Puzzle Answers
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EDITOR Cara Mott
DEPUTY EDITOR AND KA! JAM CO-ORDINATOR Ibukun Baku
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Jacob Adams
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Philippa Martin
PROOFREADER Chris Horne
CONTACT US
Phone Office – 020 7367 4910
Territorial Headquarters Switchboard – 0845 634 0101
Email kidsalive@salvationarmy.org.uk
Post 1 Champion Park, London SE5 8FJ
FOUNDERS Catherine and William Booth
INTERNATIONAL LEADERS General Lyndon Buckingham and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham
TERRITORIAL LEADERS Commissioners Jenine and Paul Main
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Major Julian Watchorn
Published weekly by The Salvation Army United Kingdom and Ireland Territory. The Salvation Army is a Christian church and registered charity. The charity number in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 214779, in Scotland SC009359 and in the Republic of Ireland CHY6399. ISSN 1363-5662.
It’s October, and that means it’s time to celebrate! If you’re wondering what we’re celebrating, then you should close this issue and take another look at the cover. Have you worked it out yet? It’s Black History Month! Every October, people around the UK take part in Black History Month. This is a month to remember and recognise the amazing achievements of Black British people. Although this event has ‘history’ in its name, it’s not just about the distant past. It’s also focused on brilliant things that Black British people have done more recently, and it’s a celebration of Black British culture today!
The theme of this year’s Black History Month is ‘Standing Firm in Power and Pride’. To stand firm in something means that you’ll never give up on it, no matter what challenges you face. So the organisers of this year’s Black History Month want us to never stop being proud of Black British culture, heritage and excellence!
You can show that you’re proud of Black British culture and heritage by really celebrating it. That might look like spending time learning about the history of brilliant Black British people, such as Ignatius Sancho and Mary Seacole. It might look like listening to fab music that’s been created by Black British artists. Or perhaps you could make some scrumptious African or Caribbean food. So what are you waiting for? It’s time to start celebrating (after you finish reading this issue, of course)!
To find out more about Black History Month, check out blackhistorymonth.org.uk
I hope this week’s issue fills you with pride and inspires you to celebrate the culture and heritage of Black British people. As well as celebrating, I hope you’ll also spend some time learning about some of the challenges black people have faced in history and still face today. You can start by turning to pages 12 and 13 and reading about some powerful black pioneers. Learning about and celebrating black history, heritage and culture shouldn’t just be something we do for one month of the year. To make a real difference in the world, we need to make an effort to celebrate and include people of all different skin colours all year round. Even though we are all different, we are all equally important and all deserve to feel valued. So even when October ends, keep learning, continue celebrating and do your best to help make everyone feel included.
TI Can’t Have That!
here are some things that most people can’t ahave. They can’t have their own aeroplane, a roller coaster in their back garden or a treehouse that’s almost as big as Buckingham Palace. However, there’s one thing that every single person in the world can have. This is something that’s better than any treasure. It’s God’s love for us!
This week’s Bible cartoon teaches us about some of the writings of a guy called Isaiah. To be honest, it’s really hard to understand what this cartoon is about without reading other parts of the Bible. It’s a bit like looking at a painting that’s had a giant sheet thrown over it – you’re just not going to see the full picture right now!
We’ll explain exactly what Isaiah meant in next week’s issue, but what’s absolutely clear in this
Read the comment below about how God loves the whole world
story is that God cares for everyone. This includes people who the rest of the world might choose to ignore, such as those who don’t have much and people who are in prison. He also loves you and me!
God doesn’t choose to love us based on how much money we have, how good we are at sports, or how many tests we’ve got full marks on. He just loves us exactly as we are, and he loves us all equally.
Since God loves us all equally, surely we should love to treat everyone equally too, even when they’re very different to us! We should do our best to be kind to everyone we meet – never forgetting how much God loves the whole world.
A Half-Finished Picture
This week’s Bible cartoon is a bit like a half-finished picture (which we’ll only fully understand after reading next week’s story)! Can you complete this half-finished picture by joining together the numbered dots below and then adding a splash of colour?
says Jacob Adams
A Champion of Justice
Bumper Bible Breakdown
Did you know the Bible isn’t one big book? It’s actually 66 books put together to tell one big story of God’s great love. Join us as we look at each Bible book and discover why God made the world, what went wrong and how in the end God saved the world through his son, Jesus.
