RoundupIssue No. 48 – December 2015

NEWSLETTER OF THE MANCHESTER REGIMENT OF THE CHURCH LADSʼ AND CHURCH GIRLSʼ BRIGADE

The Colonel’s CommentGeneral news…

ONE aspect of the grant funding that the Brigade has received is

to help with Social Action. That is to put something back into the communities we live in to improve things for others and by inference, ourselves. It’s an important aspect of Christian Service and as such many of you undertake such work without a second thought and when our Regional Development offi cer asks for examples of what we’re doing to justify the money we have received it’s diffi cult to apportion what we’ve done. It’s also natural that we have diffi culty “blowing our own trumpet” but if we’re to get further funding, from wherever it may be available it’s important

that we can express our usefulness and tell others our achievements. So, have a think about what you’ve done, this time of year is littered with examples and lets show everyone what we, the Brigade family in Manchester have been doing to help others as we celebrate this important Christian Festival. To help, a few examples I thought of might be, you’ve organised an Afternoon Tea for your Church to raise money for the Children of Syria Appeal, you’ve held a Christingle Service to raise funds for the Childrens Society or you’ve been Carol Singing for a local Hospice. If you’ve been busy, then let’s share it, with pictures please!

Regimental Parade 2015

The Commanding Offi cerMajor Ruth Bowker

and Rochdale Battalion Staff

invite you to the

Annual Offi cer’sDinner and Dance

to be held at

St Martin’s ChurchVicarage Road North, Rochdale OL11 2BP

on

Saturday, January 23rd, 2016from 6:30pm, for meal at 7pm

Ticket £22.50 per head including wine

RSVP no later than Monday, 4th January 2016

Brigade Council Youth Member Wanted!

All CO’s have received notifi cation from NHQ that there is a vacancy on Brigade Council for a Youth representative. Anyone under 21 years of age can be proposed using the forms sent to CO’s or directly to John Corbishley. If you’d like to serve on Brigade Council then you need to act now as nominations have to be in by 4th January 2014.

Tameside Inspire Academy Company

November 9th 2015 was the fi rst meeting of our new Inspire Academy Company in Tameside Battalion. 2 Lt Chris Walker is starting his fi rst appointment as Offi cer in Charge after undergoing a rapid round of statutory training to compliment his Young Leaders training in 2014/15. Chris has two of the Academy teaching and support staff to help him and has now got fi ve members.

This year’s Regimental Parade on October 25 followed the same route though the pedestrianised areas of shoppers as last year. We had other options but the lack of trams through the city inhibited those ideas somewhat. It will be more viable next year.

Last year we had less than a third of the Regiment on parade. Attendance was a little better this year and was bolstered by having three very good bands on parade. We do need to encourage more members onto parade so that the bands don’t end up so close together. It is a fantastic opportunity to fl y the fl ag, parade your colours and meet with others. As I said in the last Roundup, many members only see the Brigade as a once a week meeting,

the Regimental Parade shows your members that they are part of something bigger than that. Tell us how we can get more on parade!

There has been some debate as to the best time of year to hold the parade and the decision for next year is still to be made, Why not get your ideas heard at the Regimental Conference in February?

Watch Roundup for more information.

Sports NewsThe National Athletics was held on 26th September 2015 at a new local venue, Kingsway Park Sports Centre between Rochdale and Oldham. The facilities were excellent and the Centre’s staff made us really welcome. Teams from Ulster, Manchester, Durham and Chorley and Ribblesdale took part. Thanks to everyone hwo helped with the event on the day. Our results were as follows.

National Sports & Hockey

Results: AthleticsYteams Lads’ Manchester 2 - Winners, Manchester 1 - 2nd Yteam Girls’ Manchester 1 – Winners, Manchester 2 – 2nd JTC Lads’ Manchester 1 – Winners, Manchester 2 = 3rdJTC Girls’ Manchester 1 = 2nd, Manchester 2 = 4th SC Lads’ Manchester 1 – 2nd, SC Girls’ Manchester 1 – 3rd,

Regimental and National Events for 2016 are listed in the dates page, please make a note of them and try to support them please.

News…Training Saturday February 27th 2016 – Manchester Regimental Skills Training Day @ St Marks HeysideWhat the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award could do for your Company.First Aid – Check your certificate NOW it’s probably out of Date (CO’s Note – You MUST have someone at each meeting with a current First Aid Certificate)Martins Workshop for existing and new leaders or helpers.Safeguarding Children – a supported on-line course.What else do you want or (more importantly) need?

Food Hygiene Training: Available on-line to order from NHQSafeguarding Training: Available on-line to order from NHQ – FREE for leaders registered on BMS.

National Band & TourThe Brigade’s National Band is open to any member of the Brigade, whether you have a Company band or not. It’s a great opportunity for those in Companies who don’t have a band to progress and for members of Bands to gain extra experience to bring back into your band. Dates are on the list and there’s more information on the www.clcgb.org.uk web site.This summer, the National Band toured the English Riviera, (Devon and Cornwall). They had a really tough programme and worked really hard, they also had a fantastic time.

