On 21^st November ‘Step up to Serve’, a campaign to increase opportunities for young people to get involved in social action, was launched by HRH The Prince of Wales, supported by the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, at Buckingham Palace.

Social Action is defined as practical action in the service of others and the campaign aims to double the proportion of young people involved to over 50% by 2020. The Boys’ Brigade pledges its support for the Step up to Serve campaign and throughout its 130 year history has been keen to involve its members in social action. The Brigade’s current age related programmes encourage young people to be actively involved in their communities.

BB member Ryan Woods from Northampton represented the organisation as a Youth Ambassador at the launch. Ryan is very active in his local Company where, as well as participating in weekly sessions with his peer group, he also volunteers on an additional evening with the Junior Section. Ryan spent much of the summer of 2012 being one of the London Olympics’ Games Makers volunteering in the Aquatic Centre. And, in addition to all of this, he is part of a group that is planning a project in Jamaica in summer 2014 supporting disadvantaged children.

Asked why he is so committed to supporting other people Ryan said, “The Olympics offered a fantastic opportunity to be part of something big and exciting. The atmosphere and the noise of the crowds will always stay with me. Working in BB gives me the chance to give something back and draw on the experience that I had when I was younger. I genuinely feel that I am making a difference and would encourage others to become involved.”

In launching the campaign, the Prince of Wales emphasised the value of organisations such as The Boys’ Brigade to society and challenged more adults to get involved to enable more young people to benefit.

Visit the Step Up To Serve Website at stepuptoserve.org.uk