11. PROGRAMME PLANNING IN THE ANCHOR SECTION

Some Anchor Section Leaders have requested assistance with programme planning. Sometimes this refers to the actual act of planning. On other occasions it means "Help we need new ideas!". This short leaflet is designed as a prompt sheet. There are numerous publications available. A visit to a bookshop, especially one specialising in Christian material, or an art and craft shop can be very rewarding. Some recommended titles are given in this leaflet. The following points may be of help.

1. The programme should last between 60 and 75 minutes.

2. Try to ensure variety within a week's programme and from week to week.

3. The BB Resource Centre has published the following volumes, which are invaluable and ought to be in the hands of all Leaders of Anchor Sections:

Anchor Boy Programmes
Anchor Boy Programmes 2
Anchor Boy Programmes 3

Other BB material of interest:

Anchor Boy Workpack
Anchor Boy Leaders Achievement Handbook
Anchor Boy Achievement Workbook
Anchor Crafts
More Anchor Crafts
Anchor Boy Games

4. You will probably want to include the following activities in the programme each week:

Opening activity
Worship and/or Bible Teaching
Games
Story
Craft
Notices

Some sections have discovered the value of a slot in the programme in which those boys who want to can tell the others their news.

5. Other activities to consider for inclusion in the programme in some weeks are:

mime and drama,
music
cooking more complex craft work
achievements

6. If you have enough boys consider putting them into two or more teams with a name. Have an on?going competition between the teams giving points for as wide a range of items as possible. Consider what rewards to give to the winning team at the end of the evening or end of the month. Such a competition can be great fun and is a great way to get the boys to behave!

7. Reflect on how much time to spend on each activity. Too little and the programme is rushed and too much and the boys become bored and restless.

8. Each edition of the "Gazette" has a Training Supplement with ideas for programme possibilities, often on a topical theme. The indexes for the last two volumes are attached.

9. The Useful Resources" list, available from London District or the Development Officer, gives details of material from a number of the major Christian Suppliers. Sections may find the following resources to be very useful:

"Here's one I made earlier." a photocopiable resource book of craft ideas.

The leaflets in this series on "Music" and "Christian Input"

10. If you're interested in resources on world issues for children then CHIME International produces some helpful material and a 85 page catalogue.

CHIME International
11a Upper Teddington Road
Kingston upon Thames
Surrey
KT1 4DI,

Tel: 020 8977 5899

In addition TEAR Fund produces some helpful topic leaflets.