BMS – Brigade membership systemAll Companies CO’s (or their designated Officers) should remember that new members need to be added to the Membership system within 4 weeks and remove any members who have left. Now that companies are required to identify their First Aiders and Food Hygiene holders, these should be recorded on BMS under the Leaders training records. You should also make sure your members are up to date and checked as this will be used to produce your invoice for your annual fees in January.

Regimental ConferenceSaturday 6th February 2016 is the date for our Regimental Conference, it will be held at ******* starting at 7:30pm and ending with a supper. It’s usually a very informal social event once the Regimental business is concluded. My problem is, that it’s the same few who attend every year and some companies are never represented to share their views or make their feelings known. It an opportunity to hear what’s happening in the Regiment, what we’re doing and why we’re doing it. More

than that it’s your opportunity to have your say about what is happening in your Company or formation, or on wider issues and problems in Brigade. Would it help if I ordered all CO’s to attend or send a representative?

Regimental Returns and FeesAll Companies are reminded that Regimental Fees are due before the end of January. Forms have gone out to CO’s for your return to show your Company strength and pay your Fees for this year. Fees have been retained at the same level as the last 7 years at 50p for Martins and £1 for other members and leaders. These should be paid by the end of January with the form to accompany your fees completed in line with your BMS records.

Companies are also instructed to complete your leaders training records. This is a useful way of recording what training our leaders have had, what qualifications may have lapsed and a way of managing what training your leaders require. All are reminded that a recent change in the Brigade’s rules now means that you MUST have a qualified First Aider at every meeting night. You should also have someone qualified in Food hygiene and all leaders should have undertaken some basic Safeguarding training, both of which are now available through NHQ and licences for both on-line courses can be purchased through the stores ordering system. These, and a First Aid session are on the programme for the Skills training day on 27th February 2016 at St Marks’ Heyside. Book early to avoid disappointment and your Company not being adequately covered.

DofE support networkThe Brigade are trying to expand the number of Companies who use the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award for it’s Senior members. It’s seen as an ideal programme and those Companies who use it tend to have a stronger Senior section than those who don’t. A group of leaders who use the Award are putting together promiotipnal information and training aid to assist everyone to use the D of E Award. We will be emailing all Seniors to temp them to join in. It is possible for individuals to undertake most of the award and ome together with others for the Expedition part of the Award. If you want to know more then get in touch with John C or attend the Skills day session.

Band members watch outTo celebrate 60 years of the D of E Award we are taking up the challenge to raise funds for the award. One proposal is that we get 60 bands (or groups of Brigade musicians) right across the country to all play at different locations at the same time. You might decide to take a small group and play on top of a mountain or in a shopping mall? Thinking caps on and get involved.

Diary DatesJanuary 201612th Regimental Camp Meeting26th Regimental Commanders Meeting30th-31st YLTP Weekend 1 at Boarshurst Centre, Greenfield.

February 20165th-7th National Band Weekend6th Regimental Conference 27th Regimental Skills Training Day at St Marks Heyside

March 20164th-6th National Band Weekend8th Regimental Commanders Meeting22nd Regimental Camp Meeting25th Good Friday27th Easter Sunday

April 201616th-17th YLTP Weekend 219th Regimental Commanders Meeting23rd Midlands Skills Training Day24th Martins Team Games (Prov)30th-2nd May National Band Concert Weekend

May 2016 6th Regimental Yteam Games (Prov)17th Regimental Camp Meeting21st National Band Competition.

June 20164th Regimental Football and Netball (Prov)7th Regimental Commanders Meeting18th National Football and Netball (Prov)21st Regimental Camp meeting26th Martins and Yteam Teddy Bears Picnic (Prov)

July 2016 2nd – 3rd YLTP weekend 3 at Boarshurst Centre, Greenfield 9th Regimental Sports (Prov)12th Regimental Camp meeting30th to 6th Scottish Outdoor Activity Week 2016 at Aberfoyle

September 7th Back to Brigade10th – 11th YLTP Passing out Weekend 424th National Sports and Hockey (prov)

Your news and photographs* are always welcome for inclusion in Roundup – what better way of getting your news circulated throughout the Regiment – and beyond!Please email your copy by the last Friday in the month to:

johncorbishley@btinternet.com* Please submit photos attached separately on emails not in Word documents

Prayer listIf you know of anyone who needs our prayers please let me know.We have recently been informed of the passing of David Harris. Many of you will know David as part of the Training staff in the late 70’s early 80’s and then as Assistant General Secretary for many years at NHQ. David was at the National Service of Remembrance at the Arboretum last month when he read the Kohima Epitaph.It came as a terrible shock to learn that he had died a few days later.

Young Leaders Training Programme 2015-16This year’s Young Leaders training is focusing on the younger leaders, those in School years 11, 12 and 13. The first meeting will be at the Boarshurst Centre in Greenfield on the weekend of 30th & 31st January 2016. Application forms are available. Meetings will not be taking place during the main exam season next year and the training dates are on the list of dates. Most of the weekends are local for Manchester members so travelling shouldn’t be a problem. The course will take you through all the basic requirements to become a leader in Brigade, with practical and theoretical content mixed with social activities. Why not come and join in?

Last year’s Young Leaders

May I wish each one

of you, your families and members,

a Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year

– John Corbishley