As he prepares to pass on the baton of a role he has held for the last three years, our outgoing Brigade Chaplain Rev Leigh Maydew shares his reflections of his time in post and his hopes for the future.

How many Methodists does it take to change a lightbulb…?

It was September 2007 when I first joined the Brigade Executive as a member of the England Regional Committee, and for nine of the last 15 years I have had the privilege of being a Trustee of this great organisation that I joined as an 8-year-old in what was then 6th West Bromwich (now known as 2nd Wednesbury).

A lot has changed for me in those 15 years, including ordination in the Methodist Church which resulted in me being invited to serve as the Brigade Chaplain for the last three years. Much has also changed in the life of The Boys’ Brigade in that time too.

There’s an old joke about Methodists not being good at change: I’d want to suggest that The Boys’ Brigade has its own issues around change too. If you look at our history, the key change in the time since I first served as a Trustee was the formation of The Girls’ Association in 2008, but I believe that there have been many more significant changes in that time too.

For me, one of the most significant changes in the life of the Brigade was a change in attitude and mindset following the independent review conducted by Wren and Greyhound in 2019. This review looked back at our previous strategic plans, considered how we had implemented them, and gave us some ideas for what might be next.

The Wren and Greyhound review helped us to consider our Vision, Mission and Values as an organisation. Our Vision, we asserted, is that children and young people should experience “life to the full”, a term we find in John 10:10, and one that echoed the mission statement of my home Church.

We then decided to Be Bold, Be Strong as we published our Strategic Plan for 2021-2025. For me, the Wren and Greyhound review and our work since has begun to implement a real root and branch cultural change within The Boys’ Brigade, perhaps accelerated by the effects of Covid-19. In the Strategic Plan we decided to focus on achieving Quality, Growth and Voice at all levels of the organisation; the difficulty as always is about taking all our leaders with us.

Covid-19 meant that all of us have had to change the way we work, the way we communicate and the way that we see the work of The Boys’ Brigade. The pandemic gave us a fresh chance to be bold, be strong and to introduce new ways of working: to embed OBM, to introduce new programme resources, to restructure the work of our staff team and so much more.

And so, my prayer for the future is that we as an organisation might “be bold, be strong! Banish fear and doubt! For remember, the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

May you continue to be a blessing to children and young people across our organisation.

Rev Leigh Maydew
Brigade Chaplain

The Boys’ Brigade has over 10,000 volunteer leaders across the country who support children and young people to learn, grow and discover. Over the course of 2022 we are going to share some of their stories each month as we celebrate our amazing leaders.

Meet Alex

Alex McLean, from 5th Hamilton, volunteers mainly with the Anchors age group and was part of the KGVI Youth Leader Training Staff Team at Carronvale House this year.

Why did you become a BB leader? 

As someone from quite a big BB family, I suppose I really didn’t have much choice in the matter! In all seriousness though, I became a BB leader for two main reasons.

Firstly, I didn’t feel like my BB journey was over – becoming a leader was the natural next step which would allow me to continue to build on and develop the skills I had picked up during my time and when completing my Queen’s Badge.

Secondly, I wanted to become a leader to try and help other young people have the same experiences and opportunities that I had.

What is your highlight of your time in BB so far?

It’s got to be KGVI. Getting to experience KGVI as an attendee is something that I am exceptionally proud of, and something that had a huge impact on my life. It allowed me to gain so many skills and grow not only as a BB leader, but also as a person.

I was also fortunate enough to do it all again as part of the Staff Team this year. It was a really fulfilling experience to see the group of young people thrive and make the most of their experience, and personally I was able to gain a lot and take some more steps in my own leadership journey.

KGVI really is an indescribable experience, and one that anybody should really grab with both hands should they get the opportunity.

What do you do when not at BB?

I am about to start a new job as a Trainee Solicitor. In my spare time I enjoy listening to music and playing my guitar. I also enjoy going to the football with my brothers and I’ve recently started playing golf occasionally.

How would you describe the BB in three words? 

Adventure, fun, fellowship.

The start of a new session presents a great opportunity to welcome new members to the BB family. In this blog piece, Robert Cunningham (a leader at 4th Carluke) shares why children and young people are and should always be Our Greatest Ambassadors.

Check it out below…

In my experience there are two main routes to becoming a member of the BB.

The first one is where a young person follows in the footsteps of parents/carers or siblings – families where there has been involvement in the BB perhaps over many generations. The second route sees the young person as the first in their family to step into the ‘BB world’.

I fall into the second of these two categories.

My own BB journey first began when I heard friends talking in the school playground about what they had got up to the evening before at Juniors. I had never heard of The Boys’ Brigade – though I wish I had.

The children and young people of the BB family are our greatest ambassadors… they always should be.

Over the last few years Thomas, a BB member in Northampton, has encouraged five of his friends to join him at BB. Some of his friends have since brought friends of their own or have encouraged their siblings to join them too. However, Thomas hasn’t just limited himself to just bringing his friends along, with his mum joining the Company as a leader.

As we look towards the new session there are undoubtedly huge opportunities to welcome new members to the BB family, particularly in the context where children and young people have missed out on so much over the last few years. We do provide a really important place for young people to learn, grow, discover and yes have fun.

Sometimes when it comes to ‘recruitment’ I think we can fall into the trap of looking for the easy answer. Perhaps more national advertising or a high-profile celebrity ambassador is just what we need. Whilst I certainly wouldn’t dismiss shiny advertising campaigns and backing from famous faces, I think the real answers are a lot closer to home.

I joined the BB for no simpler reason than my friends were there, they were having fun and I wanted to have fun too.

Does it need to be more complicated than that?

