Celebrating Queen’s Men: We Need You to Help Us Fulfill Our Mission!

Friday 11th June 2021

The Boys’ Brigade Northern Ireland District is celebrating 138 young men who achieved their Queen’s award this year; the highest award in BB. A new celebration video is launched today on the eve of our Patron, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s, official birthday on 12 June 2021. The video mentions each young person by name and recognises their groundbreaking achievement as the first cohort to complete the award virtually.  Completion included reflecting on their BB and Queen’s Badge journey and looking ahead to their future.  The courses also featured input from Made for More NI delivering the ‘Where’s your Head At’ mental health programme and Scripture Union NI using their ‘Unrestricted’ video series as devotions.  Some creative thinking was required to continue with community service in a safe, staying home, then staying local, socially distanced way. Young people chose a variety of ways to clock up their required 60 hrs of community/church/BB Company service. This ranged from doing local tidy ups, litter picking, gardening for the elderly, working with their churches to help deliver weekly online services and preparing and delivering wellbeing hampers to the local community.

Speaking to the boys on the celebration video David Blevins, The Boys’ Brigade NI District President said:

“After commending our Queen’s Men having to have their celebration virtually in 2020 I never imagined that one year later you would go even further by completing your award virtually. You didn’t let the small problem of a pandemic stop you from seeing the potential. When you read the Bible it is easy to see the problem. Abraham was too old, David too young, Peter was a coward, Paul was a murderer and in case you missed it Lazarus was dead. But God doesn’t see the problems, he sees potential and you have shown potential.

“So I hope this isn’t the end of your BB journey, but just the beginning of your journey with Jesus and into the Leadership of this organisation because we need you to help us fulfil our mission. Congratulations! “

Jamie Meikleham from Made for More passed on three top tips for surviving lockdown:

“Get a haircut every three weeks, look after your mental health and talk to someone if you are struggling. God sees you no matter what you are going through in your life. God sees you among your pain, and your successes; whatever is going on and he loves you and he wants a relationship with you”.

David Penney NID Engagement Officer & Training Lead said:

‘Massive congratulations!   This is a remarkable achievement and a big thank you to all the BB Leaders and Queen’s Badge Advisers who have supported, encouraged and championed our young people as together they found new and creative ways to work for the award. I ask everyone to please share our special celebration video far and wide to let others see what has been achieved”

If you are interested in doing Queen’s Badge either as a boy or as a Leader running the program in your company, please speak to David Penney at NIHQ.

T:  07496 671821; e:  david.penney@boys-brigade.org.uk

Please click here to view the Queen’s Badge 2021 Celebration Video

Tags: Boys' Brigade in Northern Ireland, celebration, Leadership, queens badge, volunteering, youth volunteering