There can be a sense of turning a page and starting afresh. For many of us it is the time we take up a new hobby or interest, look for a new job, or reflect on our life and where we are going or how we are doing!

Some time ago I was given a very helpful and thought-provoking piece of advice from a trusted friend – “It is as important to know when to stop doing something as much as to know when to start.”  

These words challenged me at the time, and have done so many times since. They make sense in theory but can be incredibly hard to put into practice. If your enthusiasm has waned or your interest has diminished then maybe it is easy, but how about when we feel a sense of achievement, enjoy what we are doing or told of the difference we are making, why would we ever consider stopping? 

What my friend was trying to say was that it is at these moments, when we are at our most productive, when we are still enjoying what we do that we should consider passing our experience and achievements on to others to take forward. 

You might think this is a strange message from a Chief Executive, at a time when there is such a shortage of volunteers, but for me it is about thinking ahead and securing the future.      

I feel so thankful that as a young leader I was given the opportunity along with my friends, to step up, take the lead, and meaningfully shape our BB Company. It felt exciting, we felt empowered and valued, it is why I stuck with the organisation. It only happened because others were prepared to step back, not vanish entirely, but to swap roles, become the supporters, step back from being centre stage and let others take the lead.

In the pages of this Gazette, you will see a focus on the work of the Young Leaders Network, including the “Elevate” course that is currently being road tested by a group of young leaders. At its heart, the course is about supporting young people move into positions of trust and responsible as they begin their journey as a leader, as well as helping them to grasp the opportunities to help shape their local group to ensure it can flourish in the years ahead. 

So, as we approach a New Year, let’s reflect on the role young people have in shaping our organisation, and do all we can to encourage and support young leaders take the lead, and as we journey through the season of Advent may we encounter the hope that comes to the world through the birth of Jesus.

With every blessing and a Happy Christmas!