As true as it was for me then, and as true as it has been for nearly 140 years of our history, so too is it true today.

The key to bringing more young people to this great organisation that we are part of is our young people themselves.

Robert Cunningham
Leader at 4th Carluke
#OurGreatestAmbassadors

Find your nearest BB group at boys-brigade.org.uk/find-a-group

Are you a Company leader? We’re encouraging leaders to consider how their own children and young people can be their voice locally. Share your activity with us on social media using #OurGreatestAmbassadors

The Boys’ Brigade has over 10,000 volunteer leaders across the country who support children and young people to learn, grow and discover. Over the course of 2022 we are sharing some of their stories each month as we celebrate our amazing leaders.

Meet Rachael

Rachael Knowles is the Leader-in-Charge of the Company age group at 53rd Manchester, as well as being Chair of the National Young Leaders Group and Programme & Comms Lead for Unite.

What is your current career?

I’m an Oracle Agile Delivery Lead, which is essentially an IT software Project Manager.

What skills have you gained from BB that have helped you in your career?

BB has taught me so much – including the typical things like leadership and communication skills which have been crucial for my career. It has also taught me perseverance; to keep going even when things get tough. The most important thing BB has taught me is that my voice and my opinions matter even if you are the youngest person in the room.

What has been your proudest moment so far in BB?

I would say it’s either having the opportunity to travel to Singapore to represent BB at a Global Fellowship Conference, or when I got to meet the Queen whilst representing BB.

As a leader, my proudest moment has to be the first year we took our young people to Unite and watching them all push themselves out of their comfort zone and have such a great time.

What would be your top tip for other young leaders within BB?

Always remember why you are part of the organisation. If your main priority is always the young people and their experiences in BB, that will take you far. Oh, and if you believe in something keep pushing for it, your voice matters just as much as those people who have been involved for years! 1 Timothy 4:12 is a good Bible verse to keep referring to.

What are you most looking forward to in BB?

I’m most looking forward to seeing what the Young Leaders Group achieve during this next year. We have our weekend away in October and I can’t wait to spend some time with young leaders from across the organisation seeing how we can enthuse, motivate and encourage each other.

If you are a leader and would like to share your story with us please email comms@boys-brigade.org.uk

The Boys’ Brigade has over 10,000 volunteer leaders across the country who support children and young people to learn, grow and discover. Over the course of 2022 we are going to share some of their stories each month as we celebrate our amazing leaders.

Meet Ryan

Ryan Webster is a leader in the Company age group at 44th Aberdeen.

Why did you become a BB leader?

I have been a member of 44th Aberdeen since I was a child and have enjoyed every minute of my time there. I was influenced by the leaders that I had, and when I reached the age limit as a young person I wasn’t ready to leave so decided to become a leader!

What has been your proudest moment so far in BB?

My proudest moment was when I gained my Queen’s Badge. As a leader, I now look forward to helping others achieve the award.

What do you do when not in BB?

I work in recruitment, but besides that I enjoy spending time with my wife and family. I also like watching my local football team and playing various sports such as golf.

How would you describe the BB in three words?

Fun, friendship, purpose.

If you are a leader and would like to share your story with us please email comms@boys-brigade.org.uk

On Monday 6th June a small group of young people attended a Platinum Jubilee Lunch hosted by Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Nadine Dorries at Downing Street.

Neo, Logan and Joe were invited to Number 10 along with representatives from other uniformed youth organisations, Team GB and Paralympic GB athletes, school children and Points of Light Award winners.

Joe, 8, said: “It was an amazing day, we got to go to Downing Street, all my friends at school were so jealous. I really enjoyed meeting so many people and seeing the Prime Minister’s house. It’s a day I will never forget!”

This week (1st to 7th June 2022) is Volunteers’ Week – a time to celebrate, thank and recognise the amazing contributions that our volunteer leaders make every week.

The Boys’ Brigade, to put it simply, would not exist without our 10,000+ leaders, and we would like to thank each of them for all that they do.

The experiences of the last couple of years have highlighted some of their efforts, through reopening local groups face-to-face, fundraising for Ukraine, sharing valuable life skills and providing opportunities for children and young people to experience “life to the full” (John 10:10).

The theme of this year’s Volunteers’ Week is “Community”, so we asked some of the members of our Leader Development Community – which is responsible for the delivery of all adult training within the Brigade – why they volunteer:

Stephen, who leads one of our groups in London, said: “I volunteer within the BB because I have memories from when I was involved as a young person and want to be able to give the same opportunities and memories to young people today. I also find it really rewarding when I see members develop and grow into active and positive citizens.”

Martin, a group leader in Fraserburgh, said: “I like to think that I can help make a difference to the lives of our children and young people by helping them to learn, grow and discover through the delivery of our programme and see them develop as confident young adults.”

Scott, a leader in Manchester, said: “I volunteer so that I can continue to provide what I have received as a young person to the next generation of young people. I also hope to provide them with the life skills and experiences that I have been lucky to gain.”

Robert, who leads a group in Ballynahinch, said: “I enjoy volunteering because of the real and positive difference you can make in young lives through being able to share the Gospel with them and offering a quality and varied programme.”

Throughout 2022 we have been celebrating our leaders by sharing some of their stories on our website each month. If you would like to nominate someone whose story you think we could share in a future item, please email us at comms@boys-brigade.org.uk

Young people from The Boys’ Brigade undertook stewarding duties at a Garden Party held at Buckingham Palace on 25th May 2022.

The event, which took place on a day of mixed weather in London, was the third and final Garden Party to take place at Buckingham Palace this year. It was hosted by HRH The Duke of Cambridge and was also attended by the Duchess of Cambridge, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, Princess Beatrice, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.

