Juniors Fundraise for ‘A Place to Play – Jordan’

October 15th, 2019

Boys from 4th Newtownabbey Juniors section in NI presented a cheque recently to the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Moderator, Rt Rev Dr William Henry for £8.500 to support refugee children in Jordan.

4th Newtownabbey Juniors (based at Carnmoney Presbyterian Church), raised the largest sum of money for the project, at over £1,700, and were asked to present the cheque to the Presbyterian Moderator Dr William Henry.

The 18/19 project ‘A Place to Play – Jordan’ raised funds to construct and equip a playground at a church-run school for refugee children in the town of Fuhais in Jordan, where a local church provides free education to 32 children, aged 4 to 13 years old.

Rev Dr Jim Campbell, Chair of the Presbyterian Boys’ Brigade World Mission Committee said: “Preparations are underway to purchase the equipment for the playground. There are currently 35 pupils at the school in Fuhais mainly from Syria and Iraq with a couple from Egypt.

Each year, the Presbyterian Junior BB Appeal gives Boys’ Brigade Companies in congregations of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland the opportunity to help raise funds in support of an overseas project.

The 19/20 Junior Boys’ Brigade project, ‘Reaching Higher’ will set its sights on raising funds to help build a nursery school for children living in the mountains of the Maasailand heartland in southern Kenya.

Tags: fundraising, juniors
Posted in Northern Ireland, UK & RoI | No Comments »

The Boys’ Brigade partners with easyfundraising

October 8th, 2019

We know how important additional funding can be when it comes to running your group the way you want to – that’s why we’re proud to announce our official partnership with free fundraising website, easyfundraising.

Whether you need extra funds to help improve your programme or to simply offset day-to-day running costs – easyfundraising is a unique way for groups to be able to raise the cash they need, and it’s all completely free!

How does easyfundraising work?

It’s simple. You can raise free donations for your group when leaders and parents/carers use the easyfundraising website to shop online with 4,000 retailers such as eBay, trainline, Just Eat, Groupon, Booking.com, Argos, Next, Halfords and Sports Direct.

Every time your supporters shop using the site your group will receive cashback donations directly from the retailer they shopped with. It doesn’t cost anyone anything extra to shop this way – it’s totally free fundraising! Plus, if you join easyfundraising before 15th December your group could win a £100 donation!

How do we register our group?

Follow these 3 simple steps to start fundraising today:

Sign-up: Register your group for free at easyfundraising.org.uk/the-boys-brigade – it only takes a few minutes.
Shop: Ask leaders and parents/carers to use the easyfundraising site every time they want to shop online – there are 4,000 retailers to choose from, such as M&S, Boden, Topman, ASOS, Uber Eats and trainline.
Raise: Whenever your supporters make a purchase, the retailer they shopped with sends your group a free donation.

To help you kick-start your fundraising grab your free fundraising tools (zip file).

An easy way to give more

1st Airdrie are already seeing the benefit of using easyfundraising. To date, their group supporters have helped them raise over £800. They told us:

“We started a few years ago and parents love it as an easy way to give more. By giving a little through easyfundraising together we have managed to raise over £800. The more money we get the more we can do like part funding DoE and taking young people on adventure camps.”

To secure an extra income for your group, join over 300 Boys’ Brigade groups already using easyfundraising.

Posted in Fundraising, UK & RoI | No Comments »

Celebrating 136 Years of The Boys’ Brigade!

October 4th, 2019

Today the Brigade is celebrating its 136th anniversary, having begun in Glasgow on 4th October 1883.

Over the last 136 years the Brigade has built up a rich heritage which we are rightly proud of, and equally we are proud of the fantastic work that continues to take place in nearly 1,300 communities across the country driven by around 12,000 adult volunteers.

Over 40,000 children and young people are members of the movement and it is great to see that over 7,500 of them started out on their BB adventure in the past year. Members are able to take part in a wide-ranging programme of activities, trips and residentials both in their local area and further afield, as well as opportunities to share and explore the Christian faith.

In recent months we have been challenging Companies to improve the quality of experience for children and young people through our Raise the Bar campaign. This reflects our belief that by focussing on the quality of our work we can see the Brigade reaching out to more children and young people through sustained growth in membership.

We have been active in ensuring that our young people have a voice both internally and externally with them taking a lead in shaping both our movement and the world they live in.

We have also taken the time to reflect on our work to enable us to look ahead and determine our priorities and vision for the future, including by consulting with our membership and carrying out external research.

Much has been achieved over the last year and we thank all those volunteers who give their time so freely to further our vision of children and young people experiencing “life to the full” (John 10:10).

Check out what some of our members had to say about their BB experience…

Posted in UK & RoI | No Comments »

Launching the Awards for the Under 11’s Programmes

September 13th, 2019

Recognising the achievements of our young people is important and alongside the launch of our new programmes for the Anchors and Juniors age groups we are pleased to give leaders a first look at the new awards.

Alongside the core Activity Awards for each age group there are a number of other awards including Membership Award, Nights Away Award and Project Awards.

You can find out more about how each of the awards is gained by checking out the Anchors Awards Information or Juniors Awards Information.

The new awards will be available to purchase from BB Supplies from 1st October 2019. Additional materials to support the programme including leader record cards, certificates, stickers and record charts will also be available from 1st October 2019.

Posted in UK & RoI | No Comments »

Brigade Conference 2019 in Swansea

September 9th, 2019

Over the weekend of 6th to 8th September volunteers from across the Brigade came together in Swansea, Wales for Brigade Conference, giving them the opportunity to socialise, hear updates, participate in workshops, develop skills and look to the future of the organisation.

