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KX2 Volunteer Group Leader, Jacob Ingleson, reflects on a memorable week of fun, worship and faith at KX2. Read about the moments that made this year's camp so special.
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Growing Lendrick Muir: an update
Planning permission has been granted! Read the latest update on the exciting future of Lendrick Muir, and find out how you can support the project.
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Faith beyond summer
following us on socials yet? facebook.com/suscotland
Summer camps may come to an end, but your faith journey doesn't have to. Zonya Bewick explores how daily rhythms and Christian community can help your faith grow all year long.
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boring but important: SU Scotland New Olympia House, 13 Olympia Street Glasgow, G40 3TA 0141 332 1162 info@suscotland.org.uk suscotland.org.uk Editor: Sarah McPhie Design: innovivid.co.uk Print: Johnston Mailing © Scripture Union Scotland, 2026 Scripture Union Scotland is registered in Scotland as a charity (no. SCO11222) and as a company limited by guarantee (no.SC54297). Registered office: New Olympia House, 13 Olympia Street, Glasgow, G40 3TA. ISSN 1357 - 7171
NerdCon
Step into the imaginative world of NerdCon, where cosplay, LARPing, strategy games and epic quests bring campers together.
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Thank you, Magnitude Relive some of the smiles, friendships and moments captured at Magnitude 2026.
COmMISSION: Basecamp
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Meet Noah at Basecamp, the first stage of SU Scotland’s COmMISSION leadership journey. He shares how it's helping him grow as a future leader.
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Gap Year goes global Join Rachel on SU Scotland’s Gap Year trip to Hungary. She shares how games, faith and a few newly-learned Hungarian words made it an unforgettable experience.
** welcome **
we are back with a second exciting edition ofatSU Youth! We hope this edition encourages you in your faith journey over the months to come.
Y
ou may have been involved in some of the SU Scotland events that took place over the summer. This edition looks back and reflects on some SU Holidays on pages 4 and 8, Magnitude on pages 9–11 and Basecamp on pages 12–13. These events have been great and life-changing for many. Sometimes they can leave you on a
spiritual ‘high’, but your faith can then begin to fade as the months pass by. On pages 6 and 7 we look at how you can avoid this ‘summer cycle’ and keep your faith alive throughout the year. It takes work, but it is worth it! To help you on your way, SU Scotland offers more events, activities and discipleship training throughout the year, so check out our ‘What’s on’ section on the back page to see how you can get involved. This is still a new magazine, so we would
Send us your feedback :)
love to hear your honest feedback to help us to get it right for you. Please scan the QR code and fill in the short survey. If you have not already signed up to get every edition delivered to your doorstep or inbox, please scan the QR code on the front cover. We will leave you with a Bible verse to encourage you to stay close to God: Hebrews 10:23 ‘Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.’
quote_open_roundel The SU Scotland Team
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** SU Holidays **
KX2
Our campsite on the Isle of Arran, Kingscross, is always a popular choice for SU Holidays in the summer. Our traditional multi-activity events run here every week. Volunteer Group Leader, Jacob Ingleson, told us about his experience of KX2, the holiday led by Elaine and Graham Tait for P6–S4 young people, which took place from 4–11 July.
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e had a fantastic week at KX2! We were treated to great weather for most of our time there, which meant we could spend plenty of time outdoors, playing games, and simply enjoying the sunshine together. The absolute highlight of the camp was seeing how the young people connected with the teaching. We spent the week looking at Mark’s Gospel, and the conversations that grew out of those sessions were incredibly encouraging. It was rewarding to see everyone engaging thoughtfully and chatting openly. It was also really special to have some of the campers step up and lead worship for a few of our evening sessions.
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A particularly proud moment for the team was seeing one young person choose to take a Bible home for the first time, excited to continue exploring their faith. The energy was just as high during our activities! Our ‘Roadshow’ event was a massive hit. The campers were divided into two big teams for a series of fastpaced, silly, and messy challenges, complete with loud team chants and friendly competition. It was a fantastic way for everyone to mix and get to know people outside of their normal small groups. The fun continued with a brilliant talent show, where lots of campers bravely stepped up to show off their skills.
