The Anchor Boys is a section of the Boys Brigade and is open to all boys of 5 to 9 years of age. The Anchor Boy section meets every Monday evening from 6.20pm to 7.30pm in the Church Minor hall. 

At the start of each year the boys are put into squads of 5 or 6 with one of the 8 year old boys as the squad leader. This gives the older  boys a sense of responsibility and the squad format promotes healthy competition in the section. The boys also get a sense of caring in their small group and learn to share, cooperate and become aware of the needs of others.

Our Monday evening sessions start with circle time when everyone tells the leaders and other boys their news from the past week. In their squads boys are inspected and given marks for uniform and appearance. This is followed by a brief time of worship which may include bible stories and prayer. Games and other activities then make up the rest of the evening’s programme.

At this age boys show big changes in their mental, emotional, social and physical development.  In the Anchor Boys at Ballywillan we try to give every boy individual attention within the group as they each have differing needs.  We work hard to provide a lively, fun-filled and interesting programme each week with the boys learning new skills through arts and crafts, games and activities.  Boys are encouraged to develop their confidence by letting them do things for themselves, by giving praise for good behaviour and through drama and mime activities.   Not all boys develop their physical skills at the same rate but by introducing them to a variety of games and physical activities they extend their own physical development at a pace which suits them.  

An Anchor Boy Activity Scheme has been introduced to the weekly programme which gives boys recognition for their participation in 5 areas:

·        Body – fit for fun

·        Mind – think and do

·        Spirit – God and me

·        Community – me and my world

·        Creativity – make and do

The boys work through each or these 5 areas during the three Anchor Boy years and every boy is awarded an Anchor Triangle badge at the end of each year.

An important part of the annual programme is our special outing. In the past three years visits have been made to the local Fire station, to an open farm and to the W5 Experience in the Odyssey, Belfast . In November 2005 a visit to Coleraine Police Station has been arranged.

At the end of previous years the boys have played their part in the Company Display and Prize Presentation evening. To conclude the 2004/05 session an Open evening for parents, which showed a sample of the activities undertaken on the Monday sessions, was very successful.

Programme:

15-20 minute blocks of activity in spirtual, interest, community, adventure and physical topics.

Officers: Pat Campbell, Jan Halliday

Helpers: Lynsey Gaston, Michaela Gaston,  Philip Waring

Junior Section boys have a packed evening of activity including art and craft, drama, sports, learning skills such as care of the teeth, road & cycle safety and learning about God’s love.

The boys love entering competitions and this year we were runners-up in the Battalion 5-a-side competition.  One of our members also won “Best Leading Boy” at the annual Figure Marching competition, and later in the year we will be taking part in the outdoor football competitions.

Junior Section also have an annual weekend of Camping under canvas, with all the usual activities, such as cooking their own breakfast for themselves and the leaders (!), outdoor games, the dreaded tent inspection (for which there are prizes!) and of course it wouldn’t be camp without the longed for waterslide and water fight! (which the leaders win EVERY year!)

Camp this year runs from 16^th-18^th June and will be held at Ballywatt Presbyterian Church.  We will also be taking part in a “Record Breaking Attempt” organised by the Boys Brigade worldwide on Saturday night, and Ballywatt BB Juniors will be joining us for that!   For more details, please contact Pat or Jackie.

The Annual Parade service is on Sunday 2^nd April at 3.30pm in 1^st Portrush, boys to attend in full uniform, meeting at Ballywillan at 2.50pm.

The Annual Parents Night is on Friday 7^th April at 7.30pm and all parents and friends are very welcome.  Please also stay for a cuppa and a chat afterward so we can get to know you!

Please continue to pray for Junior Section and we would encourage you to come along and discover if God is calling you to this great work amongst the children of our community.  (We especially need male leaders)

BB Programme: Bible Class, Adventure, Community, Interest, Leadership & Physical Badgework

Healthy Living is the aim this year:-

Physical: weekly fitness program before Christmas

Nutrition: Healthy Eating by Causeway Trust Chief Dietician Jill Curry

Spiritual: “Answers in Genesis” by Ken Ham and the 10 Commandments

The Seniors have sessions to help prepare them for life after school.  They have also started to run a “Smoothie Bar” as part of the Healthy lifestyles programme – hopefully this will be in full swing at the start of our new year in September.

The juniors have been working on their badges – Model making, fitness, orienteering skills and plenty of games!

Competitions:

Current holders of the Northern Ireland Volleyball Trophy.

In December, the under 14’s B team came runners up in the Battalion 5 a side competition.

Badminton tournament still in progress

Masterteams: 4^th place

Orienteering: 3^rd, 4^th & 5^th place

7-a-side Rugby : 29^th April

Parents Night:

7^th April @ 7.30pm.  Please stay for a cuppa afterwards so we can get to know you a little better.

Senior Boys in the Company also have the opportunity of attaining their Presidents Award and Queens Award which is the highest award given in the Boys’ Brigade.  Last year 5 boys received their Presidents Award, some of whom are working towards their Queens Badge over the next year.

As you can see, we have an active Company section of boys with a wide range of interests and a desire to be in a group where they can learn new skills, have fun together and with God’s help, develop into young men of faith.  It is a privilege and joy to work with these young men and I would encourage the members of our congregation to come along for an evening and find out if God is calling you in this vital work.