Most of the weekend’s activities were held in Swansea’s Marriott Hotel, a fantastic waterfront location in the city’s Maritime Quarter.

The conference weekend began on the Friday evening with a welcome reception and remarks from Cllr Mark Child, Deputy Lord Mayor of Swansea as well as Lord Griffiths of Burry Port, Brigade President.

Our Saturday programme began with a time of worship which was led by Revd Steven Bunting, Chaplain of the BB in Wales and Most Revd John Davies, Archbishop of Wales, who spoke on the message of “life to the full” in John 10:10 and thriving in our vision and mission.

Independent review
A thought-provoking update into the early findings of the independent review of our most recent Strategic Plan was presented by Graeme Reekie of Wren and Greyhound. You can read a summary of the early findings presented at Conference here.

Those present were also able to participate in workshops focussed on the new Under 11’s Programme, Faith Development and Managing Change.

As part of our Annual General Meeting a video review of the 2018-2019 session was shown to highlight just some of what has been happening in the Brigade over the last 12 months. The video can be seen below:

A summary of the business transacted at the AGM can be read here.

An update was also given by members of the Brigade staff team on various matters including staffing, the Raise the Bar campaign and the new Under 11’s Programme.

In the evening the conference dinner included a speech by Geoff Wheel, a former Wales international rugby union player and now a leader in the 1st Swansea Eastside Company, who spoke on his background in the sport and his journey to faith in Christ. He was followed by a memorable performance by the Gwalia Singers, a Welsh male voice choir based in Swansea, who showcased a series of Welsh favourites and popular tunes.

Sunday morning worship was held at St Stephen’s Church, home of the 1st Swansea Eastside Company. The service was led by Revd Steven Bunting – also vicar of St Stephen’s – with the sermon delivered by Lord Griffiths. Our thanks to all at St Stephen’s and the 1st Swansea Eastside for their very warm welcome.

Next year’s Brigade Conference will take place from 4th to 6th September 2020 and will be held in Birmingham, England. More details will be published later in the session.

Posted in UK & RoI | No Comments »

Job Vacancy: Support & Development Lead (London)

August 12th, 2019

The Boys’ Brigade is pleased to announce the following vacancy:

SUPPORT & DEVELOPMENT LEAD (LONDON)

The Boys’ Brigade is pleased to announce a vacancy for a Support & Development Lead based in London. Click on the link to view the job description and person specification.

Applications to be received by 5pm on 6th September 2019. Applicants to provide CV and a covering letter explaining how they meet the qualities outlined in the person specification. Applications should be sent by email to Natalie Whipday at natalie.whipday@boys-brigade.org.uk.

For an informal chat about the above role please contact Natalie Whipday on 01442 231 681 (extension 210).

Posted in UK & RoI | No Comments »

Book now to join us in Swansea for Conference 2019

August 6th, 2019

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

The weekend’s programme will take place at the city’s Marriot Hotel (Please note change in venue) located in the Maritime Quarter overlooking Swansea Bay and only a mile from the railway station.

The weekend will feature a packed programme with workshops, worship, opportunities for fellowship, as well as the AGM. The Archbishop of Wales will join us for the opening service on the Saturday at the venue. The Sunday Service will take place at St Thomas Church, home of the 1^stSwansea Eastside.

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.

To book for Brigade Conference please click here to book online.

Posted in UK & RoI | No Comments »

First term of Programme Resources Launched!

July 3rd, 2019

We have launched the first term of our all-new programme resources for the Under 11’s age groups.

The Anchors and Juniors Activity Programmes for Autumn 2019 have been sent out to the Leader in Charge of each age group and all leaders can access the new resources through Online Brigade Manager (OBM). Leaders can also subscribe to receive the activity packs, download the programme planners and information and awards sections.

Find out more at boys-brigade.org.uk/programme/

https://boys-brigade.org.uk/programme/

Posted in Leaders News, UK & RoI | No Comments »

GET INVOLVED: Parents/Carers & Members Perceptions – we need your help!

May 1st, 2019

We are carrying out some research to gain a deeper understanding of how we are perceived by our children, young people and parents. The research will enable us to ensure our offering is fit for purpose, providing a high quality experience for each and every young person in The Boys’ Brigade. The findings will be independently gathered and shared across all levels of the organisation.

In order to carryout this research, we need your help to share the survey link below as widely as possible with parents/carers in your Company to ensure a truly diverse response from across the Brigade.

The survey has been designed to be completed by parents/carers, but there is a part within the survey where we are asking children and young people to complete a number of questions. At the appropriate point in the survey the parent/carer is asked to indicate whether they are happy for their child to participate and encourages them to hand the device over to their child to answer a number of questions, for younger children the parent/carer may work through the questions with the child and input the answers on their behalf, but where possible it asks that the child answers these questions themselves before handing back the device to their parent/carer.

Please share the following link with parents/carers:
https://sv.censuswide.com/survey/cw5073b

The survey will only be running until end of May 2019, so please ensure you do not delay in distributing the link, it can be sent out by email, text message or promoted on social media and we would like you to encourage as many parents/carers as possible to complete the survey. We will be providing a prize to the Company which generates the most responses.

Posted in England, UK & RoI | No Comments »

4th Newtownabbey Crowned Champions in Masterteam 2018/19

April 24th, 2019

The team from 4^th Newtownabbey company, The Boys’ Brigade, has clinched the organisation’s Masterteam title at the finals held on Saturday 6^th April in Lanark.