Andrew Hill, a young leader at 4th London who was one of the stewards, said: “It was an incredible experience and one which I will remember forever.”

Andrew Baldwin, Captain of 1st Tewkesbury, said: “Thank you to those who organised the opportunity. The members all had a great time and it was a once in a lifetime experience.”

The Boys’ Brigade has over 10,000 volunteer leaders across the country who support children and young people to learn, grow and discover. Over the course of 2022 we are sharing some of their stories each month as we celebrate our amazing leaders.

Meet Kelechi

Kelechi Aofolaju is Leader-in-Charge of the Company and Seniors age groups at 14th Kingston & Merton, as well as being a trustee of London District.

What do you do outside of BB?

I currently run a small software and consulting company. We write and design software for smart systems, such as homes, meetings rooms and teaching spaces.

I also have a podcast with a close friend called Pioneers Space. The objective of it is to motivate others by showcasing different pioneers from different walks of life. These pioneers are primarily from BAME backgrounds. We talk about their journey, the challenges they’ve faced, and what being a pioneer means to them.

What skills have you gained from BB that have helped you in your career?

BB has helped me with timekeeping, which is so important as a young professional. People won’t take you seriously if you’re late or don’t respect time.

It has also helped develop my communication and interpersonal skills, which has made me be able to talk to people from all different walks of life and have a meaningful conversation with them.

What has been your proudest moment so far in BB?

Attending the Queen’s Garden Party on behalf of the BB. I felt so honoured to represent not only my local group, but also my Church and family.

As a young leader within BB, what would be your top tip for other young leaders?

It’s simple, my main tip is listen to your young people and try and understand them better. This will help you help them not only in BB but as they grow and develop into young people and adults. BB has taught me that every single young person is unique and has huge potential to change the world.

If you are a leader and would like to share your story with us please email comms@boys-brigade.org.uk

For over 60 years, Christian Aid has held a fundraising week in May. This year we wanted to share more about Christian Aid and the work we do with them.

Christian Aid works with communities around the world to fight injustice, respond to humanitarian emergencies, campaign for change and support people to claim the services and rights they are entitled to. 

The Boys’ Brigade has been working together with Christian Aid for a number of years. 

We joined with Christian Aid to create a themed programme about inequalities and injustices in the world. This programme features activities in our Get Involved, Get Active, Get Into the Bible and Get Learning Activity Areas, allowing children and young people to learn more about our world and the work Christian Aid does to help create equality and fairness for everyone. We believe it is important to teach our members about the barriers people may face in their lives, as well as how we can help those in need. Find our Christian Aid Themed Programme card here.

Christian Aid is also returning to our Cumbrae Camp this year where they will be hosting their ‘safe place’, which highlights the challenges that millions of people go through when fleeing conflict or disaster.

We have also worked with Christian Aid on highlighting climate change with groups learning about how they can get involved. Find out more at: boys-brigade.org.uk/gazette/tackling-climate-change

Find out more about Christian Aid at: christianaid.org.uk

Over the past few months Companies across the UK have been busy talking to their children and young people about what’s been happening in Ukraine as well as getting involved in fundraising to help people. We are extremely proud of these amazing efforts, here are just a few examples…

1st Tewkesbury decided it was important to get involved as they have Ukrainian members in their Company. A lot of people in their area were looking for places where they could donate items to send, so the Company decided to share their own appeal and managed to get four vans filled with donations which was sent to the city of Lviv where they were shared with those most in need. They then hosted a car wash and coffee morning to raise money.

Andrew Baldwin, Company Captain, said: “We were amazed by the outpouring of support and generosity for our appeal and our Ukrainian family were blown away and very grateful for how much had been donated by so many people.”

Seniors at 2nd Bournemouth were appalled by the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and wanted to do something to help. After their weekly BB session, they stayed late to bake cakes so they could host an afternoon tea event the next day. Overall, in a very short period of time they managed to make over £900 which has been sent to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Ukraine Appeal.

25th Stirling hosted book sales in their town and raised over £4,000. They held these on two Saturdays and received help from their Church to keep it running during the week. The Company’s efforts haven’t gone unnoticed as a local support group contacted them to ask if they would be willing to use some of the funds raised to cover flights and trains for Ukrainians trying to flee the fighting, as well as accommodation whilst they wait on their UK Visas.

Fraser Boyd, Company Captain, said: “We made a group decision to use some of the funds to help pay for travel and accommodation, while the majority was sent to the DEC fund, where it was matched by the UK Government.”

You can find our Ukraine resources at: boys-brigade.org.uk/ukraine-conflict-resources

This article originally appeared in the May/June 2022 edition of Sorted Magazine and is reproduced here in full with their kind permission.

Launched in 2007, Sorted is a bi-monthly men’s magazine packed full of packed full of celebrity interviews, entertainment, gadgets, music, movies, grooming, fashion, football and a whole lot more.

Find out more, including details of how to subscribe, at sortedmag.com

———-

The Boys’ Brigade has just celebrated its 138th anniversary by appointing a former nightclub bouncer and addict as its new President. Whatever is going on? Step forward Dez Johnston, who tells all to Chris Kerr.

Dez Johnston is a tough-looking man. He’s got tattoos aplenty, an untamed beard and an even wilder back story, one with a devastating low and an even more remarkable rise. And he just happens to have become the new guiding light of the 138-year-old Boys’ Brigade.

As it tries to raise our nation’s sons into mature, accountable, and faithful men, the Boys’ Brigade is looking to this former addict – who admits he has lived life to the full – to galvanise it and shake it up so it’s able to meet the many challenges that lie ahead.

