The Brigades annual marching band and music essembly "Soundsport" Championships
The event is open to all Boys’ Brigade, Girls’ Brigade, Amicus, District or Battalion Bands plus any music ensemble who would like to participate in the Brigades Soundsport on Saturday 1st June 2019.

2nd Alton Boys’ Brigade Company is organising a 16-hour Outdoor First Aid course next year, and invite BB and DofE expedition leaders to attend. The course follows the highly-regarded ITC syllabus, and is led by Phil Quill, who for many years was Director of Calshot Outdoor Centre and is an excellent trainer. (See http://www.hantstraining.co.uk/itc-first-aid-courses.html) It’s a very practical course – those attending should wear appropriate clothing and be prepared to be out-of-doors in February!

Saturday 16th February: The first day of the course will take place, indoors, in Alton Methodist Church, Drayman’s Way, ALTON, Hampshire, GU34 1AU. The church is situated next door to Marks & Spencer Food Hall at the southern end of the High Street. Long-stay parking is available in the nearby Mount Pleasant pay-and-display car park.
Sunday 17th February: The venue for the second day of the course is the Forest Classroom at Alice Holt Forest, Bucks Horn Oak, GU10 4LS, and we will be out in the woods for part of the time. Follow the brown signs from A325 at Bucks Horn Oak, and on entering the Forest follow the main access road past the various small car parking areas on your right. At the open area, continue to bear left; as the road becomes unsurfaced it swings right into the main car parking area, and you will see the Classroom on your left. There is a charge for car parking; it uses number-plate recognition and you will need to pay at a machine before you leave.

The start time for both days will be 8.30am. Packed lunch should be brought; tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided.
The maximum number of participants we can cater for is twelve, and places will be allocated on a “first come first served” basis. To make your booking, please use the attached remittance slip. A deposit of £25 will secure your place. The full fee is £100 – balance to be settled by the end of January 2019, please. If paying by cheque, please make it out to “2nd Alton Boys’ Brigade”. If you have any questions, please call me on 01420 84739 or e-mail oldschoolhouse@gmx.co.uk.

itc first aid course 2019 - booking form 

Tied with this session’s Brigade campaign ‘Raise the Bar’, Scottish HQ is running four training roadshows in early 2019.  These will be a chance to support leaders at all levels with updates relating to programme, funding, structure and much more.  See the details below for details and how to register.

During this quarter, Scottish Headquarters are holding a series of roadshows to:

• Update on their current workplan
• Introduce the plan for the Under 11s programme review
• Launch a new mini grants scheme
• Update on the Guild project
• Consult on the effectiveness of the current Brigade structure in Scotland
• Provide training opportunities, based on training needs identified in the end of session company survey

View the programme

Open to: All Company Officers and Under 26 leaders. Each Battalion is encouraged to provide at least 2 representatives, who can bring consultation questions back for discussion.

Registration:

Please register through this link   (There are up to 50 places available at each of the roadshow events)

The events are being heavily subsidised by the National Voluntary Youth Organisations Support Fund, which keeps the cost down to £5.00 per person. This provides access to all sessions, lunch, teas and coffees.  It is preferred that the registration fee is paid in advance by calling SHQ on 01324 562008 (option 1) during office hours.

Workshops:

We are in the process of confirming speakers for workshops at present, but we hope to be able to provide input on:

Mental Health and STEM at the Edinburgh and Banff events and Additional Support Needs and Sharing Christian Faith at Perth and Paisley ones.

Tied with this session’s Brigade campaign ‘Raise the Bar’, Scottish HQ is running four training roadshows in early 2019.  These will be a chance to support leaders at all levels with updates relating to programme, funding, structure and much more.  See the details below for details and how to register.

During this quarter, Scottish Headquarters are holding a series of roadshows to:

• Update on their current workplan
• Introduce the plan for the Under 11s programme review
• Launch a new mini grants scheme
• Update on the Guild project
• Consult on the effectiveness of the current Brigade structure in Scotland
• Provide training opportunities, based on training needs identified in the end of session company survey

Open to: All Company Officers and Under 26 leaders. Each Battalion is encouraged to provide at least 2 representatives, who can bring consultation questions back for discussion.

Registration:

Please register through this link.  There are up to 50 places available at each of the roadshow events.

The events are being heavily subsidised by the National Voluntary Youth Organisations Support Fund, which keeps the cost down to £5.00 per person. This provides access to all sessions, lunch, teas and coffees.  It is preferred that the registration fee is paid in advance by calling SHQ on 01324 562008 (option 1) during office hours.

Workshops:

We are in the process of confirming speakers for workshops at present, but we hope to be able to provide input on:

Mental Health and STEM at the Edinburgh and Banff events and Additional Support Needs and Sharing Christian Faith at Perth and Paisley ones.

The course is open to any young person, working towards their Queen’s Badge, who has completed all the necessary sections of their record book and require a Completion Course to finalise the criteria for the award.