BB Companies from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales competed at the finals at the Lanark Memorial Hall, South Lanarkshire. This annual quiz competition sees teams from each part of the British Isles compete for the honour of being crowned The Boys’ Brigade Masterteam Champions.

The team from 4^th Newtownabbey competed well against stiff opposition from teams from 3^rd Gateshead, 1^st Guildford, 128^th Glasgow, 2^nd Gourock, and 1^st Granshaw. In a very close final, 4^th Newtownabbey finished on 83 points only six ahead of the 2^nd Gourock side who came second.

Andrew, member and captain of the title-winning 4^th Newtownabbey team, said:

“There’s so much more preparation required than you’d imagine. We made sure to study hard ahead of the final.

“Hopefully the company can retain the title next year. Although two of the team will be too old, we have really good younger members coming through.”

Teams have come through regional heats to make it to the finals having shown teamwork, commitment and concentration.

Jason, member of the second-placed side from 2^nd Gourock, said:

“We really felt we deserved to reach the finals after coming through the heats well.

“Events like Masterteam are important for the BB as you get the opportunity to represent your own company, but also meet up with members from across the UK.”

Medals and trophies were presented to the teams by Charles Bow, District Commissioner from Scouts Scotland.

Masterteam is one of five competitions in which members from across the UK and RoI compete. Members aged 11 -18 also participate in badminton, table-tennis, chess and football.

View the full final results

Photos from the event

Posted in Northern Ireland, RoI, Scotland, UK & RoI, Wales | No Comments »

President’s Message Following Nigeria Boys’ Brigade tragedy

April 23rd, 2019

Our President has sent this message to our BB family in Nigeria following news that at least ten members of Gombe Boys’ Brigade have been killed on Sunday evening. It is reported that a car crashed into the group whilst on a procession ahead of Easter celebrations.

The Boys’ Brigade is one big family and it stretches to every corner of the world. So when one part suffers we all feel the pain. The news from Gombe has stunned us. We feel so far away and yet so close to you at this difficult time. We will be asking our members across the United Kingdom and in Ireland to hold you all in their prayers. Please convey our deepest sympathy to the families, the BB leaders and members of the Companies involved. You are in our minds and on our hearts. God bless you all and keep you firmly in the embrace of His love.

Leslie Griffiths

The Rev’d the Lord Griffiths of Burry Port

President of the Boys’ Brigade

Posted in UK & RoI | 5 Comments »

Obituary: Ian Slater

April 10th, 2019

Ian Slater – 15 October 1933 – 25 January 2019

At the service of thanksgiving and celebration of Ian’s life, we spoke of Ian’s life as a rich tartan with its foundation colour being his strong Christian Faith. The strands of colour that were woven into the tartan were that of a Christian Family with his fellow BB Officers – his late wife Iris and his son Jimmy; his service in advancing Christ’s Kingdom in and through The Boys’ Brigade; and as a committed member, elder, Clerk to the Board and Session Clerk in Bainsford Church as well as lengthy service as a Presbytery Elder. A further strand of colour in the tartan was Ian’s working life the majority of which was an Inspector with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (now Children First). Ian gave freely of himself to the care of children and did so at times in the face of violence towards himself but always put the care of young people to the fore.

In Penicuik in 1941, Ian went to join the Cubs! The pack was full so he became a Lifeboy instead beginning a lifelong involvement and commitment to the BB Movement. Church and BB ALWAYS woven together for Ian – Cross and Anchor indivisible. Through shared Church and BB, was how he met and married his dearly loved Iris. When he applied for work with RSSPCC, Ian was clear that it was his BB experience and clear concern for the welfare of young people that meant he was offered the job despite having no formal social work training.

Ian loved sharing many happy memories of his life in The Boys’ Brigade. One memory of his boyhood years: Ian was very proud to have taken part as a runner in taking the King’s Message to the 1951 Festival of Britain – a message that started out from Pennyland House in Thurso. After BB Officership in Gorebridge and Penicuik, on the move to Falkirk, Ian served as Officer, Company Section OIC, Captain (17 years) and as an active Honorary Captain of 8^th Falkirk. In addition, he was active at Battalion and National Level including Battalion Presidency from 1992 -97. For a number of years he encouraged and maintained standards among boys working for their Queen’s Badge.

In Church, he was a lifelong and committed member. He was ordained as an Elder in Penicuik. It was a very proud day for Ian, Iris and Jimmy when Jimmy was ordained an elder on the 25^th Anniversary of his own ordination.

All of the activities in which Ian participated were done with the very real and active support of a close and loving family. We see a picture of Ian, Iris and Jimmy all in BB uniform and all united in a real and active desire to serve others and in words from the BB Object to advance Christ’s Kingdom.

A rich and truly unique tartan representing a man who lived a life of integrity and service and with true compassion for humanity and most especially for young people all based on a faith displayed God’s love. Physical death cannot take that rich legacy, that rich colourful resplendent tartan from us. How can we truly honour his memory and give thanks for all that he gave? – by serving others as he served US and our wider community.

Thank you, Ian!

His friend and former Minister,

Derek Gunn

(Chaplain, BB Scotland)

Posted in Scotland | No Comments »

1st Lenzie Leader receives British Empire Medal

April 5th, 2019

A man who has dedicated his life to The Boys’ Brigade (BB) has been presented with a British Empire Medal (BEM) at a ceremony at East Dunbartonshire Council HQ.

