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Over 70 FCYC leaders and cooks met together at Smithton Church on 27th April for our annual Leaders & Cooks Day. It was lovely to have everyone together, catch up with old friends, and meet some new volunteers too!

Alasdair Macleod, minister at Smithton, opened the day with a devotional focusing on John 1:14 “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

FCYC were delighted to then have Robbie Sweet, from Mission to the World, join us to lead our morning session. He encouraged us in our mission for the summer ahead, reminded us of the biblical foundations of what we’re doing, and shared with us about what is relevant to young people today.

The group then split up into 3 workshops in the afternoon led by Andy Robertson, Bob Akroyd, and Emma and Rod Mackenzie. We finished up the day with time for discussion and prayer in our leadership teams.

FCYC would like to say a huge thank you to Smithton for the use of the building, to Iain and Sandy who organised the A/V, and to Margaret and her team in the kitchen for some very tasty soup, sandwiches and bacon rolls!

We are so incredibly grateful to God for our amazing volunteers and the immense hard work they put in each year to make the camps happen. Thank you to everyone that came along, and for making it such a great day! Remember that we are still looking for a few more volunteers for this summer so please apply ASAP if you have availability over the summer.

Invoices for FCYC 2024 been now all been sent out. If you haven’t yet received your invoice, or if you have any questions/queries please get in touch. Below are the details on how to pay, and some dates and deadlines. Full details were in the accompanying email to the invoice.

If you haven’t confirmed your child’s travel to/from camp then the deadline to do so is 31^st March. Email camps@freechurch.org to confirm your travel arrangements. For travel costs take a look at the FAQs section of our website under the heading ‘Is there transport to/from camp?’

Please remember to use your account number (for example, SMIT036) when making payment or contacting us so we can easily identify you.

Ways to pay:

• Pay online using the reference ‘Camps + your account number’ (for example, ‘Camps SMIT036’).

• Pay by cheque: Make cheques payable to Free Church of Scotland and post them to Free Church of Scotland, 15 North Bank Street, The Mound, Edinburgh, EH1 2LS. Remembering to write your account number on the back.

Notes and dates:

• A non-refundable 20% deposit is required within four weeks of receiving the invoice.

• Invoices must be paid in full eight weeks before the start of camp.

• No refunds will be issued for camp places cancelled within four weeks of camp starting, except in emergency situations.

• No refunds will be issued for travel changes made after 30^th April, as costs will already have been incurred.

• No changes can be made to your travel arrangements within 2 weeks of the start date of camp.

• Camp fees are not eligible for gift aid.

Further information can be found on our FAQs page

Our lovely Team Leaders met together in Inverness on 9th March to pray, plan and prepare for the summer ahead. We travelled from across Scotland to be there, and Rev. David Meredith and Robbie Sweet also joined with us to share and to teach.

David opened the day with a short devotional looking at Psalm 126. He then led the morning session looking at servant hearted leadership. We focused on the example from Jesus in John 13, and then had an opportunity to share and discuss this servant hearted leadership in practise from a FCYC perspective.

Over the lunch break we enjoyed the chance to get to catch up with old friends, get to know some new faces better, and to share how everyone is getting on in their preparations for camp.

Robbie then took us through a development framework for camps in the afternoon. Focusing on the gospel truths that the FCYC mission is based on, and how that shapes every aspect of planning and preparation for camps.

We are so grateful to David and Robbie for joining us and sharing practical advice to help equip our Team Leaders. We are also deeply indebted to our incredible Team Leaders that dedicate so much time and effort to the work of FCYC.

The next date in the FCYC calendar is the Leaders’ and Cooks’ Day in Smithton Free Church on the 27th April where all FCYC Leaders and Cooks will join together for further prayer, teaching and fellowship. We can’t wait!

Thought your camper days were behind you? Well think again! We need volunteers this summer to lead, cook, and drive at FCYC 2024.

We are looking for servant hearted Christians, with a passion for sharing the gospel of Jesus with young people. You will be working as part of a leadership team; serving together, praying together, and opening God’s word with the young people at your camp. Being part of FCYC is a fun and rewarding way to spend a week of your summer.

Although there are a number of regular leaders and cooks, new applications are welcome for this summer. Leaders will be allocated to a camp dependent on their availability and on space at the camp.

All new leaders should fill in the Online Application Form by the end of February. For full details and to apply see our Volunteer page.

Check your inboxes because you’ve got mail! All allocations emails were sent out last week to everyone who registered for FCYC 2024.

Remember to check your junk mail but if you can’t find the email, please get in touch.

We were overwhelmed with the demand for FCYC 2024 and have done our best to accommodate as many campers as we can. We are sorry to those who didn’t get places at their preferred camp, but names will remain on waiting lists and we will be in touch with parents if places become available.

There are still very limited spaces still available at Renfrew Girls and Renfrew Seniors but all other camps are full at this time!

