Back in Snowdonia
BCM staff and volunteers took 28 inner-city young people away for a week to Snowdonia at the end of August - our first Youth Camp for 3 years!
A team of 12 BCM staff and volunteers took 28 inner-city young people away for a week to the picturesque CMC Adventure centre in Pensarn, Snowdonia at the end of August - our first Youth Camp for 3 years!
Of the young people, a higher proportion than usual were from socially disadvantaged backgrounds. Some came on their own and for others it was their first time away from home. Five of the young people were new to the country, having arrived within the last 3 months. One was from Ukraine and it was a delight to be able to offer these young people this refreshing break given all they have been through in recent months.
The weather was generally fine, but when it was wet it didn’t put off the young people getting stuck into archery, wilderness skills, rock climbing, kayaking and raft building. On a trip to the beach we played games, chatted and saw the glorious mountains in the distance.
Evening Bible stories were about the journey of following Jesus. It was a joy to hear the Christian message come across clearly and to discuss and pray in small groups. The young people made good use of the Matthew's gospels we gave them, and one read the whole book in his room during the week. Others asked for their own Bible.
The issues faced by some of the youth due to their personal circumstances came to the surface but we worked hard to support them. Young people really excelled - lots of behaviour points were earned for all sorts of wonderful acts of kindness and moments of achievement.
We are now linking up young people to churches if they do not already have one and inviting them to Fulfil in November and Camp Reunion in February. Thank you to all the trusts, churches and individuals which supported Camp financially and through prayer. The young people were stretched intellectually, mentally and physically. Leaders were stretched too! But we knew the Lord’s strength throughout the exhausting week.
John Platt, Youth Team Co-ordinator
