Don’t forget the great work of Youth Service

I FIND Alf Mccreary’s current series of articles, ‘What I Believe’ (Saturday Review), to be not only a source of information, but also of much encouragement and inspiration.

The recent piece which focused on the life and faith of Tom Clarke, the chairman of the Bangor Worldwide Missionary Convention, clearly demonstrated this.

Of particular note was Tom’s declaration that he came to faith at a Boys’ Brigade Bible class in May 1965.

During the past year, other people featured in Alf’s column, including Rev Trevor Gribben, General Secretary of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, and Bishop Harold Miller, of the Church in Ireland, have referred to the influence their association with the Boys’ Brigade had on their lives.

Indeed, similar tributes to the effectiveness of such membership can be made not only by many other church leaders (both ordained and lay), but also by generations of former members who, over many years, have contributed to the cultural, social, political and economic life of Northern Ireland.

Under normal conditions, we would now be approaching the end of the school year, when members of the BB, as well as those of the Scouts, Guides and Girls’ Brigade, would be finalising arrangements for their summer camps and other outdoor activities.

Alas, this year, because of the coronavirus pandemic, such will not happen.

The political and media focus at the present time is, correctly, focused on completing plans to ensure the return of our schools from the end of August.

It is vital that appropriate guidance and adequate resources are made available to the formal education sector, but it is equally important that the significant contribution made by the Youth Service, particularly those in the voluntary sector, is fully recognised and supported.

As a society, we are indebted to the selfless contribution made week by week throughout the year, on a voluntary basis, by hundreds of adults as they provide encouragement and friendship to thousands of boys and girls.

Hopefully, they can also look forward to a resumption of their activities as from September.

CECIL GRAHAM Belfast