The BEM is the latest prestigious honour bestowed on Alistair Whitelaw from Lenzie, who has received many accolades for his work with the 1st Lenzie BB Company over the last 50 years.

Since 1965 Alistair has given up weekends and evenings to work with young people in the community in his numerous roles as a BB Officer and also as a Duke of Edinburgh Award instructor. He has been BB President’s and Queen’s Badge Instructor, Wayfaring and First Aid instructor and the Company’s colours holder. Alistair has also taken the BB Bible Class on many occasions and organises the annual 1st Lenzie BB Christmas card delivery for charity.

HM Lord-Lieutenant of Dunbartonshire, Rear Admiral Michael Gregory OBE, presented Alistair with his BEM on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen at an Investiture in the Council headquarters in Kirkintilloch this week.

Alistair said,

“It has been a very rewarding experience working with young people for so many years. Very often young people get a bad press, but having been involved with both the BB and the Duke of Edinburgh Awards I know what a wonderful contribution young people make to society.”

Alistair continued,

“It is a great honour to receive the BEM and I would like to thank my friends and family, and particularly my wife Margaret, for all their support.”

Alistair has previously received recognition for his work and in 2011 he was awarded the Strathkelvin Battalion’s Long Service Award for 62 years’ service and he was presented with a long service certificate on behalf of Lord Griffiths of Bury Port, President of The Boys Brigade in 2015. In 2016 he was given a Royal Commendation for his 50 years’ service to the 1st Lenzie BB Company and Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme, presented by the Earl of Wessex at the Palace of Holyrood House. More recently, in 2018, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Youth Link Scotland, Youth Worker of the Year Awards from John Swinney, MSP, the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary.

Admiral Gregory said,

“Thanks to his unwavering dedication, Alistair has shaped the lives of many young people in Lenzie over the last 70 years. He has gone above and beyond the call of duty as a BB Officer with 1st Lenzie Company and his commitment as a member and Elder of Lenzie Union Parish Church and as a Duke of Edinburgh Award instructor, is very admirable.

“There are many elements to the work that I do as Lord-Lieutenant of Dunbartonshire, but meeting people like Alistair, who have made such a tremendous impact on the lives of others, is undoubtedly the highlight.”

The Investiture was also attended by Vice Lord-Lieutenant Jill Young, Deputy Lieutenant Mr Gerard McElroy who read the citation and other Deputy Lieutenant members of the Honours & Awards Committee.

East Dunbartonshire Provost, Alan Brown, said,

“Alistair is a well-respected and much admired member of the Lenzie community, and even after 70 years of commitment, he is still inspiring young people as an officer at the 1st Lenzie BB Company. It was an honour to meet Alistair and a great pleasure to welcome his family and friends to the Council Chambers to see him receive the BEM for his services to the Boys’ Brigade in East Dunbartonshire.”

Music for the special event was provided by the East Dunbartonshire String Orchestra, featuring pupils from Bearsden Academy and Douglas Academy.

You can find out more about the 1st Lenzie company by visiting its facebook page.

Tags: DofE
Posted in Scotland, UK & RoI | No Comments »

Congratulations Graduates!

April 1st, 2019

Young volunteers receive national recognition

The achievements of 29 young volunteers from The Boys’ Brigade have been recognised at a national graduation ceremony at St Ninian’s Church, Stonehouse, South Lanarkshire, on Saturday (30 March).

The young people from BB groups from across Scotland have graduated from The Boys’ Brigade’s 2017/18 KGVI youth leadership course. The course, which is levelled and credit rated by the SQA to the Scottish Credit & Qualifications Framework, is designed especially for young people aged 17 – 21 to support them move into leadership roles within The Boys’ Brigade.

The experience is like no other offered within the organisation and equips participants with the skills, knowledge and confidence to become an effective youth leader.

KGVI graduate Heather Paul, 19, is a young leader with the 8^th Paisley BB.

She said:

“KGVI has boosted my confidence, helped me grow as a person and allowed me to make so many new friends. It has made a huge difference to my life.”

Iain Lang, 18, 1^st Alloway BB, also graduated from the training.

He said:

“KGVI was a fantastic experience – I made loads of friends and memories which will last a lifetime.”

The graduation also featured entertainment from Graduate Josh and staff member Ross

The course, lasting 53 weeks, consists of two one-week residentials take place at Carronvale House, The Boys’ Brigade’s national training, recreation and residential facility in Larbert, Stirlingshire – and a year of supervised support leading activities in local BB groups. Since the 1990s, it has been endorsed by the CLD Standards Council for Scotland.

Alan Anderson, KGVI course leader and BB volunteer leader, highlighted the impact these young people will have on the organisation and the wider community.

He said:

“Our course was designed to enable everyone to further develop existing talents and skills as well as learning new ones.

“These young leaders are driving forward our organisation and will impact on the lives of many young folks coming up through the different sections. They will help shape and guide the future of the youngsters within their own BB sections and further afield, and have the opportunity to be one of the most positive role models in their lives.”

KGVI training was started in 1954 in memory of King George VI and since its inception over 2,400 young people have participated in the course.

Alan Hunter, Training and Development Officer at The Boys’ Brigade, said:

“Many congratulations to the KGVI Graduates who have worked so hard to complete the training. They and their families should be incredible proud of this achievement.

“The BB offers a wide range of training and skills development opportunities, but the KGVI experience is unique – offering young people a chance to develop leadership skills, create lasting memories and also achieve a recognised qualification.

“From communication and presentation skills, to first aid and faith development, KGVI offers the space to learn important life skills, discover hidden talents and grow as individuals.”