He took up his appointment as Brigade President after Lord Griffiths of Burry Port retired last September. With his feet barely under the desk, he has set about galvanising the Brigade’s employees, volunteers, corporate sponsors and more than 40,000 enthusiastic youngsters who are affiliated to its branches throughout the UK.

“The Boys’ Brigade was started by a Thurso man in Glasgow in 1883 so being a Scot, there is a bit of heritage there,” says Dez, who is now an ordained minister who speaks with passion and purpose. “We aren’t just marching and playing football. We are so much more. It’s actually about creating a journey, where boys can become amazing young men.

“The structure that the Boys’ Brigade provided helped Sir Alex Ferguson to develop the character, skills and talents he needed to become one of the great football managers.”

Who’d ever have thought Fergie, the undisputed king of British football would have been a product of this proud organisation? Perhaps there’s more to the brigade than an outsider would ever know?

While Dez is proud of his Scottish roots, growing up there wasn’t easy.

“I grew up in a small village in the northeast of Scotland called Rothes, which is in the middle of nowhere,” he recalls. “Just 1,200 people lived there, and 400 of them went to my high school, so everyone knew everybody’s business. It was like a melting pot and I wanted to get away from it.

“I thought my ticket out was becoming a millionaire, superstar DJ. So, I went for it, playing at every event I could, from weddings to nightclub gigs. I did it all. It was my therapy.”

Although he didn’t realise it at the time, this lifestyle would lead Dez down a much darker path.

“Our small village had five distilleries and five bars so, coupled with the DJ lifestyle, I was drinking a lot,” he admits.

Things got worse after his parents divorced when he was just 17. He moved out of his house to go his own way.

“All of the kids my age wanted to party at my flat. I loved it,” he says. “I was a disc jockey at the weekends and it just became this cycle of partying all weekend and into the week. I just wanted to be at the centre of it all, all the time.”

By the time Dez reached his 20th birthday, he was taking drugs on a daily basis.

“That was the point I really became an addict,” he recalls with clarity. “I moved to Glasgow, but nobody wanted me to DJ. Why would they hire someone who was more mangled than the partygoers?”

To pay for his growing habit, Dez worked 90-hour weeks, which included being a doorman in the evenings who threw his weight around.

“I was really unhappy,” he admits. “I was committing these acts of violence as part of my job, and that just wasn’t me. So, to numb the pain, I would take more drugs and drink more alcohol. I was out of control.”

In freefall, Dez had nowhere to go but rock bottom.

One-night he met his dealer and purchased an entire weekend’s worth of cocaine. He went home and consumed it in just 10 minutes!

“My heart was beating so fast, I thought it was going to jump through my chest,” he says. “I knew that was it. I was going to die. So, I cried out to some higher power to save me. I had no clue who or what that was, but I was desperate.”

Before he could hear an answer, Dez passed out, not knowing whether he would ever wake up again. Fortunately, Dez did wake up, which was a miracle in itself. But something more incredible had happened while the stupor had claimed him.

“I no longer had a craving for cocaine. It just completely disappeared. In fact, to me it was like a food that I didn’t like. My addiction to it was over and I threw out the leftover cocaine from the night before.”

You may think this was Dez’s road to Damascus moment, where he saw the light and gave his life to Christ? Well, think again…

“Actually, I just thought I was the greatest human who had ever lived because I had survived an overdose without needing the hospital, and I had overcome my addiction overnight,” he states, while shaking his head. “At one point I convinced myself I could knock out a rhino!”

Luckily for the endangered rhino, there aren’t many in Glasgow!

God didn’t give up on Dez though, Christians would talk to him wherever he was, from customers in the shop he managed, to the smoking areas of nightclubs. This was unheard of in Glasgow. Then something totally unexpected happened.

“One day, I hired a Christian woman to work in the shop, mainly because I knew she wouldn’t steal anything,” says Dez. “I noticed she had this security and quiet confidence, everything I was missing. She didn’t get it from the things I thought you needed, the fast cars and lavish lifestyles. I was amazed.”

Dez asked her out, only to find his advances rebuffed.

“She said ‘no’ because I wasn’t a Christian,” he explains. “So, I picked up a Bible to prove her wrong. The great thing was I got to read about men like Noah, who got so drunk because he couldn’t handle the stress and Moses who had no confidence in himself. I could relate to these men. And I came to Ecclesiastes 3, where it talks about a time for everything and I realised that my time of violence, drugs and the overdose were over. A new season was about to begin.”

And so, it proved to be. Dez became a believer, and everything changed after that. Not least his luck with the special lady, who went on to become his wife.

“I gave up my doorman job and my area manager job, and before I knew it I was working in a youth café,” he continues. “This kid came up to me and asked me how much it would cost to buy a Mars bar. I told him the price, and he walked straight over the road and tried to get the money by mugging a guy. I lost my mind, and every fibre of my being wanted to stamp on this kid. I got him by the scruff of the neck and said, ‘Do you not realise that God’s got an amazing plan for your life’. The words coming out of my mouth were not mine and I just remember my heart breaking for this youngster.

“There was a whole group of youth out there who nobody cared about, who came from broken homes, whose parents are addicts and who are stuck in fourth generation poverty. I know these were the kids I had to reach. I had so much hope for them.”

And that’s precisely what he did. In fact, it’s all he did – and before he knew it, this tough-living young bouncer found himself attending Bible School, volunteering at numerous Christian youth events across Scotland, and landing a job as a youth worker at a church on the west coast.

After a while, this role led to an opportunity for Dez to work with Alpha, the global programme that helps people seeking to know more about Christianity, to link up with a local church and discover more. He grabbed it with both hands. And at the same time, he also started working with the Boys’ Brigade.