Another great part of the week was the opportunity for our team to lead the service at Whiting Bay Church, sharing a bit of our camp experience with the local congregation. All in all, KX2 was a brilliant week full of meaningful conversations, messy fun, and memorable moments! This year, all SU Holidays that studied the book of Mark were given a free, beautifully illustrated The Gospel of Mark produced by the Scottish Bible Society. If you got one, we hope, like the young person who took a Bible home, it will help your faith to grow beyond the summer!
quote_open_roundel Jacob Ingleson
SU Holiday Volunteer Group Leader
** lendrick muir **
growing lendrick muir: an update So many of you (on our socials) have shown a keen interest in the planned development of our largest outdoor residential centre, Lendrick Muir. The latest news is that planning permission was granted on Friday 12 June 2026. It was encouraging to find out that not only were there no objections from the local community, but the local community council actually submitted a letter of support for the development!
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aining this permission is a huge milestone in this project that will result in the replacement of the ‘Glendevon’ section of the building with a striking new three-storey section designed to complement the existing mansion house. This includes increased bedroom and meeting accommodation capacity across two floors, a spacious, accessible entranceway and a large kitchen/dining space on the ground floor. The result will be a modern, sustainable, inclusive building that is designed to meet your needs better—we are even making sure there are more plug points, as requested by many of you! We have now applied for a building warrant, and the next stage is to choose a building company through a tender process. Construction is planned to happen throughout 2027, with the new section opening in early 2028. We would really appreciate your prayers that this would be a smooth process. We have also launched an appeal to raise funds for the big build. Please pray with us that God will provide all that we need to make this happen!
suscotland.org.uk/ appeal
ou Scan here if yoo! want to help t
suscotland.org.uk | 5
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faith beyond summer As summer camps, holidays, festivals and clubs become a blur of memories, and we return to ‘normal life’, it can be challenging to keep going with our Christian faith. Zonya Bewick, our Director of Local Ministries, has been living for God for many years. We asked Zonya how to help keep faith alive all year long. 6 | suscotland.org.uk
ummer camps and missions were the highlight of my year when I was growing up. I loved the Christian community, great Bible teaching, worship, making new friends, and having lots of good laughs. It was an amazing time in my faith journey … it felt easy to follow Jesus. Yet when summer ended and the routines of school and everyday life returned, a new challenge emerged: how could those life-changing summer weeks become a springboard for growing closer to Jesus throughout the year, rather than just a spiritual high point that gradually faded? In his book Practicing the Way, John Mark Comer writes: 'To follow Jesus is to become His apprentice. … to be with Jesus, become like Him, do as He did.' Our walk with the Lord is first and foremost about knowing him and consequently becoming like him and doing as he did, something we all aspire to, I’m sure, as we head home from our event.
** Bible **
'Our walk with the Lord is first and foremost about knowing him and consequently becoming like him and doing as he did.' —Zonya As I get older, it blows my mind more and more the depth of this personal relationship with the living God that we are invited to walk in. I am also relieved by the fact that I can't change myself—but God can. He does this as we spend time in his presence, in his Word, in prayer, in quietness and solitude, taking a Sabbath rest, spending time with other followers of Jesus, serving others, and showing generosity. These aren't works but invitations to more. Eugene Peterson describes them as 'rhythms of grace'. Go through the list above and you will quickly spot that most of these form a significant part of our time at camps and missions; all of our Team Leaders want to model what it is to be a disciple of Jesus. The question then is, how can you and I make these part of our daily and weekly rhythms throughout the year? Scripture Union began way back in 1879 to ‘promote the regular daily reading of the Word of God.’ It was very
low-tech. Those words were printed on the back flap of a piece of card folded into three. Unfolding the card revealed short daily Bible readings. You found some friends who agreed to keep up with the readings. That was it. You were now a branch of Scripture Union. The core experience of Scripture Union was daily Bible reading, knowing that you had friends on the same page. Generations of Christians developed the lifelong habit of Bible reading by using these folded cards. And they also developed that particular connection that comes from being on the same page, as we face life and all its puzzles together. For 2027, Scripture Union Scotland is launching a new daily Bible reading plan. As before, there are short readings of about 12–20 Bible verses each day. The yearlong plan dips into every single book of the Bible to give you a very comprehensive overview of the whole Bible.