To find out more about the KGVI Youth Leadership course, please go to the KGVI page.

Tags: KGVI
Posted in Scotland, UK & RoI | No Comments »

220 Young People Excel in Bands Contest

March 29th, 2019

220 members of The Boys’ Brigade participated in the organisation’s Scottish Bands Contest last Saturday afternoon (23 March) at Hutcheson’s Grammar School in Glasgow.

The Bands Contest is the Annual showcase and competition event for new and established bands from across the organisation in Scotland.

The audience of over 300 people was entertained by brass, woodwind and pipe musicians from across the country. This year’s event welcomed bands from Largs, Troon, Dundee, Monifieth, Bearsden, Wishaw, Johnstone, Kincardine, Port Glasgow and Dunblane.

Clinching the Pipe Band Championship trophy was the band from 1^st Troon and in the Marching Band Championship class, Wishaw Brigade Band took the title. 1st Bearsden Pipe Band triumphed in the Development Pipe Band band category and the band from 3rd Johnstone won the Marching Band Development competition.

This event, which first took place in 1980, also welcomed several members from Girls’ Brigade Scotland.

Sean Duff, 16, member of the Dunblane Band, said:

“I’ve learned how to play music from scratch in The Boys’ Brigade. There’s no way I would be able to read music if it weren’t for the opportunities here. I have had great opportunities, such as the bands tour to Germany last year.

“I am proud to be in be in the BB. It’s belonging to a community which is encouraging and educational, but it’s relaxed and there’s plenty time to have a laugh.”

John Sharp, Director of The Boys’ Brigade in Scotland, said:

“This year’s Contest was a wonderful occasion and a perfect demonstration of musical talent and teamwork. Every young person and adult volunteer should be immensely proud of what they have achieved.

“Music allows young people to develop both hard and soft skills, providing an opportunity to express themselves, develop their musical talents and also work as a team. I believe it is so important that every young person has access to quality music tuition – in schools and in the community.

“Whether in music, creativity, science, sport, social action or adventure, The Boys’ Brigade is passionate about giving young people the space to grow and reach their full potential.”

Red Hot Chilli Pipers’ Craig Munro was amongst the contest’s adjudicators. Craig stressed the importance of events such as BB Bands Contest.

He said:

“These competitions are vitally important as it gives the young people so many different challenges – playing as one within the band, but also playing in front of an audience.”

There was a wide age range amongst the bands, with some players as young as seven and as old as 18 performing.

Logan Stewart, 11, Member of the 6^th/8^th Dundee Band, said:

“I’ve started learning to play to pipes in the BB four years ago. It’s really fun and opens up many new opportunities. I’ve been able to play lots of local and national events – and even competitions like the Scottish Bands Contest.”

Scott Ellis, 14, bandmaster and member of the 1^st Bearsden BB Pipe Band, said:

“I started to learn to play the pipes in BB only a couple of years ago. Having a pipe band is a great opportunity for BB members. The Bands Contest is a really important event because it’s a chance to show how good you are, but also learn on what areas we need to improve on.

“I hope to continue playing the pipes long after I’ve left the BB.”

Since the first event in 1980, over 12,000 young people have performed at The Boys’ Brigade’s Scottish Bands Contest. To learn more about music and the wider opportunities of BB, please visit boys-brigade.scot

Tags: scottish bands contest
Posted in Scotland, UK & RoI | No Comments »

Raise the Bar Roadshows in England & Wales – Book your place now!

March 22nd, 2019

The ‘Raise the Bar’ Roadshow is coming to a venue near you . . .

This session we have challenged ourselves to raise the bar and build on the quality of what we offer as an organisation. As part of our committment to raise the quality of experience for children and young people we will be running eight roadshows across the region.

The roadshows will create the opportunity to bring leaders together and offer updates and workshops from both a Regional and Headquarters perspective led by members of staff, key volunteers and external partners including Urban Saints and the Additional Needs Alliance.

The programme for each roadshow will include:

Update on the Raise the Bar Campaign
Introduction to the new Under 11’s Programme
Workshop on Delivering a Quality Programme
Update on Online Brigade Manager (OBM) Developments
Update for Brigade Training Officers on Youth Leader Training (YLT) Relaunch
Workshop on Working with Children and Young People with Additional Needs
Q&A Session with Staff and Key Volunteers

All those attending will receive a goody bag containing a range of resources and samples from some of our partners along with a sample pack containing activity cards for the new Under 11’s Programme. There will be opportunities to talk to members of staff and key volunteers on a wide range of matters and network with leaders both within and outside your Battalion/District.

Book to attend
There is a registration fee of £5 to attend which includes lunch and refreshments throughout the day. You can find your nearest roadshow and book to attend by clicking on the links below. The event page will allow you to book and pay your registration fee online and also provide details of the times and venue along with the full programme.

23rd March	East Midlands and East Anglia
30th March	North London and South Midlands
6th April	South London and South East
13th April	Yorkshire & Humberside
27th April	North West and North Wales
18th May	South West and South Wales
8th June	North East
6th July	West Midlands

Registration is first come first served and there is limited availability so we would encourage you to book as early as possible.

If you have any questions about any of the roadshows please contact England & Wales Office at ewhq@boys-brigade.org.uk or call 01442 288 558.

Posted in England, Leaders News, UK & RoI | No Comments »

Elections Underway!