Fast forward a few years and having developed a deep passion for the Brigade’s work and calling, Dez is now a key cog in steering the organisation as it embarks on the next stage of its journey.

“Young people are now hungry for identity,” he says. “They need safe places to express who they are, and there’s less and less places to do that now. So, they turn to social media to do this, which isn’t healthy. The Boys’ Brigade provides a better alternative. It gives them weekends and weeks out where they will be loved by people.

“The uniform is a great leveller in that regard. It doesn’t matter if you are a game freak, the street church kid, or your mum and dad just want you out of the house every night. It doesn’t matter if you have no money, or lots of it. Once the blue jumper goes on, you are part of something special, something bigger.”

Dez Johnston is a man who fell into a deep trough – yet emerged a better man. He is someone our youngsters can relate to, and a man who clearly has an appetite and the energy to take things forward. He has got a big job ahead of him, but he’s more than equal to the task.

Chris Kerr
A senior legal executive, Chris Kerr works for a specialist national law firm. He is happily married and lives in Wales.

The Boys’ Brigade has over 10,000 volunteer leaders across the country who support children and young people to learn, grow and discover. Over the course of 2022 we are sharing some of their stories each month as we celebrate our amazing leaders.

Meet Sarah

Sarah is Captain of 1st Peebles, which opened in January 2022. They have begun with the Anchors age group but are hoping to introduce Juniors soon as well.

Why did you become a BB leader?

Our Church youth leaders wanted to reach more children and help them to connect with each other and with the Church community. Some of the other leaders grew up in The Boys’ Brigade and so they knew it would be a really exciting opportunity for us.

What is your highlight or proudest moment in the BB?

I’ve been really excited by the children who have invited their friends to join our group. We had just seven children when we started and now, just a few months later, we have 18 children. I’ve been really proud of our young leaders, they make such amazing group leaders and the children really love them!

What do you do when not at BB?

I am a youth and community worker for the Church, so I run toddler groups and youth clubs. I also enjoy playing board games, and I am digging a pond for my garden because I want to encourage wildlife!

How would you describe the BB in three words?

Friendly, energetic, creative!

If you are a leader and would like to share your story with us please email comms@boys-brigade.org.uk

As part of its ongoing support to leaders, The Boys’ Brigade has launched a range of resources, competitions and ideas themed around HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, designed to help BB groups get involved in celebrating this remarkable milestone.

The resources include a series of Activity Cards in our ‘Get Learning’ Activity Area, enabling children and young people explore more about the Queen, her life and her 70 years on the throne, as well as a fully-resourced themed programme designed to give groups everything they need to run a Platinum Jubilee Party! These can be found on our Programme Hub.

We’ve also partnered with HOPE Together and other organisations to produce On Her Majesty’s Service, a set of resources aimed at 11-14 year olds that explore 7 key values the Queen lives by and how her faith has been the motivation of her service over the last 70 years.

Two competitions have been launched: a Colouring Competition and a Tea Party Competition, providing children and young people with additional opportunities to get involved either with their groups or at home.

We will shortly be launching a range of limited edition commemorative products on BB Supplies, including a Platinum Jubilee branded recycled pencil, pen and bone china mug. A special Platinum Jubilee Badge is now available, which can be worn by members on their armbands and also can be purchased by leaders and supporters.

Find out more about all of our Platinum Jubilee resources at boys-brigade.org.uk/platinum-jubilee

The Boys’ Brigade has over 10,000 volunteer leaders across the country who support children and young people to learn, grow and discover. Over the course of 2022 we are sharing some of their stories each month as we celebrate our amazing leaders.

Meet Robert

Robert Whan is the Captain of 1st Spa (near Ballynahinch), a member of the Down Battalion Executive and also a Trainer in Northern Ireland.

Why did you become a BB leader?

Because I was asked! Three months later, the person who asked me told me that she was retiring at the end of the year and over 20 years later I’m still there. I enjoy it because of the real and positive difference you can make in young lives through being able to share the Gospel with them and offering a quality and varied programme.

What is your highlight or proudest moment in the BB?

Too many to be able to select just one! We’ve had Company success in Battalion and National Competitions, memorable trips and residentials, young people obtaining their Queen’s Badge and Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award, as well as Seniors returning as leaders, but I’d say the genuine highlight is just seeing the young people progress through the Company week by week and becoming successful and outgoing.

What do you do when not at BB?

I am Director of Armagh Robinson Library, Northern Ireland’s oldest public library, as well as a Trustee of National Museums Northern Ireland. Within my Church, I am an Elder and Sunday School Superintendent. When I get any spare time I enjoy walking and reading.

How would you describe the BB in three words?

Enriching young lives.

If you are a leader and would like to share your story with us please email comms@boys-brigade.org.uk

World Autism Acceptance Week takes place from 28th March to 3rd April.

One in 100 people are on the autism spectrum and there are around 700,000 autistic adults and children in the UK. As part of our Spring 2022 termly programme, we have partnered with HOPE for Autism to create new resources for all our age groups.

These new activities, in our Get Involved Activity Area, allow children and young people of all ages to learn more about autism. We believe it is important to teach our members about the the barriers people may face in their lives, as well as encouraging us to celebrate the differences that make us who we are.

Find out more and access the new resources on our Programme Hub.

HOPE for Autism is a Scottish charity that promotes diversity and inclusion for autistic people, helps empower them to fulfil their lives, and helps support their families. Find out more about their work at hopeforautism.org.uk

The Boys’ Brigade has launched a special set of new programme resources to support and equip BB groups to explore the current conflict in Ukraine.

