Eye - 24 February 2023

From ‘What gets young people out of the woodwork?’ to Ticklish compositions continued

‘What gets young people out of the woodwork?’f

This question was posed by Andrew Backhouse of Wilmslow Meeting, in a recent missive to Eye.

He wrote: ‘Like many Area Meetings, we sometimes wonder how many children and young people there are – and if, indeed, there are any.

‘I’ve taken on being children and young people’s advocate and have tried to build up a list – and there are a surprising number of grandchildren and friends who can be found. Sometimes they used to turn up to the pantomime trip we offered, but that seems to be out of fashion for us now.’

A comment at East Cheshire Area Meeting’s residential trip to Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre sparked an idea, as ‘one young person said how much they enjoyed climbing’.

The seed was sown! ‘We have an Easter residential for ten- to sixteen-year-olds every year at Yealand Old School with a group of young people who had not met up since last year.

‘So Friends in Stockport nobly offered to organise an all-age party/event and I booked a session on a climbing wall. And they did come out of the woodwork – all but two local young people who had been to Yealand in the past, and four more – all of whom we tried to encourage to come to Yealand this year. Then another one picks up on it and wants to be kept informed.

‘But what next after Yealand? The group would love to go climbing again – perhaps bouldering, and they would love to go canoeing and try archery. It takes me back to what a Friend in Winchmore Hill used to do to draw in the young people. And we need a bit of a budget to allow such events to happen for outreach.

‘Do you think we can get them (and more) to summer school and Lancashire and Cheshire Teenage General Meeting?’

Eye wonders what other activities Friends have done with their children and young people in their area to help build community? Do you have any outreach advice for our readers? Illustrated examples very welcome!

Far-flung Friends

These pages are opened all over the UK, Europe and beyond. We would love to see who you are, or where you are, if you’re moved to share a snap!

Ticklish compositions continued

We’ve heard in recent editions how limerick composers can play with words where the way a name is spelled, and how it sounds when spoken, is a challenge to the uninitiated (10 February). But what about those names where pronunciation is multiple choice?

Roy Payne, of Polegate Meeting, illustrates: ‘Take the village of Almeley Wootton, where Almeley Meeting is situated. Locals pronounce it “Amily” (rhymes with family); comers-in say “Armley” (rhymes with calmly). So:

The right way to say “Almeley Meeting”
Hinders many a doorkeeper’s greeting.
On discussing it calmly,
I veer towards “Almeley”
Though locals consider that cheating.’

He continues: ‘Almeley has a beautiful burial ground. After I had been shown round by an elderly Friend:

A gentle old Almeley Quaker,
While awaiting the call of his maker,
Secured a small plot,
To ensure that he got
To rest at the last in God’s acre.’

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