March 20th, 2019

Voting has begun in the Scottish Youth Parliament elections and will close at 9pm on the 29th March, with the results announced live on Facebook at 11am on Saturday 30th March

This is second time in history that BB members aged 12 – 25 will have the opportunity to vote for their The Boys’ Brigade, as well as their constituency representatives to the democratically elected voice of Scotland’s young people

Standing for election for The Boys’ Brigade are: Cameron Stein (1st Kirkliston), Shashank Swarna(65th Edinburgh), Alastair Thomson (1st Bearsden) and Christopher Winters (7th Wishaw).

Callum Dewar, U26 member of the Scotland Committeee for Glasgow & Dumbarton and leader with 1st Lenzie, said:

“Giving Young People a voice is one of the main aims of the Brigade in Scotland today. We should, as leaders, strive to give our members and voice in their Company, Church, community and nation. Voting in the Scottish Youth Parliament Elections give our young people that opportunity to use their voice nationally.”

Information about the BB candidates and how to vote is available here or by contacting the BB Scottish HQ by email or by calling 01324 562008.

Voted already? Share that you participated in this year’s elections by tweeting using hashtags #SYPelex and #boysbrigade – and tagging @TheBBscotland

Tags: SYP
Posted in Scotland | No Comments »

BB Company’s Anti-bullying Pledge

March 20th, 2019

A rural company of The Boys’ Brigade is setting the precedent for the rest of the organisation by integrating anti-bullying workshops and exercises into its regular programme.

The company section of 1st Millport, made up of young people aged between 11 and 18, have been using free teaching and learning resources from Scotland’s anti-bullying service, respectme to highlight and discuss anti-bullying themes such as inclusion, acceptance, celebrating difference, self-reflection and respect.

The materials form part of the Scottish organisation’s yearlong anti-bullying campaign, #ChooseRespect.

Jackie Wilson, Boys’ Brigade Development Worker and also volunteer leader with the Millport group, said:

“It’s really important for all young people to learn about respect and inclusion of their peers and community but especially so for young people who live in rural communities or, like ours, island communities.

“For The Boys’ Brigade, we want young people to discover more about themselves and the world around them, realise what they are capable of and how their voice can be heard – and that has to include self-respect and respecting others.

Jackie added:

“When young people from Millport go to secondary school they join mainland schools and young people from different backgrounds, and we want to make sure that our young people are as aware of different cultures and people in different circumstances as anybody on the mainland.

“But let’s not forget, young people these days are in no way unaware of diverse issues – social media and the internet has really helped to make the island’s young people more connected to the wider world.

“I believe these sessions are a great way to reinforce to young people the model behaviours they should be mirroring in their real lives and the respect they should be showing to everybody that they come into contact with.”

Katie Ferguson, service director, respectme said:

“It’s really positive to have youth organisations such as The Boys’ Brigade on board and using the #ChooseRespect campaign materials.

“The materials have been developed specifically to help spark conversations in youth settings as well as classroom environments. When it comes to positive relationships and respect, we believe youth groups are hugely influential and important arena for fostering this.

“Informal, fun environments are perfect for engaging young people in anti-bullying conversations and reinforcing respectful behaviour. If we can continue to send coherent and clear anti-bullying messages at each touchpoint in a young person’s life, we can continue on our journey of ensuring every young person in Scotland realises their right to live free from bullying.”

Members of 1st Milllport using the #ChooseRespect resources

The Scottish anti-bullying campaign, #ChooseRespect, builds on last year’s Anti-Bullying Week conversation about what respect means to young people and adults. The campaign this year launched during Anti-Bullying Week in October 2018 and runs until June 2019.

Split across four stages, the campaign aims to build young people’s understanding of key behaviours including respect and how to address bullying behaviours that they might witness. The four stages of the campaign are: Self Reflection (launched in October 2018), Celebrating Difference (launched in January 2019), Building Empathy (launching in March 2019) and Positive Relationships (launching in June 2019).

By signing up to the campaign, BB leaders will gain access to new tools that will help young people fully understand what respect means, and the impact it can have on others.

Those who ‘pledge’ their support are also encouraged to nominate others who work with young people to ensure a far a reach as possible.

For more information on the campaign, to pledge support or to download materials visit chooserespect.scot

Tags: Millport, programme
Posted in Scotland, UK & RoI | No Comments »

President’s Commendation Award

March 19th, 2019

Dylan Gilmartin of the 11th Kingston & Merton Boys’ Brigade Company was presented with the President’s Commendation Award by John Smith, KMMS Battalion President for the actions he took when his Dad collapsed at home. Showing a maturity beyond his years, Dylan kept calm and called the emergency services then comforted his Dad until the emergency services arrived. His Dad has now recovered.

Posted in Awards, England, UK & RoI | No Comments »

5th Hull – Go Kids Go

March 14th, 2019

Go Kids Go ran two wheelchair skills and awareness sessions, one for the Juniors and one for the Company Section so that the members could gain an understanding of the challenges faced by wheelchair users.

Find out more about Go Kids Go here….

Posted in England, Other, UK & RoI | No Comments »

International Women’s Day – Daria’s Story

March 8th, 2019

International Women’s Day – Daria’s Story

A member from Salford has made history by becoming the youngest and one of the first to represent BB on a national youth panel.

Daria Bageac, 14, is representing The Boys’ Brigade & Girls’ Association on the Youth United Foundation’s (YUF) National Youth Panel. The Panel, made up of young people aged 14 to 24 from the UK’s main uniformed organisations, will lead on a research piece as part of a UK Government-funded research programme into Loneliness.

Daria, who moved to the UK with her family two years ago is a is a member of the 53^rd Manchester, based at the Emmanuel Church in Salford.

