The Methodist Church and Girls’ Brigade launch Military Families Project
The Girls’ Brigade, in partnership with the Methodist Church, is launching five new, church-based groups to support girls from military families in areas with high service personnel populations. Recognising the challenges of frequent relocation, these groups aim to provide a stable, nurturing community for up to 30 children each.
We understand being a part of a military family can include constant moving, making it difficult for young people to build a stable friendship group and grow their roots. To offer girls in military families the best support we can, the Girls’ Brigade is going to set up five new groups. Each group can have up to 30 children and young people and is attached to a local church. This project is focused on areas such as Salisbury Plain, Andover and Carterton, where there is a high volume of navy, army, and air force service personnel stationed. Girls’ Brigade groups can provide girls and young women with an inspiring and nurturing community, supporting them through all the changes that are part of military life.
The Girls’ Brigade have appointed a Military Families Worker, Hazel Adamson. Hazel is part of a military family, so understands the challenges well. Hazel says, ‘This new military families project is hugely welcome. We want to give girls and young women a safe and welcoming space to make friends and learn new things – which is so important when times feel uncertain. We aim to listen to girls and young women from military families, develop a picture of how we can best support them, and empower them on their journey.’ This work is crucial to enhancing the spiritual development and well-being of children from military families. Hazel shares, ‘we want to give a voice to those girls and young women within the church, military communities, and society as a whole.’
‘The Methodist Church is delighted to partner with the Girls’ Brigade in this ground-breaking project. When we heard of the potential difference that this project could make, we were quick to offer our support. As a nation, we owe a great debt to our armed forces personnel. One small way the Methodist Church is paying them back is to look out for their families whilst they look out for us. We’re excited about the difference this project with the Girls’ Brigade will make to many girls in military families.’ – Rev Dr Andrew Wood, the Methodist Church Forces Board.