A group of men who socialise at the anchor monument at Mangrove Bay are to throw a back-to-school party for youngsters today.

The Anchor Boys Club, which has a membership of about 20, will give away school bags and supplies this afternoon and lay on a barbecue and an evening movie.

Wornell Steede, a longstanding member, said: “There’s a lot of history behind the group doing positive things for the community. We’ve had to earn our respect over the years.

“We do a Christmas party for the neighbourhood, and for around the last six years we have done a May 24 float, which won an award this year for the best individual float.”

Mr Steede added that the group’s school giveaway was “self-sponsored” and that they bought a bulk order of 100 school bags overseas and the local community chipped in with other supplies.

The giveaway bash kicks off at the waterside at 3pm, and will continue until about 10pm.

Gift bags have been dropped off at the Mangrove Bay Post Office and other community groups such as the Open Your Heart Foundation are taking part.

Tonight’s movie, shown using the club’s own projector and screen, will be chosen on the day, and will be family friendly.

Mr Steede said the club was “a helpful and talented group of guys and women who like to get involved and help out”.

He added: “We’d like to see each parish have its own group of people who like to relax together trying to do something positive.

“It’s about the community giving to the community. That’s what we encourage.”

Mr Steede said that the Anchor Boys formed from a group that used the area around the anchor as a meeting point.