At only 14, she is the youngest member of the panel which comprises of ten other young people from the Youth United Network.

Daria points to the sense of belonging you get from being part of groups like The Boys’ Brigade.

Daria said:

“I moved here two years ago and my English wasn’t great. It is so hard to meet people and I wasn’t that confident anyway. With The Boys’ Brigade I learned you can still make friends, even with a language barrier.

“Just engaging with others makes you feel part of something. You feel strong and supported.”

The 53^rd Manchester is one nearly 1300 companies The Boys’ Brigade has across the UK and Republic of Ireland, offering children and young people the safe and caring space to learn and grow.

Daria added:

“Being in this group has pushed me out of my comfort zone to try new things. For example when someone beat me at chess, I wanted to get them back. So I learned how to play – and yes, I got my revenge!”

Programmes offered by BB offer a wide range of experiences, including a focus on helping others and developing important life skills.

Daria said:

“It’s about the greater good – developing morals and values that promote respect for yourself and others. That’s good for the whole of society.”

Daria believes that membership of The Boys’ Brigade & Girls’ Association has really helped build her confidence and given her a sense of belonging. She hopes that more young people like her will seek opportunities like those offered by BBGA.

She said:

“I can’t stress how much it helps you with your growth. Whether you like creative or arty activities, or are more sporty and competitive, there’s something for everyone. You just have to take a chance!”

Natalie Whipday, Director for The Boys’ Brigade England & Wales, said:

“I’m inspired by Daria and the countless other young women who are involved in The Boys’ Brigade.

“She embodies what we are all about – young people growing as individuals, making a difference to others and living their lives to the full.”

This year The Boys’ Brigade has received YUF grant funding which will help pilot initiatives to strengthen specific ways of working, including the organisation’s engagement with marginalised young people.

To find out more about the nearest opportunities to get involved as member or volunteer, please visit https://boys-brigade.org.uk/

Tags: IWD
Posted in England, Publicity/PR, UK & RoI | No Comments »

Scottish Youth Parliament Elections

March 6th, 2019

Taking place between 15th – 29th March will be the Scottish Youth Parliament elections. This is an opportunity for BB members and young leaders to vote for their representatives in the democratically elected voice of Scotland’s young people

All BB young people aged 12 – 25 will be eligible to vote for their BB member of the parliament.

Standing for election for The Boys’ Brigade are: Cameron Stein (1st Kirkliston), Shashank Swarna (65th Edinburgh), Alastair Thomson (1st Bearsden) and Christopher Winters (7th Wishaw). You can find out more about each of them and view their candidate profiles here.

Please see the information below regarding this year’s elections. Specific details about the voting process has been sent to company captains and young leaders by email directly. In the meantime, please highlight the candidates and their profiles amongst young people in your BB company.

Hustings ‘Question Time’ Event

Can young people vote twice?

Yes – if they are a member of BB (or a member of another ‘National Voluntary Organisation’) they can vote in their local constituency and for their preferred BB candidate.

Elections process

The BB Elections are taking place online between 9am the 15th and 4pm 29th March. BB young people (aged 12 – 25) will be provided their own unique voter registration number and invited to visit the elections website to cast their ballot during the elections (15 – 29 March). Voting closes at 9pm on Friday 29th March with the results announced live on Facebook at 11am on Saturday 30th March.

Company captains/correspondents have been sent details for members aged 12 – 25, and young leaders have been emailed their details directly. Please contact rhona.drummond@boys-brigade.org.uk should you need further information.

We will be using the ‘Single Transferable Vote’ election system, which means voters will be able to cast their vote in order of preference. During the elections, voters number a list of candidates. Their favourite as number one, their second favourite number two, and so on. Voters can put numbers next to as many or as few candidates as they like.

Voting Instructions

What is SYP?

The Scottish Youth Parliament was set up to act as the voice of young people in Scotland. It offers young people aged between 14 and 25 the opportunity to get involved in the decision-making processes in Scotland and the UK.

The SYP has 200 members, elected from local youth forums or national youth organisations, and from young people who have stood as individuals. The SYP represents and advocates the views of young people in Scotland and aims:

To offer young people in Scotland a collective national youth voice.
To make a difference in society by increasing young people’s participation.
To promote a positive image of young people.
To connect the process of policy making and development with young people.
To be an independent and youth-led organisation free from influence where young people can give their views to policy makers without hindrance, fear or barriers.

Further advice or information

Please email elections@syp.org.uk or contact Niall Rolland at Scottish HQ.

Tags: MSYPs, Scottish Youth Parliament, SYP
Posted in Scotland | No Comments »

Obituary: James Randal McLean

February 21st, 2019

JAMES RANDAL MCLEAN – 12^th January 1945 – 8^th February 2019

The Boys’ Brigade locally and nationally lost one of its finest and most dedicated of servants with the recent passing of Randal McLean .

As a boy Randal attended The Mount and Greenock High Schools before joining the Clydesdale Bank where he spent his entire working career, latterly as a branch manager .

He was an active member and elder at Lyle Kirk in Greenock being ordained into the eldership in 1972 .

Randal was a member of Greenock Golf Club , a keen Morton supporter and he enjoyed time at Greenock Cricket Club too .

Other than his family, Randal’s other true love was The Boys’ Brigade .

He was Captain of 1^st Greenock Company from 1993 to 2006, having been a boy in the Company and then promoted through the ranks as a young adult. During his time as an officer he touched the lives of many boys. He was fiercely proud of all the boys who had passed through the ranks, and was heard to say on many occasions “he was ex 1^st Greenock” when talking about boys who had gone on to achieve great things.

