Being Real: The Big Free Rally 2022

What a pleasure it was to welcome over 200 young folks and volunteers back to Smithton on October 1st for the Big Free Rally 2022! The last time we held the Big Free Rally in person was back in 2019. We don’t know about you, but we sure missed seeing all your smiling faces! Despite some concerning weather forecasts, we were delighted that a bus load of young people and helpers made it safely across the Minch, with more buses travelling from Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Perth. Some keen campers even took the ferry a day early to ensure they didn’t miss out!

Our wonderful hosts Sheona Forbes and Euan MacDonald kept us entertained and informed throughout the day. The Rev. Ben Fiddian helped us all to think about ‘Being Real’. And Laura MacGillivray, Ishbel Murray and their wonderful praise band, ensured there was some spectacular singing. Hearing over 200 young people praise God together was amazing!

It was a day of fun and games, lots of laughter, and high-spirits. We thoroughly enjoyed catching up with friends made over the summer and making some new friends too. Hopefully we’ll see lots of you at camp next summer… 😉

Welcome to FCYC 2020!

Today Free Church Youth Camps (FCYC) release their 2020 brochure which is packed full of summer activities and adventures. 

The brochure, which has been sent out to campers and churches, comes in anticipation of the website launch, which goes live on Monday 16th December when registration for FCYC 2020 will officially open.

These week-long residential holidays are aimed at young people aged between 10 and 18 and are held all across the country from Oswestry on the Welsh border to Kincraig in the Scottish Highlands. 

The Free Church of Scotland has been running camps since 1960 and over this time thousands of young lives have been positively impacted by the Word of God. In 2019 over 300 places were filled at 11 different camps. To celebrate FCYC’s 60th anniversary in 2020 there will be a special Oswestry Sixty “mega-camp” with 60 places for those in S4 – S6, and the campers can look forward to all their favourite activities including go-karting, swimming, a trip to the Trafford Centre and a visit to Alton Towers.

Places at each camp are limited and FCYC is asking people to register their interest as soon as possible after the new website is launched to be considered for a place. 

Camps Administrator Kirsten Macdonald said, “It’s been a busy few months at FCYC, but it’s so exciting to be launching the brochure for next year’s camps!” 

“We hope that the invitation to attend camp will be shared far and wide – camps aren’t just for young people in the Free Church – everyone is welcome.”

“We’d love it if you could tell your neighbours and others in the community, give them a brochure, or point them to our new website for more information. And remember to register your interest in attending as soon as possible for the best chance of securing a place!”

Big Free Rally

Saturday 3 October  ·  Smithton Free Church

Saturday 3 October
Smithton Free Church

What is the Big Free Rally?

The Big Free Rally is a day for hundreds of young people from across Scotland to come together for fun, friends, and faith.
Expect laughter, singing, Bible talks, games and activities, all in one brilliant day!

You don’t need to have been to a Free Church Youth Camp to come along, the Big Free Rally is open to everyone from P5 to S6.

Big Free Rally 2026

It’s Big Free Rally’s 30th birthday!!

Join us on Saturday 3rd October in Smithton Church, Inverness for a day full of friends, laughter, and Bible teaching.

Our guest speakers are Scott Hamilton and Matty Guy this year. We’re looking forward to you joining us as we learn more about Jesus together.

Alongside talks there are plenty of games, praise, and chances to make new friends. Whether it’s your first Big Free Rally or you’ve been before you won’t want to miss it!

Transport & Lunch

We offer optional extras including return transport from and to various transport points across Scotland. Exact details will be confirmed closer to the date.

Please note: travellers from Stornoway should purchase their own ferry tickets.

We also offer an optional lunch (last year it was a hot dog, crisps, drink, biscuit and fruit). Please note, for their own safety young people will remain on site for the Big Free Rally, so if you decide not to opt for lunch, please remember to bring a packed lunch with you.

Online booking is now closed, but informing us by email of your intention to attend and to register on the day, would be appreciated. Email camps@freechurch.org

Book Swap

After the success of the book swap last year, we thrilled to be continuing it where you bring a book and take a book.

Have you read a good Christian book that you got from church or camp and would love someone else to have it? Well bring it along to the Big Free and you can pick up another book to take home.

This is a simple way to share an encouragement and discover something new!

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