Newcastle JLGB, part of the JLGB’s Bite Size Project is launching on Sunday 25th April. The session with run at Lionel Jacobson House and is for those aged 8 – 16. JLGB National Development Manager, Deborah Roos said: “This is an exciting time for us in Newcastle and we hope that the community will support this initiative by sending their children along to the launch.” Activities planned for the monthly meetings included: First Aid, Sports, Arts & Crafts, Outdoor Pursuits, Sign Language, Outings, Campcraft, Team Challenges, Camps and much much more.

Brighton JLGB, part of the JLGB’s new Bite Size Project, is launching on Sunday 25th April. The session with run at Ralli Hall and is for those aged 11 – 16. This will be one of two new JLGB Groups opening on the 25th, the second being in Newcastle. The JLGB Bite Size Project is part funded by SPARKS: The Clore Jewish Development Fund. Local JLGB leader, Jonathan Phillips said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for the young people in the community and we look forward to meeting them all on the 25th.” Some great activities are planned for the sessions including: Cookery, Unihoc, Arts & Crafts, Football, Sign Language, Outings, Campcraft, Team Challenges, Camps, First Aid and much much more.

The JLGB Bite Size Project, which is funded by Sparks: the Clore Jewish Development Fund, was warmly welcomed by the Newcastle community last Monday night, 15th March. Present at the open community meeting were parents, prospective JLGB members, Rabbonim and community leaders along with JLGB volunteers living in the North-East and staff from the London head-office. After hearing from the JLGB Chief Executive, Neil Martin, it was jointly proposed to start off by offering a monthly, Sunday afternoon, JLGB programme beginning after Pesach.

A shout of delight echoed all around King David High School in Liverpool when it was announced that Ilford Girls had won the Ancil Trophy, given to the best all round group in the Jewish Lads’ & Girls’ Brigade in the UK. This hotly contested competition is between the winners of the Walton Trophy and the Banner Competitions for the best JLGB group in the provinces and London respectively. As well as members gaining a sense of pride and commitment to their group and their leaders, whether they win or lose, this is also another chance for everyone to all get together and have a most enjoyable fun day.

For the second year running, Cardiff JLGB has brought home the Walton Trophy, the most prized competition of the Jewish Lads’ & Girls’ Brigade in the provincial cities. Cardiff JLGB has gone from strength to strength under the watchful gaze of their fantastic leaders, Mike & Deanne Salamon, Rochelle Schwartz, Karen Solomons, Steven Salamon and Hazel Carr. All the leaders were tremendously proud of their members and were delighted to watch them lift the well deserved trophy.

On Sunday 25th April, JLGB Leader, Antony Lane, aged 29, will be running the 26.2 miles that is the London Marathon to raise money for the JLGB. Following in the footsteps of his father, Lewis "Bronco" Lane, who ran the marathon for JLGB and raised several thousand pounds, Antony hopes to carry on the family tradition, but to do so he needs your support. Antony says: "All of us got so much out of JLGB as kids, and made friends that we are still so close with today. Perhaps we under-appreciate sometimes just how much of a good footing in life JLGB gave us all, and the thousands of families it supports to take part in positive activities each and every week across the UK. To be honest, running the marathon is the least I can do to say thank you - I hope as many JLGB’ers and their families will sponsor me, not for me, but to raise much needed funds so that the JLGB can give the next generation of children the same opportunities to succeed in life it gave all of us".