Candidates from any Area in Scotland may apply. Attendance for the full time above is required. The Completion Course should be:

• no earlier than 12 months from the Date of Registration for Queen’s Badge and
• there should be a gap of, at least six months from completion of the Skills Based Training

Queen's Badge Completion Course Flyer - April 2019

All Generations Walking Together 

Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Rt Rev Susan Brown has come up with a special event for organisations, churches, communities and people of all ages to be walking, talking and sharing together.  We have been working alongside the Guild, CoS Youth team and Girls’ Brigade Scotland to run the ‘Big Footprint’ event on April 20^th (Easter Saturday).  This aim of this event is that it will bring different generations and the wider community together.  There will be four hub events (Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen) but why organise your own?

Further information

Resources

A resource that could be used for your Big Footprint walk are the Walking Together Cards.  

These are for a group of different ages to use together to help reflect and share as you walk.

Download the Walking Together Cards

Download the Walking Together Leaders Cards

Alternatively, you can order ones to be sent out by contacting BB Scottish HQ - scottishhq@boys-brigade.org.uk | 01324 562008 (option 1)

The course based at Carronvale House takes place over the weekend 10 – 12 May. 

The training course leads to the awarding of the Certificate in Expedition and Outdoor Leadership for all those who wish train young people in Expedition skills and/or supervise Expeditions. The certificate is set at three levels:

• Basic – for those who wish to instruct young people and lead accompanied training expeditions in moderate and familiar terrain and in doing so gain experience
• Standard – for those leaders training and supervising Expeditions within the Brigade’s Award Scheme (i.e. up to Queen’s Badge and DofE Silver standard)
• Advanced – for those leaders training and supervising Expeditions to DofE Gold Standard

BOOKING - please complete the 2019 Expedition Leadership Course Flyer and Booking Form

To find out more, please contact Irene Davidson at SHQ – irene.davidson@boys-brigade.org.uk | 01324 562008 (option 1)

National canvas camp residential for company sections taking place in Millport, Isle of Cumbrae between 24th - 27th May 2019.

View the full details 

The annual Brigades' Marching Band Championships and Soundsport will take place at Northwood Stadium's Indoor Arena - Stoke-on-Trent on Saturday 1st June 2019. Full details and the 2019 application form can be found on our website: http://www.showcasemarchingbands.co.uk If you require any additional informtion please email us at: info@showcasemarchingbands.co.uk

Based at Dundee and  Angus Battalion's excellent Scott Lodge facility, The Boys' Brigade's Gold Assessment Expedition is open to BB young people who meet the meet the DofE Gold Expedition requirements  (Minimum one practice hike of 2 days & 2 nights consecutively) completed prior to booking

The BB Gold Expedition is open to individuals and to groups.  Places are limited to 28 maximum. Early registration is advised, registrations will be dealt with in strict order of receipt.

Full details of requirements, qualifications and transport arrangements will be sent direct to all participants.

Sessions will include:

• Inspection of expedition equipment
• Checks on menus and expedition food
• A familiarisation hike to check navigation skills and group disciplines/dynamics on Thursday
• Final route preparation and briefing
• A four-day expedition commencing on Friday morning

Further information and registration

Please direct any informal enquiries to Scottish HQ - 01324 562008 (option 1).

Krakow will be the 2019 destination for the Young Leaders’ Network European excursion.   Rich in history, the southern Polish city is undoubtedly one of Europe’s most beautiful cities.  The four-day, three-night excursion departs Edinburgh on 24^th June, returning on the 27^th.

Situated close to the Czech border, Krakow is renowned for its well-preserved medieval centre, Jewish quarter and spectacular architecture.  The trip will include excursions to the salt mines, Schindler’s factory and a tour to Auschwitz.

Above all, you’ll get the chance to explore an amazing city and surroundings in the company of other BB young leaders from across the country.

Find out more and book your place

The Boys’ Brigade Zambia has invited Global Fellowship to hold its Triennial Council and Conference in Lusaka from 13th to 17th August 2019.

This will be the opportunity to shape the future direction and identity of Global Fellowship as well as an opportunity to share the culture of Zambia and visit local Boys’ Brigade activities. The event is open to any registered leader from member organisations, but only nominated delegates may exercise a national organisation’s vote.

BB UK & RoI are looking to put together a delegation of young leaders aged 18-26 to represent us at this event. If you are interested in being part of this delegation please email jayne.thorne@boys-brigade.org.uk as soon as possible for more information.

For those interested in booking directly, online registration for the event is now open and further including the Conference programme can be found at:
globalfellowship.net/triennialconference2019

Join us in Wales for Brigade Conference 2019 - from Friday 6th to Sunday 8th September.

The weekend will feature a packed programme with workshops, worship, opportunities for fellowship, as well as the AGM. The University has good transport connections by road with the M4 motorway close-by, direct trains from London Paddington and is 45 minutes from Cardiff Airport with flights in and out of Edinburgh, Belfast and Dublin.

The conference is open to all leaders in the UK and ROI, and we would particularly encourage as many young leaders from across the Brigade family to attend.

More details will be shared through the e-BB news and on the Leaders website at
leaders.boys-brigade.org.uk/council.htm