A Letter to Corinth
There was a church in a city called Corinth that Paul knew very well. So when Paul received news that the church was facing some serious problems (mostly due to the people at the church behaving badly), he sent them a letter. In this letter, Paul encouraged the people in Corinth to be united and to work with one another. He also challenged them to live in a way that would be pleasing to God. Paul wanted the people in the church to treat their marriages seriously, and to be careful about whether they should eat food that had been sacrificed to false gods.
Most of all, Paul wanted the church to remember what Jesus had done for them. Just like a house needs to be built on solid ground to not fall apart, the church in Corinth needed to be built on Jesus’ love for them!
KA! JAM is the coolest Bible activity club around. As a member you’ll go on amazing adventures through the Bible learning about Jesus. Each activity sheet is filled with lots of great stuff about being a Christian. You’ll also receive our mini-mag, Chatterbox which is filled with jokes, games and much more. And to top it off, there are loads of awesome prizes to be won!
To join KA! JAM and complete the Bible activity courses online, go to salvationist.org.uk/kajam.
Or if you would like to receive the postal version, simply fill in the coupon below.
Name:
To join KA! JAM just fill in the application form and send it – along with two first-class stamps – to: KA! JAM, 1 Champion Park, London SE5 8FJ. Applicants must be between 7 and 17 years old to join.
Date of birth:
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Boy or girl: Do you attend a church, and if so, which one?
I, (signature)
apply for membership of Kids Alive! Jesus And Me. I understand that joining KA! JAM doesn’t mean I have joined The Salvation Army and that it is not a free subscription to Kids Alive!
PLEASE USE BLOCK CAPITALS.
When I Grow Up
What do you want to be when you grow up? To help you learn about a job that you might be interested in, we’ve asked a grown-up to tell us all about what they do for work. It’s time to meet an…
Patch’s Problem...? ? ?
HELLO, READERS, I’VE LOST A VERY IMPORTANT OBJECT SOMEWHERE IN THIS ISSUE. WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO HELP ME FIND IT? I HAVE A CLUE OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE HERE.
Entrepreneur!
My name is Renée Davis and I’m 36 years old. I’m an entrepreneur (which means I’ve set up a business), and I’m the founder of Out The Box. This is an organisation that gives power to black people who are creatives, professionals and entrepreneurs. We do this by putting on events and creating cultural programmes, resources and partnerships. We want to help people to grow and thrive. My mornings usually start with quiet time for prayer, reflection and planning before I open my laptop. A typical day might include planning upcoming events, meeting with potential clients or sponsors, networking, working on content and strategy, and taking care of admin. On some days, I also speak at events or run workshops.
The best part of my job is building communities and seeing people grow. I love creating spaces where people feel seen and supported, and then watching the real impact that our work has on their lives and careers. If you’d like to become an entrepreneur, my advice would be to have a plan but stay open to the journey – you never know where you’ll be guided! Keep your dreams alive by working on your skills, whether that’s by writing a blog, creating content or starting small projects. Stay visible, build relationships with people who share your interests and keep going, even when things feel uncertain.
Renée
Knock, knock! Who’s there?
Mikey!
Mikey who?
Mikey doesn’t work, can you let me in?
Knock, knock! Who’s there?
Ray D!
Ray D who?
Ray D or not, here I come!
by Neil Locker
across:
1 Tidy or orderly. 3 Amphibian. 7 Fragrance or aroma. 8 Chewy sweet. 9 Truthfulness.
Crossword Clues
13 Top playing card. 14 Stringed instrument held upright on the floor. 16 Edible fish often sold in cans. 17 In this place.
down:
1 Bird’s home. 2 Large primate. 4 Correct. 5 Chess or snakes and ladders, for example.
6 Elongate a piece of elastic, for example. 10 Large body of water. 11 Small open pastry cake or flan. 12 Be defeated. 15 Untruth.
Crossword Clues
Answers on Page 2
He he, he he!
Ho
ha ha, he he!
Ha ha, ha ha, ha ha!
Identify the mystery item in the magnifying glass
FOUR FIT
Place the four words into the numbered rows so that four new words are formed in the columns
USES DRIP MEAT RIDE
He he, he he!
