GB celebrate their 120th anniversary

Ballymoney Council has granted Girls’ Brigade Northern Ireland a commemorative flower bed in the town, to mark the 120th Anniversary of the youth organisation.
By The Newsroom
Published 15th Sep 2013, 09:37 BST
l-r: Diane Watton, St Jamesâ¬" Presbyterian Ballymoney, Zara Hegarty, Ballymoney Reformed Pres GB, Mayor Cllr John Finlay, GB Officer Valerie Hamilton from Drumreagh Presbyterian, GBNI Activities Officer Heather Currie and Courtney - Leigh Brennan Church of God Ballymoney GB.l-r: Diane Watton, St Jamesâ¬" Presbyterian Ballymoney, Zara Hegarty, Ballymoney Reformed Pres GB, Mayor Cllr John Finlay, GB Officer Valerie Hamilton from Drumreagh Presbyterian, GBNI Activities Officer Heather Currie and Courtney - Leigh Brennan Church of God Ballymoney GB.
l-r: Diane Watton, St Jamesâ¬" Presbyterian Ballymoney, Zara Hegarty, Ballymoney Reformed Pres GB, Mayor Cllr John Finlay, GB Officer Valerie Hamilton from Drumreagh Presbyterian, GBNI Activities Officer Heather Currie and Courtney - Leigh Brennan Church of God Ballymoney GB.

Girls’ Brigade members from the ‘Senior’ section Diane Watton, St James’ Presbyterian Ballymoney GB, Zara Hegarty, Ballymoney Reformed Presbyterian GB and Courtney-Leigh Brennan from Church of God Ballymoney GB helped Mayor Councillor John Finlay, put the final touches to the bed, along with Valerie Hamilton Officer in Drumreagh Presbyterian GB and GBNI staff member Heather Currie.

Councillor John Finlay said: “Ballymoney Borough Council is pleased to be associated with supporting the Girls’ Brigade NI on the occasion of their 120th Anniversary. The flowerbed, with its attractive planting, makes a welcome addition to the town centre.

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“I wish all those involved in the Girls’ Brigade continued success in the future.”

Alison Irvine, GBNI Marketing Officer said: “GB is interdenominational and reaches out to all girls aged 3 – 18, from all communities; girls from different faiths and girls with no faith background at all. We invite all girls in this area to join one of our companies in Ballymoney or the surrounding rural areas.’

In recent years GB companies in Northern Ireland have been considering issues such as human trafficking, fast fashion, self esteem, eating disorders, and mental health awareness –all ‘big’ issues relevant to young girls in today’s society.

The GB model is affordable and flexible to suit local needs. Typical membership for the year costs less than £15.

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Activities are provided for girls aged 3-18, including access to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

GB is run in different settings and different styles, depending on the needs and interests of the local girls, in almost 300 churches in NI, led by over 3000 volunteer women. There is no one size fits all apart from the never changing aim to help girls become followers of Christ.

Girls’ Brigade NI is happy to assist churches, who do not currently have GB, to start up.

Churches should contact GBHQ for more information on this.

There are almost 300 GB Companies in Northern Ireland which will be opening up again in September after the summer break.

Parents should look up the GB website at www.gbni.co.uk to find a company in their area or contact GBHQ on [email protected] or T: 028 94548054 for more information.