We are already counting down the days until FCYC 2024 kicks off. We can’t wait to welcome our campers back to Kincraig, Oswestry and Renfrew this summer for 11 camps filled with fun and laughter, and all centred around Jesus.

Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat… you should register for FCYC 2024, stat! 🎅🦃🎄

With another year almost over, that means it’s time to start thinking about next summer’s plans. FCYC have 11 camps planned for July/August 2024 and we would love for you to be there.

Not sure what a week at a Free Church Youth Camp is like? Take a look at our story to find out more.

Here’s what’s on offer next summer:

• Junior Football: P6 – S2 (boys), Saturday 29^th June – Saturday 6^th July
• Kincraig Kids 1: P5 – P7 (mixed), Saturday 29^th June – Saturday 6^th July
• Kincraig Kids 2: P5 – P7 (mixed), Saturday 13^th – Saturday 20^th July
• Kincraig Kids 3: P5 – P7 (mixed), Saturday 20^th – Saturday 27^th July
• Kincraig Juniors: S1 – S3 (mixed), Saturday 27^th July – Saturday 3^rd August
• Oswestry Seniors 1: S4 – S6 (mixed), Thursday 4^th – Friday 12^th July
• Oswestry Juniors: S1 – S3 (mixed), Friday 12^th – Saturday 20^th July
• Oswestry Seniors 2: S4 – S6 (mixed), Friday 12^th – Saturday 20^th July
• Renfrew Kids: P5 – P7 (mixed), Saturday 6^th – Saturday 13^th July
• Renfrew Girls: P7 – S2 (girls), Saturday 13^th – Saturday 20^th July
• Renfrew Seniors: S3 – S5 (mixed), Saturday 27^th July – Saturday 3^rd August

For your best chance at getting a place on your preferred camp, remember to ask your parent/guardian to register you before Monday 29^th January. On that day, FCYC will start allocating places to those registered. If a camp is oversubscribed, there will be a random draw of the forms submitted by allocation day to determine places. Any remaining registration forms are placed on the waiting list, or offered a place at their second choice where possible.

We had so much fun meeting new people, trying new things, and learning more about Jesus last summer and we can’t wait to do it all again. So go have a nosey at our camps and register now.

See you at FCYC 2024!

What an amazing day we had with over 300 young people and volunteers at the Big Free Rally 2023! Travelling from all corners of Scotland we met at Smithton Church on Saturday 30^th September for a day of fun, games and worship.

MC Martin & Rev. Calum ‘Honda’ Macmillan were our hosts for the day, keeping us entertained and informed. Davi de Paula opened God’s Word to us, giving practical advice on how to keep going in our daily Christian walk. Colin Carmichael, a regional worker for SU Scotland, joined us to talk a bit about the work SU do, accompanied by a FCYC Camper who helped start an SU group in their school. And the Rev. Andrew ‘Mowgli’ Macleod also shared with us about a mission trip to Moldova he was involved in, the work they were doing and the impact it has had on his life.

In amongst this we also had a great laugh doing team challenges judged by our very own Taskmaster. Our young people’s ingenuity and creativity was evident in the tower building and toilet paper challenges, with the ‘longest continual noise’ challenge providing some particularly hilarious moments.

Thanks to our praise band, however, the loudest noise was the incredible sound of over 300 people praising God in song together. It was so much fun welcoming everyone back to Smithton, catching up with old friends, and making some new ones at the Big Free Rally 2023. Thank you to everyone that was involved in the running of the day. The biggest thanks however goes to you, our wonderful young people, for coming along and making it so much fun! See you again next year!

Just over a week to go until the Big Free Rally 2023.

Saturday 30th September //11am – 3:30pm // Smithton Free Church

Whether you’ve been to camp or not, all P5s-S6s are welcome! So join us for a day of fun, games, bible teaching AND a tasty BBQ lunch! Tickets cost £8 including the price of your lunch. Click here to book now.

MC Martin and Calum Honda will be our hosts for the day and we’ll be diving into God’s Word with Davi De Paula.

There is limited chaperoned transport available from Ullapool, Perth, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Spaces are filling up so if you want a seat please book ASAP. Please note: transport bookings will close on Tuesday 26^th September – after this you will not be able to book a seat on the FCYC buses.

Come and join hundreds of young people praising God, learning and giving thanks together!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

We are also looking for volunteers to help out on the day and with chaperoning on the buses. If you would like to be involved please register to volunteer at the Big Free Rally 2023 here.

The Big Free Rally is back and this year is our biggest and best yet! On Saturday 30th September, young people from all over Scotland will travel to Inverness for a day filled with fun and fellowship! 

We would love to see you there! Davi de Paula will be encouraging us from Gods word and the day will be hosted by MC Rios and Calum Macmillan. 

Brand new for 2023… the Big Free Rally BBQ! This will be served at lunchtime on-site and is included in your booking! 

Come and join hundreds of young people praising God, learning and giving thanks together. Booking will open here on Friday 1 September 2023 with more details to be shared but get the date in your diary now!