Anchor Boy Conference

The Anchor Boy Conference was held at Newport on Saturday 6th October 2018. Over 50 Anchor Boy Leaders attended. After opening devotions with David Penney, Training and Programme Officer the opening session on Creative Bible Communication was led by Leanne Dunlop, Field Ministries Director, Scripture Union NI. David Templeton, Youth & Family Support worker with Children’s Heartbeat Trust, the Anchor Boy Charity for the 2018/2019 session, gave a presentation on the work of the charity, sharing stories of how it helps young people in NI through serious illness. Resources were also available for Leaders giving ideas for fundraising in their Companies for Children’s Heartbeat Trust.

After lunch Mark Moorhead, Schools Ministry Manager, Scripture Union NI, jointly led the afternoon session on Creative Programme Planning, including ‘Emergency Stories’, with Nicky Bradley, Children’s Director, Knock Presbyterian Church.

Cllr Jonathan Craig, Chairperson of the Lisburn and Castlereagh Peace IV Partnership, visited the conference briefly to meet Leaders over lunch and to view the newly equipped Peace IV funded premises at Newport in full use.

“As a former BB member, of 1st Hillsborough BB Company, I am absolutely delighted to see this new training, conference and residential facility opening in Culcavy, and I look forward to seeing it being fully utilised. I was very impressed with the youth leaders at today’s BB Anchor Boy Leaders’ Conference and fully appreciate the time and effort they put into the future of our young people. Congratulations to the Boys’ Brigade NI District; I have no doubt the assistance Peace IV in Lisburn Castlereagh has provided will positively impact on literally hundreds of our youth in our council area and beyond.”

Cllr Jonathan Craig