Over the last week, children and young people across the United Kingdom & Republic of Ireland have been seeing images and hearing stories of war within the European continent for the first time in their lives and will understandably be worried about what is happening, may be feeling a range of emotions and have lots of questions.

The new activities, which have been created for use with all age groups that the organisation works with (5-18 year olds) are designed to help give children and young people an opportunity to learn more about what is happening, reflect on what they are seeing on the news and a chance to think about how they can respond, including through prayer.

Jonathan Eales, Chief Executive, commented:

“The images we have been watching from Ukraine of children and young people fleeing their homes and hiding in underground stations are truly heart-breaking. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by this conflict. As a Christian youth organisation we believe it’s incredibly important to create a space for children and young people in this country to explore and discuss what is happening, and consider what they can do to help. Indeed, as we move into the season of Lent, we should all learn, reflect and respond.”

The BB’s programme for children and young people focuses on six Activity Areas – Get Active, Get Adventurous, Get Creative, Get into the Bible, Get Involved and Get Learning.

The new programme resources focusing on Ukraine can be found at boys-brigade.org.uk/programme-news/activities-to-help-respond-to-events-in-ukraine

We are all aware of the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.

As a member of European Fellowship of Christian Youth, we will particularly keep the young people of Ukraine and their families at the forefront of our thoughts and prayers.

European Fellowship held their Easter Course in Kyiv in 2012 and, since then, young Ukrainians and their youth leaders have attended many of their courses and events.

We encourage all our BB groups across the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland to remember Ukraine in their prayers.

Rev Leigh Maydew, Brigade Chaplain, shares a prayer:

Holy and loving God,
With everything happening in Ukraine at this time, we pray for children and young people in that part of our world.
We pray that they might be protected in so many ways from the events happening around them.
Merciful God, we pray that the leaders of the world might come together to find a peaceful resolution.
Amen.

The Boys’ Brigade has over 10,000 volunteer leaders across the country who support children and young people to learn, grow and discover. Over the course of 2022 we are going to share some of their stories each month as we celebrate our amazing leaders.

Meet Alexie

Alexie Neville is a leader at two BB groups – 3rd Harrogate and 5th Scarborough – as well as being the Deputy Programme Lead for Unite and a Girls’ Brigade leader.

What is your current career?
I am an occupational therapist in the NHS, currently on the orthopaedic ward.

What skills have you gained from the BB that have helped you in your career?
I have learnt to control my excessive talking in order to listen to others and offer advice! I also feel better equipped to be able to talk to people from different backgrounds and walks of life which has helped me in my job.

What has been your proudest BB moment so far?
Although I have only been in the organisation for around four years, my proudest moment would be taking on various roles at Unite, working my way from being a Village Leader to now being Deputy Programme Lead.

As a young leader, what would be your top tip for other young leaders?
As cliché as it is, I would say to be a role model for others and think about how your actions could impact others in all different ways. The children and young people we work with are the next generation so we need to help shape them into the great human beings they can be and allow their potential to shine through!

If you are a leader and would like to share your story with us please email comms@boys-brigade.org.uk

The Boys’ Brigade has over 10,000 volunteer leaders across the country who support children and young people to learn, grow and discover. Over the course of 2022 we are going to share some of their stories each month as we celebrate our amazing leaders.

Meet Aaron

Aaron Johnstone, from 10th Coatbridge, has just taken over as Captain of the Company and is currently a co-opted member of the Brigade’s Scotland Committee.

Why did you become a BB leader?
First and foremost, I became a leader because I gained so much from my time as a young person and wanted to give back to allow future generations to gain as I did. Also, a little more selfishly, I didn’t want my BB journey to end!

What is your highlight or proudest moment in the Brigade?
Apart from the obvious answer of gaining my Queen’s Badge (the Brigade’s highest award), I would have to say my highlight would be our most recent adventure out with the Company age group which was a climb up Meikle Bin in the Campsie Fells.

We had what I can only describe as the most atrocious weather that only seemed to get worse the higher we went. Despite the poor weather every young person and leader made it to the top where we were able to get a quick snap with the Company banner and then straight back down for some lunch and a heat.

The whole trip summed up the last couple of years in that despite the challenges and adversity we have faced, we have been able to overcome and achieve together as a Company.

What do you do when not at BB?
The BB is usually the exciting work I do but when not doing that, I work as a health and safety manager in a hospital. I am also an elder at my local Church which sounds an incredibly boring answer but is really rewarding too.

How would you describe the BB in three words?
Faith, friendship and fun!

If you are a leader and would like to share your story with us please email comms@boys-brigade.org.uk

The Executive Committee of Global Fellowship of Christian Youth has announced that Lord Griffiths of Burry Port has been appointed as the organisation’s first-ever Patron.

Global Fellowship is an international umbrella organisation connecting 72 youth organisations in 68 countries around the world, including The Boys’ Brigade UK & RoI.

Lord Griffiths first met The Boys’ Brigade whilst serving the Methodist Church of Haiti in the 1970s, where he was ordained. Upon returning to the UK he served various ministries and BB chaplaincies as well as holding the role of President of the Methodist Conference in 1994-1995.

He is a life peer in the House of Lords, having been created Baron Griffiths of Burry Port, of Pembrey and Burry Port in the County of Dyfed in 2004. From 2011 until 2020, Lord Griffiths served as President of The Boys’ Brigade UK & RoI.

Commenting on his appointment, Lord Griffiths said:

“For nine years, I was President of The Boys’ Brigade UK & RoI. I became aware of the way the Brigade is far more than a conglomerate of separate units spreading across the land: it’s a fellowship, a family, a bunch of friends. I loved serving the Brigade through those years.”

