About the Sections
The Company is divided into three Sections, to allow us to provide appropriate activities for each age group. Members usually move to an older section at the start of the school year following their birthday.
Anchors are the youngest members, from 5 to 8 years old.
Juniors are in the middle, from 8 to 11 years old.
Company Section
members are from 11 to 18 years old; members over 15 years old are known as Seniors.
Who are the Anchors?
What do they do?
The Anchor Section has lots of fun doing different activities which include making things, crafts, music, games, sports, stories, going on visits, making friends, and working towards their badges. Everything a member of the Anchor Section does helps them to develop and to think for themselves, in a safe environment in line with the programme.
Gloucester Battalion runs a yearly Anchors Outing, where members from 1st Malvern can get to know Anchors from other Companies in the local area.
Who are the Juniors?
Junior Section is our second oldest section, and is for Boys and Girls aged between 8 and 11 years, meeting from 18:00 to 19:15 every Friday in term time. They wear a special blue top uniform and hats to help them stand out. Subs cost £9.00 per month/£38.50 per term, or £114.00 per year total.
What do they do?
Juniors have fun! Their meetings are crammed full of challenges, games and activities, sometimes ones that they themselves have suggested. At the same time we try to encourage them to explore other new interests. There is a lot of variety and little chance of becoming bored!
Juniors take part in various Battalion events through the year, getting to know (and often competing against) other Juniors from Companies in the local area.
Who are the Company Section?
What do they do?
Members take part in the BB Discover programme, which is made up of Projects and Challenges, which include Community, Life Skills and Recreation & Leisure and an annual Battalion canvas camp by the sea. It's all about learning new skills, making your own decisions and having fun. BB provides a safe environment to explore new possibilities, take a leadership role and achieve personal goals while making friends and having adventures. And it's up to each young person to work out which opportunities are relevant for them, whether it's sports officiating, fundraising, or DIY.
Older members move on to the Challenge Plus programme, and assist with Anchors and Juniors Sections as part of their service for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award.
Through the year, Gloucester Battalion runs various events to bring together Company Sections from across the local area, including sporting competitions, quizzes and the ever-popular Battalion Camp in the summer.
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award
The 1st Malvern Company has embraced the scheme as part of its programme, and it has proved to be a winner with all its members. This hallmark award is key to the success of the Company, and since we started offering a path to the award in 1994, members have achieved more than 70 Bronze, 53 Silver and 39 Gold Awards.
The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, "DofE", is actively pursued by Company Section members, and it plays an active role in the week to week running of parade nights, whether it be through band skills, physical activities, or craft work. Regular night exercises on the Malvern Hills, walks, and trips help the boys and girls to gain experience that is fun and valuable for tackling their expeditions at each stage of the Award. Members can choose their preferred mode of transport for the expedition - whether it be by foot, bike, or canoe. No one yet has attempted it by horseback...
Challenges
The badge work in the Company is very challenging, incorporating leadership skills training as well as physical and other mental achievements, all carried out in a safe environment. In particular the Company is well known nationally for its bugle and drum band skills.
