April 2013 - The Boys' Brigade

The Boys’ Brigade
Patron: H.M. The Queen
President: The Lord Griffi ths
of Burry Port
Brigade Secretary: Steve Dickinson
Headquarters: Felden Lodge,
Felden, Hemel Hempstead,
Hertfordshire HP3 0BL
Tel 01442 231681; Fax 01442 235391;
Email: enquiries@boys-brigade.org.uk;
Website: www.boys-brigade.org.uk
Registered Charity Numbers
305969 (England and Wales) and
SC0038016 (Scotland).
Our Object
The advancement of Christ’s Kingdom
among boys and the promotion of habits
of Obedience, Reverence, Discipline,
Self-Respect and all that tends
towards a true Christian Manliness.
The Gazette
The Gazette is the offi cial publication
of The Boys’ Brigade. Offi cial notices
to members appear under Brigade
Announcements. Opinions expressed
in any other articles are those of
the author of the article and do not
necessarily refl ect Brigade policy.
Design & Print
Christian Publishing & Outreach,
Garcia Estate, Canterbury Road,
Worthing BN13 1BW;
Telephone: 01903 264 556;
Website: www.cpo.org.uk
Editorial Team
Mary Care, Steve Dickinson, Chris
Norman, Niall Rolland, Jan Williamson
Submission of copy
All material submitted with a view
to publication in the next issue of
BB Gazette should be addressed to
the Editor at Brigade Headquarters
to arrive by 1st May 2013.
Small Advertisements
Small Advertisements should be
sent to BB Headquarters;
email: gazette@boys-brigade.org.uk
Display Advertisements
Enquiries regarding display
advertising space should be to
Chris Norman: Tel 01442 288 552;
Fax 01442 235391;
Email gazette@boys-brigade.org.uk
twitter.com/theboysbrigade
Diary Dates
Northern Ireland
5 – 7 April ................. Queen’s Badge Residential
12 – 14 April ............. Expedition & Outdoor Leadership Course
13 April ..................... Company Section Bowls Competition: Provisional
27 April ..................... Anchor Boy 125th Anniversary Event
27 April ..................... Company Section 7-a-side Rugby Competition
(Junior & Senior): Provisional
4 May........................ National Competition Final: Junior 5-a-side
(Scotland)
11 May ...................... Junior Section 125th Anniversary Big Day Out
17 May ...................... Queen’s Badge Celebration
28 – 30 June ............ Skills for Queen’s Badge Course
20 – 26 July .............. KGVI Leadership Training: Parts 1 and 2
12 Sept ........................NI District Annual General Meeting
England
EDITORIAL
I
‘ve
just spent the weekend with some of the Young People Representatives
on the Regional Committees and the Brigade Executive; what an inspiring and
committed group they are.
We were looking at their role, how we might better resource and equip them
for the task and how we could widen participation within the organisation. Each
of them brought a variety of experience from Company, Battalion and Region
and each brought individual gifts and talents to the role. There was a common desire
to make a difference both for the young people they serve and represent and for
the Brigade.
Like many of us they had been encouraged, trusted and been given responsibility.
Some spoke to me about a signifi cant role model, someone who had believed in
them, someone who had helped and supported them.
In BB we use the word participation quite regularly now, but I thought it might be
helpful to remind ourselves what we mean.
One of the actions listed as a means to achieving the BB Mission statement reads
as follows;
• empowering children and young people by involving them in decision making at
all levels of the BB and giving responsibility appropriate to their age and aptitude
Participation is about shifting power to those that are most affected by a decision.
Adults need to be willing to engage children and young people and give up some of
their own power. It’s about creating a culture where young people expect to be heard
and involved.
Youth work is about supporting young people on the journey towards adulthood, on
the journey from dependence to independence. I can run a good BB programme, offer
lots of different activities and the youngsters will enjoy themselves, but if they leave
without having had the opportunity to plan, assess risk, make decisions and contribute,
then I’ve sold them short and not supported their journey as well as I might.
Do not say, “I am too young”, the Lord said to Jeremiah when he called him. What
barriers do we put in the way of our young people’s participation? Let us all commit
to supporting our members becoming creators of the organisation and not just
consumers of what we offer – as good as that may be.
Steve Dickinson
6 April .........................National Chess Finals - Kirkham
27 April .......................Senior 5 a side fi nals – Nottingham
11 May ........................Big Night Out – Lightwater Valley near Ripon
18 May ...................... Music Festival – Midlands
1 June ...................... Showcase Marching Band Competition – Stoke
13 July ...................... National Athletics – Halifax
Scotland
27 April ............... Scottish Bands Contest – Motherwell
10 – 12 May ........ Expedition Leadership Course – Carronvale
18 – 19 May ....... Practical First Aid – Carronvale
8 June ................ World Mission Fund Picnic – Blantyre
12 – 17 June ...... DofE Open Gold Expedition – Scott Lodge
25 – 27 June ...... Young Leaders’ Network – Prague
20 – 26 July ....... KGVI New Entrants – Carronvale
Republic of Ireland
5 April ................. Eastern District Anchors’ Event, Jump Zone,
Stillorgan, Co. Dublin
10 April ............... Midlands District Leaders’ Meeting, Portlaoise,
Co Laois
13 April ............... Midlands District Activity Day, Tullamore, Co Offaly
13 April ............... South Eastern District Blackstairs Shield, Bunclody,
Co Wexford
17 April ................. Northern District Leaders’ Meeting, Cavan, Co Cavan
28 April ................ Midlands District Service, Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny
29 April ............... South Eastern District Leaders’ Meeting, Bunclody,
Co Wexford
5 May ................... South Eastern District Service, Kiltegan, Co. Wicklow
9 May ................... Eastern District Leaders’ Meeting, Stillorgan,
Co Dublin
18 May ................. Northern District Swimming Gala & Basketball Event,
Monaghan, Co Monaghan
facebook.com/theboysbrigade
38 The Boys’ Brigade Gazette Apr 2013
25/26 May ............ National Juniors Activity Weekend
8 June .................. Regional Conference & Annual Council Meeting,
Portlaoise, Co Laois