“Now I can continue my relationship with our great movement in my role as Patron of Global Fellowship. As well as those early experiences in Haiti, I’ve had the privilege (and pleasure) of being guest of honour for an East African gathering in Nairobi. All of this has made me aware of the capacity of the BB to contribute to global (heart-)warming! May God bless all its endeavours and God bless you, the reader of these lines, with his grace and his love.”

Find out more about Global Fellowship at globalfellowship.net

The Boys’ Brigade has today launched a new series of e-learning modules for its volunteer leaders.

Three e-learning modules have been launched to leaders across the country – Safeguarding, Managing Risk and Delivering a Quality Programme. The modules are accessed via the organisation’s membership system, Online Brigade Manager (OBM), and importantly will provide leaders with the flexibility to learn at a time and place of their convenience. A fourth module – Introduction to BB – will be launched next month, and these modules will become part of the process for new leaders joining the organisation.

Training for leaders has traditionally taken place face-to-face. However, as the organisation has adapted to the pandemic over the last 18 months, other ways of engaging, supporting and training leaders have been developed. Whilst the opportunities for people to come together and spend time in fellowship will always be important and can never be underestimated, having the flexibility of learning has many benefits and allows BB leaders to take ownership of their learning.

Jonathan Eales, Chief Executive of The Boys’ Brigade, commented:

“We have invested in e-learning as part of our current five-year strategy which focuses on improving the quality and consistency of experience for children and young people. A central part of this strategy is supporting and resourcing over 10,000 leaders to continually develop their skills and refresh their knowledge to ensure we offer a safe and caring environment for children and young people to learn, grow and discover.”

You can find out more about e-learning in the latest Gazette magazine, available online at boys-brigade.org.uk/gazette/introducing-e-learning-for-leaders

In recent days thousands of members of The Boys’ Brigade have joined with the nation to remember all those who sacrificed so much for our freedom.

A group of young people and leaders took part in the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in Whitehall on Remembrance Sunday, 14th November. The commemoration, broadcast live on the BBC, included a march past and the laying of wreaths. For many of the Brigade members present it was their first time participating in such an event, so we want to say thank you and well done to the whole group for representing the organisation so well.

In addition to the events in central London, Brigade members across the country took part in Remembrance events in their local Churches, schools and communities. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic some events once again took on a different form to normal, but we also thank all those who played a part in these commemorations.

Children and young people have also been getting involved as part of their regular programme of activities, learning about Remembrance and why it is important in a variety of ways.

Companies and Battalions have been posting about their involvement in Remembrance on social media. We encourage you to post and share your events to @theboysbrigade and use hashtags #WeWillRememberThem and #BoysBrigade. You can also email us at newsdesk@boys-brigade.org.uk

Check out some photos below showing how our children and young people have been getting involved in Remembrance . . .

[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”27″ display=”basic_thumbnail” thumbnail_crop=”0″]

This week (1st to 5th November) is Trustees’ Week – an annual celebration of the role of trustees, celebrating and all their hard work they for organisations across the country.

The Boys’ Brigade’s trustees are known as the ‘Brigade Executive’, which is made up of elected representatives from the five ‘regions’ of BB UK & RoI – England, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

We asked Michael MacAulay, who is from Inverness and is one of our newer trustees, about the role:

How long have you been part of The Boys’ Brigade?
I have been part of the Brigade since I was 5 years old, joining the Brigade Executive in September last year.

What’s it like being a trustee and what are the main issues you deal with?
Being a trustee is incredibly interesting and eye-opening. We deal with a variety of issues including reviewing Brigade policies and making key decisions around the running of the organisation.

What have you learnt since becoming a trustee?
I have learnt how big an organisation the Brigade is and how much amazing work goes on across the UK and RoI.

What was it like attending your first face-to-face Brigade Executive meeting recently?
It was great to attend my first face-to-face meeting, as all my meetings previously had been virtual. So, it was nice to get to know my fellow trustees a bit better. I think it’s good that we have agreed that one of our meetings each year will be face-to-face while the rest will be virtual.

We are greatly appreciative of all our trustees and thank them for the continuous hard work and effort they put in to help make The Boys’ Brigade even better. You can find out more about our trustees at boys-brigade.org.uk/our-trustees

Margaret Pang is a leader at 7th Gloucester and a member of the Brigade’s International Group. She will be attending the United Nations’ Climate Conference (COP26) in Glasgow from 1st to 12th November, as part of a Global Fellowship delegation including members from Zambia and St Kitts.

Margaret is going to be taking over our Instagram and posting live from COP26 from Sunday 31st October, so make sure you are following @theboysbrigade_ukroi to get involved in the action!

Find out a bit more about Margaret . . .

What is your current role within The Boys’ Brigade?
I am Leader in Charge of Anchors at 7th Gloucester BB & GA as well as helping in all the other age groups. Also, I am the Under 26 representative for the West of England & Channel Islands District on the England Regional Committee and part of the BB International Group.

How long have you been a member of The Boys’ Brigade?
I have been a member of BB for over 9 years; I started when I was 14 and was part of The Girls’ Brigade before that.

Why do you think it is important to attend COP26?
I am very interested in hearing how countries are working together to tackle the issue of climate change and hoping strong actions will come to prevent further damage to the planet we live on. I want to meet with other like-minded people and learn from their experiences.

Why do you think it is important for the BB and young people to be a part of addressing climate change?
Climate change is a reality that is impacting our planet and it is the responsibility of every individual to contribute towards a brighter future. It is the younger generation that will see more of the increasing changes to the environment so we need to take action. Who else should be more invested than us in our own future? Imagine the difference all the children and young people involved with BB could make if we committed to live our lives slightly greener, whilst inspiring others to do the same!