The SU Scotland plan is being launched in partnership with the YouVersion Bible app. (There are already a few shorter SU Scotland plans on the app to get you started!) That means you can have the daily reading on your phone. And the YouVersion app lets you group chat to your friends about it—Christian community. There will also be a short introduction to each reading, to help you find your way around. For old time’s sake, and because we think you will like them, there will also be Bible reading cards. You can keep the reading card in your Bible and use it every day as you spend time with God. And that’s it. Daily encounters with God through his Word. Add a couple of friends and you are a Scripture Union. It couldn’t be simpler. And in all of this, you will discover Jesus to be all he says he is, in community with others, 52 weeks of the year.
quote_open_roundel Zonya Bewick
Director of Local Ministries, SU Scotland suscotland.org.uk | 7
** SU Holidays **
nerdCon Stepping into Gowanbank, our outdoor residential centre in Ayrshire, between 11 and 17 July was like stepping into a fantasy world limited only by the extent of your imagination.
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erdCon returned for its third year and welcomed 27 campers with unique interests beyond what is generally offered on our more traditional SU Holidays. This year’s NerdCon was loosely Star Trek themed but featured elves, pirates, comic characters and more, as young people took part in cosplay (dressing up as a character), LARPing (live action role-playing) and strategy board games.
Campers also enjoyed crafts such as collaborative map and shield designing, cloak and sword making, as well as activities such as 'orbit platform extraction' (crate climbing) and 'starfleet tactical engagement simulation' (nerf gun and 'sword' battles), often whilst in character. These activities prepared everyone for a quest commissioned by the 'Mayor of the Citadel' to free a 'cursed' local town by finding seven tokens in a fun, creative treasure hunt. One camper said: 'This is my home away from home. I can be myself and really get into the things I enjoy. I like the people and the pace: it is relaxed and chill and people support you and cheer you on.' Another said: 'This is my first time here. My sister has been the last two years, and I was excited to come. The activities are a lot of fun, and I like meeting new people.' Many of the strategy board games and activities have an underlying theme of good versus evil, so some of the Bible passages that were being explored in Mark’s Gospel were especially well-suited, showing that Jesus is powerful and victorious over evil and darkness. NerdCon is known for its inclusive and supportive environment. If this sounds like the kind of camp you or someone you know would be interested in, make sure you book in next year!
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** magnitude **
MAGNITUDE Magnitude is a summer highlight for many, but for those of you who have never been, it is a five-day annual Christian youth festival for 11–18-year-olds set in the beautiful grounds of Lendrick Muir.
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his year over 1,900 young people joined us at the festival, which ran from Saturday 18 to Wednesday 22 July. The sun shone for the whole five days, which added to the holiday atmosphere on the campsite. Church and youth groups camped in groups, helping friendships to deepen, and the activities gave lots of opportunities for new friendships to form. There were lots of vendors, exhibitors, sports tournaments and entertainment options to add to the fun, but when asked what their favourite part of Magnitude was, many said a specific time of Bible teaching or worship. Magnitude is all about Jesus. It creates opportunities for young people to encounter Jesus and be empowered to live out his calling on their lives. This year the focus of the teaching was some of the Old Testament Bible characters highlighted in Hebrews 11 for their amazing faith: Abraham, Moses, Enoch, David, Noah, Rahab and Sarah. We learned how to walk by faith in our daily lives.
you said it: * I came home today! I thought I was doing it right, but God showed me how lost I was, and he forgave me * * Magnitude was great. It was the best week of my year! * * I’ve never been able to concentrate on the teaching before, but today I took everything that was said in for the first time. * * I especially loved the worship. It helped me to feel closer to God. *
The worship at Magnitude was powerful in response to what God was saying, and over 90 New Christian Packs were given away. Event Manager, Kirsty Haxton, said: 'Magnitude 2026 was an incredible experience. The highlight for me was seeing the huge response to a call to be bold in sharing your faith. You could feel the young people’s level of excitement to share Jesus when they left the festival, so we know the impact will pour into schools, homes, churches and communities across Scotland.'
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** magnitude **
thank you
MAGNITUDE A huge thank you to everyone who visited our photo booth at Magnitude Festival this July! We loved seeing so many smiles, friendships, and unforgettable moments captured throughout the week.
