. There is no advantage to you holding more than one Detonate account.
A Detonte account holder can register as both a Parent (or guardian or carer) AND a Team Member.
If you wish to use the same email address for multiple Detonate Account holders (e.g. you wish to sign up your teenager as a Detonate Team Member via your own email account) then please contact us via the ‘Contact’ menu option on the Detonate website. We can make arrangements to support this.
Are there any restrictions on the choice of username or password?
You username is your email address – you have to have a working email address that you can access.
When choosing a password, follow guidelines provided by UK-based security authorities like the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). Create strong passwords with a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid easily guessable information and consider using passphrases for added security. Never reuse passwords across multiple accounts and update them regularly. Utilise password managers recommended by NCSC for secure storage. For more detailed guidance, visit the NCSC website or refer to their password guidance documentation for best practices in password security.