What do you call a bee that can’t make up its mind? A maybe!
Why do giraffes have such long necks? Because they have smelly feet!
Knock, knock! Who’s there?
Weekend!
Weekend who? Weekend do anything we want!
What does a chatty caterpillar become?
A social butterfly!
What kind of room doesn’t have doors?
A mushroom!
Why did the child go to the yoghurt museum?
To get a little culture!
What kind of tree can fit in one hand?
A palm tree!
by Neil Locker
I was born in 1978, in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire.
I’m a singer, rapper, dancer, televison personality and author. In the early 2000s, I was a member of the R&B and garage group, Mis-Teeq. We had 7 UK top 10 hits, 2 top 10 double platinum albums and sold more than 12 million records worldwide. In 2007, I won the fifth series of Strictly Come Dancing, and then became a judge on the show for three years.
I am currently a judge on Britain’s Got Talent. Can you guess who I am?
ho,
Ho ho, ha ha, he he!
Ho ho, ho ho!
Slinky Slinky competition competition
Are you ready for a history lesson? In the 1940s, an engineer called Richard James accidentally knocked over some springs. This wouldn’t have been a special event worth remembering, if it wasn’t for the fact that Richard noticed the springs looked like they were walking! Richard was inspired by the springs to create a new toy, which was given the name Slinky by his wife, Betty. Slinky was released in 1945. In the years since then, more than 250 million Slinkys have been sold around the world, and a Slinky has even been taken into space! This really is one of the most popular toys that’s ever been made. Now, in 2025, it’s time for Slinky’s 80th birthday! To celebrate, we’re giving away Slinkys to some of our readers. So if you want to own one of the best toys ever made (which can even look like it’s walking down lots of stairs), this is a competition you won’t want to miss!
For your opportunity to win your own Slinky, answer the question below and email your full name, age, address and answer to kidsalive@salvationarmy.org.uk. Remember to put ‘Slinky Competition’ in the subject box. Your entry needs to reach us by Friday 31 October when the winners will be chosen. You can also enter by filling in the details on the coupon below and posting it to: Slinky Competition, Kids Alive! 1 Champion Park, London SE5 8FJ.
Bobby Betty Barry Who gave Slinky its
Name:
Address:
BLACK HISTORY MONTH COLOURING
How are you going to celebrate Black History Month this year? If you’ve read page 3 of this issue, then you might already have a few ideas. Here’s another idea for you – add a splash of colour to the design below! Then you can show it to your friends and family and remind them to celebrate Black History Month too. If you’d like to share your artwork with other readers, email your colouring to: kidsalive@salvationarmy.org.uk Make sure you write ‘Black History Month Colouring’ in the subject box and give us your full name, age and address. Alternatively you can post your colouring to: Your Space, Kids Alive! 1 Champion Park, London SE5 8FJ. One last reminder, if you’re sending by post remember to fill in the details below so we know who you are. We send a gift to everyone whose colouring we publish, so don’t miss out!
Name:
Address:
Postcode:
Living a healthy and an active lifestyle and caring for your physical, mental and spiritual well-being.
Stand Firm in Power
In this week’s issue of Kids Alive!, we’ve been celebrating the beginning of Black History Month. The theme of this year’s events is ‘Standing Firm in Power and Pride’. On page 3, we learnt about what it looks like to have pride in the culture of people with African and Caribbean heritage. However, what does it mean to stand firm in power?
Break Down Barriers
When someone has power, that means that they’ve been able to bring about changes to the world! This Black History Month, we want to remember the Black British people who have continued to powerfully bring about change while never giving up (which is what it means to stand firm).
These people weren’t powerful because they had fancy job titles or went to the best schools. They were powerful because they were brave, and also because they knew how important it was to work with others!
Powerful Pioneers
Here are just a few powerful Black British people who made some fantastic changes to this country.
Dr Paul Stephenson
In 1963, the company that ran Bristol’s bus services refused to hire black and Asian people. Inspired by protests in the USA, Paul helped to organise and lead a bus boycott. This meant that people would no longer use the buses run by this racist company!
The boycott was so successful that the company agreed that they would hire black and Asian people. Paul’s protest inspired a future prime minister called Harold Wilson. He decided to come up with a law to stop companies from not hiring someone because of their race!