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e feel hugely blessed to celebrate and showcase some of you, the incredible young people who make Magnitude such a special event. There were so many amazing photos that it was really difficult to choose which ones to include here! We have selected photos that we hope capture some of the fun,
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laughter and community that made this year’s festival so special. We hope they bring back great memories and remind you of all that God did at Magnitude this year.
to put God first, and he
Alongside all the fun, there was also an incredible display of generosity. Together, you all raised an outstanding £8,000 for Bethany Christian Trust and Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF). As we celebrate this achievement, we are reminded of the story of the widow's offering in the Gospel of Mark, Chapter 12. While others focused on what was being given, Jesus saw the heart behind the gift. He saw faith, trust and a willingness
life where money is plentiful.
honoured her generosity. The giving at Magnitude reflected that same spirit. We know that for many young people, this is not a stage of Yet so many chose to give so generously, putting the needs of others before their own. It was a powerful reminder that when God's people respond with open hearts and a desire to make a difference, lives can be changed. Through your generosity, people will experience practical support, hope, and the love of Christ. Thank you for helping to make an impact that reaches far beyond the festival itself.
** magnitude **
suscotland.org.uk | 11
COmMISSION basecamp ** leadership **
** leadership **
SU Scotland’s COmMISSION programme equips 16–23-year-olds to serve in mission with children and young people, while working towards a qualification awarded by Qualifications Scotland. The first stage of this leadership journey is called Basecamp. Week one took place at Kingscross campsite on the Isle of Arran from 7–14 June 2026. We caught up with Noah Kennedy while he was at the event to find out what it was like …
Why did you decide to come to Basecamp?
I
grew up going to SU Holidays. I went to GB1 (a multiactivity holiday at Gownbank in Ayrshire) a few years in a row, and I was inspired by the leaders and how they helped my friends who were struggling at the time. I decided I wanted to be a leader. I heard about Basecamp from a friend who went last year. I was volunteering at a primary school in Zanzibar at the time, and I really enjoyed teaching and realised I wanted to do more of that. I then went to SU Scotland’s GO Conference and discovered Basecamp was the next step in becoming a leader.
to hear how other people are doing. At group time, it started off that we were quite shy, but now everyone is inputting a lot more.
Is there anything you are finding challenging? It is quite challenging to get to know everyone and make friends at the start, as well as speaking up during group times about what I’m thinking about.
What have you learned from Basecamp so far? I learned how to work more as a team. I haven't had much of a chance to work in a team at school, and it is good to learn how to do it—it's really fun.
What are you enjoying about Basecamp?
Has Basecamp helped you in your relationship with God and others?
I’m enjoying all the people. In our dorm at night, we have good, deep chats. It's helpful
Definitely. I feel my relationship with God can fall down a bit between
suscotland.org/ commission
SU Holidays, but it is always those holidays that build it back up. I think being with other Christians especially helps, hearing how they are doing and realising you’re not the only one going through something. Chatting to others about faith can be inspiring as they make really good points.
Would you recommend Basecamp to others? What would you say? I would absolutely recommend it because you get to meet other Christians and realise you are not the only one. The community is really important. It’s close, and it is such a safe space. You can be open and comfortable. You don’t need to be perfect or think that you are ‘ready’. You really do grow.
quote_open_roundel Noah Kennedy Trainee Leader, SU Scotland
Find out more online today! suscotland.org.uk | 13
** gap year **
Gap Year goes global This year, I have been doing the SU Scotland Gap Year, spending most of my time at Alltnacriche, one of SU Scotland’s outdoor residential centres— my favourite!
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s part of the Gap Year, we went to Hungary for 11 days at the start of July. SU Hungary runs camps very similar to SU Scotland's missions, with Bible teaching, crafts, games, great food and English language teaching. I had never been to Hungary before, and my first thought when stepping off the plane in Budapest (and one I had many, many times over the trip) was how hot it was! I was, however, frequently reminded whenever I shared this thought that it could have been much, much hotter (so praise God for that!). We spent the first two days exploring Budapest (and
somewhat acclimatising to the heat). On the Sunday, our Gap Year team split to go to two different camps. Ailsa and Samuel (with Ewen) went to Szada, and Ailish, Kate and I (with Esther) went to Szemeretelep (which I eventually learned to pronounce!). We spent some time meeting the team and getting ready for the camp before welcoming the children the next day. The thing I was most worried about before starting was how to build relationships with children who spoke very little English. We prayed about this as a team, and God absolutely answered this prayer! It turns out, many of the things you do on camp don't actually need language— ball games, card games and two surprise favourites: loom bands and the Cup Song! Also, the children absolutely loved teaching us Hungarian. On the first day, I spent the
suscotland.org/ gapyear 14 | suscotland.org.uk
whole of lunch and free time being taught words by a small group of children. They would point at an object and say it in Hungarian, and when I correctly repeated it back, they moved on to the next item until I couldn’t take any more, and it was time for team games. I can now count to 100, say the colours of the rainbow and some other words too! We finished off with another day in Budapest sharing stories and encouragements with each other and going to a water park. All in all, it was an amazing trip at the end of an absolutely fantastic year, and I'm very thankful for all the opportunities I have had as part of Gap Year. I would absolutely recommend it to anyone thinking about it; it'll be so much bigger and better than you expect!
