(Impressions of volunteering at the youth competition, hoodie envy, showing pride in ringers, the value of open consultations, and finding a new Trustee) 

I experienced the Ringing World National Youth Competition for the first time since the inaugural event in 2011. Back then I was just an observer, but this time I went as a volunteer, spending the morning running some tower bell ringing, and the afternoon running some handbell ringing.   

 My how it has grown – now about 300 participants, with a similar number of adult volunteers to support it on the day.   What I saw was endless enthusiasm.  For the volunteers, it was clear everyone got a charge from creating a great day and creating opportunities for young ringers.  For anyone feeling a bit jaded with ringing I recommend this day.  We call it a competition, but it is really a Grand Day Out with a competition attached. 

For the stars (i.e. the young ringers), it was great to see every single one have a go at something new.  There were a few moments to have a chat with some of the contestants, some of whom had rung for less than a year.  I got some feedback on how the COVID lockdowns affected the progress of some.  We will continue to feel the impact of that for years to come, I fear.   

I also have to admire (and secretly covet) the vivid pink hoodies of the Bath & Wells team, which would have gone quite well with my enormous and very orange trousers.  The many different colours of team shirts made for a brighter than usual assembly of ringers. If 700 ringers gathered in St Paul’s Cathedral for the results wasn’t impressive enough, all those colours in one pace – fabulous. 

Also fabulous is the pride many associations take in their young ringers and their accomplishments.  My favourite?  A Facebook reel celebrating the Cornish Pasties’ journey to London.  It starts off ‘We are so proud of the Cornish Pasties’ and finishes ‘Well done, team!’  Watch it here:  https://www.facebook.com/reel/1463981214245050 

Days like this are energising, and make us think that the future of ringing is in good hands.  And it is!  But are there enough hands?  300 young ringers together on a single day looks massive, but spread them out through the country, and it isn’t so many.  How many other young ringers are there who were not able to come to the competition, and do associations know how many young ringers they have?  I suspect some associations do know, but not all of them. 

Proof that no two associations operate the same way was omnipresent in our series of consultations about Central Council finance.  There were three, and if you didn’t manage to make any of those, we are having a further open meeting at the end of August.  These sessions weren’t always easy listening, but they were extremely valuable. 

One of the key takeaways was clear articulation of the pressures that Associations have and the sharing of experience of difficult funding conversations.  We have to recognise that a successful Ringing2030 campaign also requires local investment, and many associations have started to make that happen.  It was also pointed out that many newer ringers think ringing is too cheap.    Within the consultations, there was a clear divide between those who think we aren’t being bold enough and those who think we are trying to fleece the ordinary ringer.     

Other points of discussion were how to centralise things like insurance or membership administration, which can remove resource burdens from associations and make them more affordable.    There were a couple of inspired outreach ideas, which we are taking away to flesh out.  Finally, we had some not quite useful enough conversations around other funding sources, and actually, we need some help here.  Anyone with experience at setting up an endowment fund?  I could do with picking your brain. 

And with the subject of brains, the picking of, one of our Trustees, Clyde Whittaker, retires at the next AGM.  And we are looking for the next Trustee to join the Executive.   Clyde has been involved in negotiations with various organisations on safeguarding standards and requirements and our recent Ringers Code of Practice.  Everyone winces when I mention the word ‘safeguarding’, but this is one of those things where the Council can do good, by working with organisations to understand how ringing operates.  And, in the yin to that yang, helping ringers to understand that safeguarding is important and necessary.  Without these under-the-radar efforts, we could have been in a much worse place than we are now. 

We aren’t necessarily looking for a like-for-like replacement, but we do want someone willing to get stuck into Ringing 2030 and the benefits that we want it to deliver.  There isn’t a ‘right’ skill set or special experience (or particular age either).  It is a commitment, I’m not gonna lie, but it is also a seat at the table and a chance to influence the direction of the Council over the next few years.    Any member of the Executive would be happy to discuss what is involved, so please get in touch.   

I’ve promised myself a swim after finishing this blog.  In a loch, somewhere pretty, even though it is the West of Scotland, overcast, and recent rains have dropped the water temperatures quite a bit more than I’d like.    I’m not really selling this, am I?  But really, stuff that is a bit hard to do is also very rewarding.  Or is it stuff that is rewarding can also be really tough?  Anyway.  Ringing.  Take a deep breath and plunge right in.   Hard work, challenges and colourful hoodies.  What can be better?