Alamy picture
Margaret Busby
In 1967, Margaret started a company called Allison and Busby. This company published (which means released) books. Margaret was the UK’s first black woman to become a book publisher, and she was also the youngest publisher in the country!
Through this company, Margaret was able to publish the works of lots of black writers from all around the world. This helped to make the world of publishing far more diverse than it had been before! Even now, Margaret encourages young writers to tell their stories.
Lord Herman Ouseley
OK, Herman does have a fancy job title, since he was a Lord – but he only got that title because he was such a powerful pioneer! Herman moved to the UK from British Guiana when he was just 12 years old. When he grew up, he worked for the government to make sure that everyone was treated fairly.
In 1993, Herman started Kick It Out. This is a project which is still going strong today, and it aims to stop racism in football –as well as ending other forms of discrimination.
Your Turn!
Did you know you can bring about positive change, just like Paul, Margaret and Herman? You can do that by…
Being brave! Have courage and speak out against things that are wrong. If you hear someone at school saying or doing something racist, don’t just ignore it! You can be brave by challenging them, or by telling a teacher or grown-up you trust.
Not giving up! This means that you never stop trying to do what’s right, even when that’s a really hard thing to do. Sometimes we might do the right thing and feel like it’s not made any positive change, but we should always try to do what’s right anyway!
Working together! The best way to bring about positive change is to work with others to do it. If you and your friends decide to work together to make the world a better place, then you can encourage one another to be brave and to not give up.
Celebrate powerful pioneers this Black History Month!
Cool Colou ri ngs
Amelia, aged 5, sent us this cool cricket colouring to celebrate The Hundred. It’s super colourful!
We love this racing car that was coloured by Coby, aged 6. It looks so awesome!
I love how colourful Bella’s colouring is. Great work, Bella!
This colouring was sent by Bella, aged 4. We think she’s got all the colours of the rainbow in there –and a few more too!
This yummy-looking ice cream design was created by Lianater, aged 4. Mmm!
Back to School Sunday
Here’s a fab photo of some of the kids at Belfast North Salvation Army. They wore their school uniforms to church to celebrate Back to School Sunday – a few young people were missing because of illness, but they were still included in the day. The children spoke about what they liked and disliked about school, as well as their favourite subjects. There was also a special time of prayer for those going back to school, and for everyone involved in education. Each of the young people also received a gift containing some school essentials and Bible verses to help them.
H a p p y
B i r t h d a y
t o y o u !
To see your name and birthday printed in a future issue of KA! email your full name and date of birth to kidsalive@salvationarmy.org.uk
7 October
Isaac McCulloch – age 12
8 October
Ese Okoukoni – age 10
10 October
Nataliah Campbell-Lightley – age 11
Emma
G e t I n
T o u c h !
The Kids Alive! team loves to hear from its readers. And guess what –other readers love reading your news! So why not get in touch?
Age? 11.
Favourite colour? Purple – lilac.
Favourite food? Toad in the hole or banana chips.
Favourite sport? Football.
Favourite bit of Kids Alive!? Giggle in the Middle – and the sticker I got!
Favourite Bible story and why?
God created the world, because he made me, and my family and friends – Keira E, Florence F, Eden C and Sophie N.
You can email or post your own colourings, drawings and letters. Or you could ask your Sunday school, church or corps leaders to email us or write to us with any news about the fun stuff you’ve been doing at your church or corps.
Email: kidsalive@salvationarmy.org.uk
Post: Kids Alive! 1 Champion Park, London SE5 8FJ
Favourite TV programme? Hudson and Rex.
What do you want to be when you’re older? Flight attendant and famous model.
Pets? Sky – dog. Hobbies? Journaling.
Tell us a joke. What do you call a waffle that can walk through walls? A wall-fle! What special skill or talent do you have? Kung fu.
Tell us something interesting about yourself. I do modelling.
Is there anything else you would like to tell us? I can roller skate and I have a teddy bear called Hug who also has roller skates.
thanks for looking after my pocket money, robot.
You’re my own piggy bank, where I can keep all my precious pounds.
are you OK, robot? maybe you could do with losing some weight.
you’re right, patch, and i know just how to do it.
can i have some of my savings, robot? where’s my money
