There are many uniformed organisations based at Ballyholme Parish for children and young people to become involved in. If you would like further contact details for leaders or meeting times please call the church office on 028 9127 4912 or email the
The age ranges below are indicative and may be flexible; contact the relevant leader for details.
Rainbow Guides (4 - 7 years)
The Rainbow Guides meet on a Tuesday 4.30 – 5.30 pm in the Parish centre.
Rainbow Guides are the youngest section of the Guide Association. Girls can start at age 4 and stay until they are 7. For meetings the girls wear a blue tabard or the new red tracksuit and hat.
When a Rainbow Guide makes a simple Promise, she will receive a metal enrolment badge to wear on her uniform. During her time with us, she will also do badge work. To get one badge each Rainbow has to complete four tasks picked from the Rainbow Roundabout Mat. The Rainbow Mat is sectioned off in four parts – Look, Learn, Laugh, Love. Each section has ten activities to choose from and the girls will decide together, which one they should do.
The meetings are fun and we usually do craft one week and play games the next and sometimes we have people come in to talk to us about various subjects. We also read stories regularly and have a Hallowe’en party, Christmas party with Santa and Parents’ Day to end our term for the Summer.
Brownies (7 - 10 years)
The Brownies meet on Tuesday evenings 6.15 - 7.30 in the Parish Centre.
Brownies offers girls exciting opportunities to take on new challenges, make lifelong friends and discover the world around them. They meet regularly to work on challenge badges, learn new skills and play games.
All Brownies are sure to try new things and take on a broad range of challenges as they explore the topics that sit within our six programme themes - Know Myself, Express Myself, Be Well, Have Adventures, Take Action and Skills For My Future.
Brownies are challenged to discover their independence, learn new hobbies and explore other cultures. They have trips, sleepovers and take part in adventurous activities.
For more details contact the Brownies leader Joanne at
Guides (10 - 14 years)
The Guide unit meets on a Tuesday evening from 7 until 9pm in the Parish Centre.
Wall climbing, candle making, working in small groups, camping, cake baking, thinking about world issues, trampolining, knot tying, first aid, clearing up after yourself, cooking on open fires. Guiding is all about having fun, building friendships, developing skills, discussing issues and working together in groups. Guides are encouraged to plan many of their own activities.
Most years we also go camping. We take part in many outdoor activities including sailing, canoeing, dragon boating, assault courses, abseiling, campfires and outdoor cooking.
Guides are part of a worldwide organisation. We have had members who have been selected to represent Ulster Guiding at international camps.
Guiding is for all ages – you could come along and help too. Leaders listen, encourage, take part, have fun and sometimes manage chaos! Others occasionally come along to help with specific activities, to share skills or experience – so, male or female, whatever age, do get in contact and come along.
Squirrels (4 - 6 years)
Squirrels are our youngest members, and generally meet for an hour per week. They enjoy all that the Scouting family has to offer: being introduced to outdoor activities, having the opportunity to be creative, explore their local community and experience the excitement of making new friends
Unfortunately Squirrels has not yet resumed after the Covid pandemic.
Beavers (6 - 8 years)
During their time in the Colony, Beaver Scouts will get a chance to try a wide range of different activities as well as going on trips, days out, and on sleepovers. Participation, rather than meeting set standards, is the key approach, and there are a range of badges and challenge awards that Beaver Scouts can gain to recognise their achievements.
A Beaver Colony is organised into smaller groups called Lodges. Lodges are used in a number of ways to facilitate the organisation of the Beaver Colony. They provide a ‘home’ area for Beaver Scouts to gather at points at the start, during or at the end of the Colony meeting. Beaver Scouts have a Promise and Motto, but there is not a Beaver Scout Law. The concepts of the Scout Law are presented to Beaver Scouts through games, storytelling and other informal devices.
Activities
Unfortunately Beavers has not yet resumed after the Covid pandemic.
Cubs (8 - 10½ years)
For Cub Scouts, excitement and adventure are key. Their programme offers a huge variety of activities whilst allowing them to be creative and get involved in their local communities. Cub Scouts are introduced to exciting outdoor skills and take part in adventurous activities, as well as camps and residential experiences.
Unfortunately Cubs has not yet resumed after the Covid pandemic.
Scouts (10½ - 14½ years)
Scouts aims to build and develop young people’s confidence, sense of adventure and outdoor skills, as well as encouraging them to explore their beliefs and attitudes and be creative. It offers them the independence to put these skills into practice at camps and even on international trips.
Scouts are encouraged to work together and take the lead on all sorts of projects, from community based work to planning games and activities for their meetings.
Unfortunately Scouts has not yet resumed after the Covid pandemic.
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