quote_open_roundel Rachel Rose
Gap Year Participant, SU Scotland
** asn **
creating safe spaces In every school there are young people who find it hard to engage in lessons. This can be due to additional support needs (ASN), physical or mental health problems or chaotic situations at home.
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nce a week for a term, Gowanbank, one of SU Scotland’s outdoor residential centres, welcomes young people from Kilmarnock who are at risk of not attending school to encourage them to spend more time with each other and their teacher. They get the chance to enjoy the outdoors and build stronger relationships in a safe space. Activity Instructor Harry McPhail, said: 'The young people have been coming weekly. Across the term, we have noticed them become calmer around us, as we gradually get to know and trust each other. Being outdoors in God’s creation is such an important ingredient in the whole process and really helps in building positive relationships and sharing our faith.' Some young people do not get the opportunity to experience different activities or go out into nature beyond the towns or cities that they live in. At SU Scotland, we want to make sure that every young person can thrive, experience the wonder of God’s creation, understand more about faith, and take part in fun and exciting activities. Please join us in prayer for young people who find school challenging:
Father God, please be with young people who find school really challenging. Help them to be able to build trusting relationships with teachers and make positive friendships. Thank you for the work at Gowanbank, and please bless it so that it changes the lives of those who attend for the better. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. suscotland.org.uk | 15
what's on
GRAB THE LATEST EVENT DETAILS ONLINE: suscotland.org.uk/events MAGNITUDE WORSHIP NIGHTS | 13 SEPT 2026: ABERDEEN | 20 NOV 2026: EDINBURGH 21 NOV 2026: GLASGOW | 5 FEB 2027: EDINBURGH | 6 FEB 2027: PERTH 6 MAR 2027: INVERNESS | 7 MAR 2027: ABERDEEN | Thanks to a generous donation, our worship nights are now free to attend for youth and youth leaders. Donate via cash or card on the door to sow into the work of Magnitude and SU Scotland.
magnitude.org.uk/worship GO CONFERENCE | 9–12 OCTOBER 2026: LENDRICK MUIR | SU Scotland’s national youth conference for S4–S6 pupils who want to grow in their relationship with God and understand how the Bible shapes all areas of life—home, school and friendships. suscotland.org.uk/go EQUIP & SPOTLIGHT | 2026 | Helping you explore Christian faith, explore God’s Word and connect with others. Features Bible talks, group time, Q&A and plenty of fun! • Spotlight East (S1–S2): 25 Sept, 30 Oct, 27 Nov, 7–8.45pm, Cornerstone Free Church, EDI • Equip East (S3–S6): 25 Sept, 30 Oct, 27 Nov, 7–9.00pm, Elim Church, EDI • Equip West (S1–S6): 18 Sept, 30 Oct, 27 Nov, 7–9.00pm, Findlay Church GLA / livestreamed • Equip Borders (S1–S6): 18 Sept, 20 Nov, 7–8.30pm, Galashiels Parish Church • Equip North East (S1–S6): TBC
suscotland.org.uk/spotlight | suscotland.org.uk/equipevents MAGNITUDE 2027 | 24–28 JULY 2027: LENDRICK MUIR | Save the date! magnitude.org.uk
GAP YEAR: 2027/28 APPLICATIONS OPEN! Are you looking for time out that provides personal growth and discipleship as well as opportunities to make a difference? If so, then a gap year with SU Scotland may be for you! We offer many different placements, each tailored to you. If you are interested in joining the team for a year, you will find an application form and all the information you need on our website.
suscotland.org.uk/gapyear