Below is an extract from a debate in General Synod this week.

Sister Anne Williams (Training Officer, Durham Regiment) speaking during General Synod's debate on the National Children's & Youth Officer posts.

Can I just ask whether you have considered the work done by the Church lads and Church girls brigade will be of value to this kind of work?  In my two years of doing promotion with it with my colleagues I have been amazed at how few people are aware of the organisation and it is the Anglican Churches Uniformed organisation, it does teach the faith, it does bring children into the Churches and actually their parents and I’m an example of that (you might wish I wasn’t – but hey, ho).  Have there been any ideas about how they might be of help and how they might be supported?

Response from Bishop John Pritchard, Bishop of Oxford and Chair of Archbishops Education Council.

Answer:  “You’ve taken the opportunity to mention the Church Lads and Girls Brigade very well Ann, Excellent.  They are in the forefront of my mind constantly.  What we would look for is a totality of stakeholders and our DYOs and Children’s Advisers are key, but so too are organisations across the board which are doing similar very good work.  I affirm the Church Lads and Church Girls Brigade and how they will very much be part of our ongoing planning as we refocus on Going for Growth and make it deliver.

Martin Lambourne writes: Well done, Anne. What we must do is make sure that the Brigade is properly equipped to meet the challenge of making a significant contribution to the Going for Growth agenda of the Church. Let's go for it!