It
is envisaged that the training scheme will have four sections or bell
clubs aimed at younger people
7 to 11 year olds:
Primarily aimed at introducing this age group to the world of bells and
ringing. This will be mainly centred around the use of handbells, belleplates
and handchimes for tune ringing, but also introduce rudimentary change ringing
concepts such as lapping and ringing set changes. We plan to develop a teachers
pack for Primary School and Sunday School teachers. This way we can interest
children in bellringing, with the aim of them graduating to tower bell ringing
when they are old enough or physically strong enough. The use of mini-rings
might enable this to take place sooner.
11 to 15 year olds:
This would be the age group that normally takes up change ringing on tower
bells and progresses to ring basic methods. Various young persons groups such
as kids.ring.out have been set up and we would like to encourage many more of
them. This could take the form of a Saturday morning club or an after school or
school holiday club. Our teachers pack would be aimed at helping parents and
other people who may themselves rung in their youth to get back into ringing
and help run such a bell club.
16 to 18 year olds:
Whilst this age group may take part in the younger group activities, there may
be a need for them to do something more challenging. For example weekends away
with perhaps quarter peal ringing.
University Societies:
There is already an established network of University ringing societies. Some
work needs to be done to see how they could be encouraged to recruit and teach
more ringers from this age group, and how young ringers going up to University
could become involved with their University society, rather than giving up, as
many do.
Last updated 29/08/2006