What are you most interested in seeing at COP26?
I’m excited about seeing other BB people from across the world face-to-face, making new friends with other young people, sharing my experience with the BB family, and maybe hoping to see some famous faces!

Make sure to tune in on Instagram from 31st October until 12th November to see what Margaret and her team get up to!

Today, 4th October, we’re celebrating 138 years of working with children and young people and advancing Christ’s Kingdom!

From one group formed in Glasgow on this day in 1883, today The Boys’ Brigade works with around 40,000 children and young people in 1,200 groups across the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, and has spread to around 60 countries across the world.

Check out a message and prayer from our President, Rev Dez Johnston, as we celebrate together today . . .

Share what you’re getting up to to mark the occasion on social media using #BB138

The Boys’ Brigade is delighted to announce that Rev Dez Johnston has been elected to the role of President.

Dez, an ordained Baptist Minister, is the Director of Alpha Scotland and was recently appointed as Europe, Middle East and North Africa Youth Director for Alpha. Before becoming a Christian, he worked as a nightclub bouncer in Glasgow – the city where The Boys’ Brigade began in 1883.

Dez experienced drug and alcohol problems, before meeting his future wife Fiona, who challenged his ideas of faith. This in turn led to him reading the Bible and going along to Church. He was invited on an Alpha Course, which turned the questions he had about whether God exists into a belief that God loves him.

After becoming an ordained Baptist Minister, Dez went on to join Alpha Scotland as their youth co-ordinator, before becoming Director in 2018 where today he serves and supports Churches across the country.

Dez, who succeeds Lord Leslie Griffiths who stood down from the role in 2020, commented:

“It’s amazing to be joining the BB family as President. I’ve been working together with the BB over the last three years and have loved being involved and seeing for myself the work that is going on. I know I might not look like a President, but then again what does a President look like? More importantly I’m excited about being part of the BB’s work to advance Christ’s kingdom and of supporting their vision of young people experiencing life to the full.”

Jonathan Eales, Chief Executive, commented:

“I am delighted to welcome Dez as our new President. As a Christian youth organisation we are determined to build and to strengthen our partnerships both locally and nationally with the Church. We believe that Dez will be able to support this work and that we will be able to learn from his experiences of working inter-denominationally. Dez has an incredible passion for the love of Jesus which is at the centre of our work.”

The Boys’ Brigade provides opportunities for children and young people to learn, grow and discover in a safe, fun and caring environment which is rooted in the Christian faith. Find out more about our Vision, Mission and Values at boys-brigade.org.uk/ourvision

After a challenging last 18 months, BB groups across the UK and RoI are now restarting their face-to-face activities for the new school year and are open to new children and young people joining the BB family. You can find your nearest BB group at boys-brigade.org.uk/join

Check out a video message from Dez to BB leaders below . . .

We’re back and we’re pleased to launch our new-look website which brings together boys-brigade.org.uk and leaders.boys-brigade.org.uk into a single website for all audiences (Parents/Carers, Leaders, Churches and more!).

Whilst we have launched the website today, we will be continuing to develop the website over the next few weeks, so please bear with us as we complete this transformation.

We would encourage you to take some time to look around our new website. Leaders should find everything they are looking for under ‘Information for Leaders’ or ‘About Us’, but if you are not quite sure or cannot find something then do use the search functionality in the top left hand corner.

We would also ask you to be on the look out for and report any broken links you find along the way, just email us at support@boys-brigade.org.uk and we will get straight on to fixing things.

It’s safe to say that the one constant we’ve had over the past year or so has been change.

The Boys’ Brigade has had to change how we engage with children and young people. Leaders have had to change how they deliver BB. Battalions, Districts and Headquarters have had to adapt the support and resources provided to leaders.

With a new lockdown starting at the end of 2020, we adapted our main leader training to be delivered virtually. With some trepidation we approached the first virtual session of the first pilot course. Will this work? How different will it be to the what we have been used to? Will leaders sign up?

The latter we needn’t have worried about. With 50 places advertised for two pilot courses on the Friday, all were snapped up by the Sunday. A third course was added to cover the waiting list with another 25 places.

It was a whole new experience… not just for the new leaders undertaking their first BB training, but also for the Trainers, so used to standing in front of a group of people now looking at faces on a screen. The response to our virtual Youth Leader Training (YLT) was positive. Of course we missed the informal sharing sessions over a coffee or at the lunch table, but instead we had the opportunity to welcome leaders from all the nations of the UK, a great sharing experience that previously wouldn’t have happened.

“I have just taken part in the online YLT course and it’s been fabulous! Very well organised, informative and easy to access and take part in. Love the group activities and the facilitators are very helpful and experienced.”
Liza, virtual YLT participant

After evaluation of the pilot courses, three further virtual YLT courses are currently underway at the moment.

With restrictions continuing to ease we can hopefully look forward to a return to being able to do more and more in a face-to-face setting, including training. However I believe we do a unique opportunity to reflect in the weeks ahead on what we had before Covid-19, what has been over the 12 months or so and what we have learnt.

Six months ago I would have said that YLT needs to be delivered face-to-face, and whilst that is probably the preferred option, there will be a place for a virtual version or perhaps a blended approach to take advantage of the best of both worlds, meeting the needs of the leaders, reducing time commitment and geographic restraints.

The pandemic has forced us to review and adapt. Looking ahead we need to make sure that the bits we keep will help us maximise the quality of the BB experience for children and young people. Providing quality in all that we do will ensure that we meet our vision, that children and young people may experience life to the full.

Alan Hunter
Leader Development Manager
The Boys’ Brigade