An introduction to 2nd. Witham Boys Brigade

Witham is a small town of approaching 30,000 people set midway between Chelmsford and Colchester, in Essex. 2nd. Witham has members throughout a 20 mile radius of the town, from as far away as Braintree, Maldon, Hatfield Peverel and surrounding villages, Silver End, Terling and north Chelmsford.
From small beginnings in September 1972, the group has grown to it’s current 110 boys, 8 Officer staff and 40 volunteers. All meetings take place at Guithavon Valley Evangelical Church, Witham, plus people’s homes, the BB office, the new workshop unit, the local church gym and meeting rooms at Witham UR Church and Rickstones School gym.
The Company celebrates 35 years of BB in Witham on 18th.September 2007.
Run by a dedicated group of Officers, Parents’ Fund Raising Group, full time staff member John Boon, Sacha Pavitt, part - time Administrator, full time Project staff member Andrew Eaves, the group has it’s own offices and resource centre in the heart of Witham. Sam Crick also undertakes sessional work for us based at the office. We are a Christian youth group, although membership of a church is not a condition of membership. Activities and resources are shared with other groups in the locality too.

Anchor Boys

For boys aged 5 through to 7 years, meets on a Tuesday evening, for a play hour from 6.00 - 7.00pm. with craft, story time and games. Leader is Chris, John, Rob, Hanna, Ross, Joe, James and other young people. Visits have been made to Museums, local group competitions, Fun Days and various local indoor play areas !! There is currently a small waiting list for membership and we do have some 4 year olds waiting to join. We have places for 2 young people as at March 2008
Call the office for further information - 01376 520400 March 2008

Juniors

For boys aged 8 through to 11 years, meets on a Wednesday evening from 6.15 to 7.45pm. The Juniors is led by Andrew Eaves, Edwin Webber, Julian Jordan, Nikki Eaves, Rob Rudd, Mark Pavitt and John Boon, plus several young people from the Group. Enjoying their own five - sided new badgework programme, we also enjoy outings, visits and camps from time to time. Competitions with other Juniors’ groups features throughout the year.Specials include Water Safety, and Reptiles / Snakes evening
Weekly competitions include joke time and Spot the Difference, pool and chess.
Our War Hammer Club meets also during Juniors, for young people aged 8 upwards ! No cost for this Club.
There is currently a small waiting list in operation, as this Section is over 40 members - call the office for more information please - March 2008

Company Section

for boys aged 11 through to 14 years, and SENIORS for those aged 15 years and older, meet on Fridays, from 7.00pm., and finish with a sport hour and the Seniors’ own programme published regularly. Again all young people work to a badgework programme. Leaders: John Boon, Lorne Campbell, Steven Lees, Ian Elliott, Paul Briggs, Matt West, James Lawrence and Keith Meredith. We also have help from Sam, Robert, with Sally providing the refreshments ! The higher awards of President’s and Queen’s Badges, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme and Millennium Volunteers Award, all feature in the programme, from time to time.
Once a month a Squad Challenge or other activity is held, plus outings and visits.

Senior Section

See Company Section information first - then—From 9pm on a Friday evening at Guithavon Valley Church halls anyone of fifteen years or over, can take part in the Seniors programme. In addition to the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and the Queen’s Badge which is the highest award in Boys’ Brigade and a Junior Leadership Award worked towards for over a year after gaining the President’s Badge, are all features of the Seniors’ Programme. We do of course have a social programme as well and some of the following are activities thought up by both the staff and Seniors themselves: Duke of Edinburgh Award and Queen’s Badge Meetings, Unihoc Competition, Kodak Kapers, swimming and games and relaxation at Felsted School pool, physical recreation at the school gym followed by McDonalds, indikarting or go-karting or tobogganing, a meal out at pizza hut or a chines takeaway at Church, Lorne’s special, Crystal Maze Competition, outing to Aquasprings Leisure complex which is a sauna, jacuzzi and plunge pool, Italian 5-a-side soccer, ten-pin bowling, car maintenance, driving, banking, CV writing and interviewing skills, pancake contest, leadership meetings. Seniors finishes at 11pm and everybody is helped to get home safely.