Captain, 54th Sheffield and Secretary, Sheffield & District Battalion
We used the data from the recent Company Census to develop a list of priorities, in order to best meet the needs of our Companies. These priorities are:
The Battalion has enthusiastically responded to the Building Stronger initiative to support our Companies. This has also dovetailed into new work with the successful relaunch of 7th Sheffield.
Eight out of our 11 Companies in the Battalion have signed up to Building Stronger, and the experience has been extremely positive. Each Company is at a different stage with the project, but we are already starting to see stronger Companies emerging who have shared aims across the Battalion.
The tailored support for participating Companies has enabled them to focus on what it is they need to do in order to grow.
Through meeting and communicating regularly with Caroline McBain, our Development and Engagement Worker, we have been better able to understand the needs of individual Companies. She has helped to coordinate support and helped us to make the most of the skills and experiences within the Battalion, to help companies in their different journeys. This includes increased recruitment – utilising online resources and identifying potential areas to target, improving programmes and sharing programme ideas to link into ‘Bring a Friend’ events and planning those events, and succession planning for the longer term which is a key area of development and growth the Battalion.
Building Stronger, in addition to supporting our Companies, has also helped to strengthen our relationship with BBHQ, which in the past we communicated with only when necessary. We feel that we are supported and that our hard work is appreciated.
My advice to any Company and/or Battalion who seek to grow and become stronger, is not to miss out on the opportunity and support that is offered through Building Stronger. It will help you to focus on what is important and what your priorities need to be. It challenges you to look deeper at what you do but then supports you to make the necessary changes.
Our Building Stronger project is all about continuing to build on the quality of our work and reaching more young people through sustained growth.