He loved taking the boys to summer camp, and the stories he could tell about their various escapades he could have written a best-seller, but that wasn’t his style, he was a man of discretion who could be trusted to protect the reputation of even the most undeserving.

Even after retiring as Captain, he continued to dedicate his life to the BB, taking on the role of National Competitions Coordinator and continuing to assist countless young men in the 1^st Greenock to achieve their Queen’s Badge.

David Baillie , who succeeded Randal as Captain at 1^st Greenock said ;

“Randal was both a stickler for tradition on the one hand and a forward thinker on the other. He could be relied upon to make helpful suggestions when he felt standards were slipping. He was a rock for all the current staff and always willing to give advice when asked.

“There are hundreds of boys who owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude for encouraging them to fulfill their potential and many will credit him with playing a big part in shaping the person they are today. He was an outstanding role model for the boys of the Company and his legacy will live on through them .”

The President of Inverclyde & District Battalion Alan Aitken MBE said

“Randal McLean was a BB man through and through. He dedicated his entire life to The Boys’ Brigade, both locally and nationally, and his commitment to the organisation was unquestionable. We will miss his wise counsel and his desire to see things done properly .

“Like all great servants to the Brigade it will be some time before we all realise, whether locally here in Inverclyde or further afield, the full extent of all of the things he did for The Boys Brigade.”

Mr McLean’s extremely moving funeral services were conducted by Rev Owen Derrick at a packed Lyle Kirk. Amongst the mourners were the Brigade Secretary Bill Stevenson and Director for Scotland John Sharp .

John Sharp added:

“Randal was a big part of the Brigade family in Scotland. He dedicated so much of his life to supporting young people to learn and grow both locally in Greenock and across Scotland through his involvement in the National Competitions.

“I know he will missed by missed by so many in The Boys’ Brigade.”

And in a final mark of respect, one of the largest Guards of Honour in recent memory , with his beloved 1^st Greenock Company at the head, was formed as Randal took his final journey at Greenock Crematorium on Tuesday afternoon.

Alan Aitken MBE, David Baillie and Karen Glen , Inverclyde & District Battalion

Posted in Scotland | No Comments »

Duke of Edinburgh Award Case Studies – Holly and Oliver 2nd Sawston

February 8th, 2019

Throughout 2019 we’ll be capturing stories from individuals involved with the DofE about their experiences.

If you would like your story to be used within our digital media and other channels please complete the DofE questionaire and send to robert.powell@boys-brigade.org.uk along with any photos you are happy for us to share.

In each case study, the young people explain what membership to The Boys’ Brigade means to them, which parts of the Award they enjoyed the most and future involvement as a volunteer.

Oliver Borley – 2nd Sawston

Duke of Edinburgh is a very special award and has gone a long way to develop me into the person I am today, it has not only given me the skills that I now use in my day to day job, but to have the bronze silver and gold award on my cv allowed me to secure a degree apprenticeship in construction management with Farrans construction who are a big building company across the UK, and I believe that DOFE was a big factor in me securing that job, so if you are considering doing the award, my advice would be go for it, you will create friends and memories that last a lifetime.

How many years of service in The Boys’ Bridge: 12

What does the membership of The Boys’ Brigade mean to you?

It means I am part of not just a worldwide organisation, that is recognised in many countries around the world, but I am partner of a wider family and living by the principles and conduct of The Boys’ Brigade.

Do you think you will continue to volunteer?

Yes I will, I will continue to teach and develop the young buglers in the band of my company and on a national level when we go on the Boys’ brigade band tour where I am solo bugler and a bugle instructor.

Which part of the DofE did you enjoy the most?

I really enjoyed the expedition side of the award, it was a great opportunity to explore different parts of the country and be out with your friends creating bonds and memories that I will never forget, and the great sense of achievement of completing every expedition is a truly tremendous feeling.

How has the DofE experience helped in your personal development?

It has enhanced my leadership skills of people not only my age but also younger and older. It has made me a more rounded person by giving me opportunities to lead, experience and enjoy things I never would have done.

It has given me the chance to effect people’s lives for the better and being able to go on to the KGVI course allowed me to explore thoughts and feelings I never would have uncovered.

What will be your long lasting memory you will take from DofE?

There have been so many great memories and experiences I have had with the award from starting my bronze with enough kit to last 3 people for two weeks on my back, to picking up my gold award at Buckingham palace earlier this year.

But the memory I will take with me is completeing my gold expedition in the Brecon Beacons two weeks after coming off crutches, which I had been on for three and a half months, after breaking my knee, the feeling of reaching the finish with my friends will be with me for the rest of my life.

Have you worked on any other awards alongside the DOFE?

I haven’t don’t anything similar like the queens badge.

Holly Burgess – 2nd Sawston

I would recommend this to anyone that would like to get out and go and be yourself, and make new friends for life.

How many years’ service do you have in The Boys’ Brigade?

Do you think that you will continue volunteering?

I will continue volunteering at my Company as they have given me so many opportunities within the group which I am grateful for. I would like to give my time back to the children that are there now, I was once them at their age and its great to see the children grow up and become young adults.

Which part of The DofE Award did you enjoy the most and why?

I really enjoyed my residential as it gave me a qualification, it also gave me the opportunity friends for life , I met so many new people. It also gave me the chance to develop my faith more. It was enjoyable to be away for a week, learn about other Companies and how they worked compared to us.

How has The DofE experience helped in your personal development?
The DofE has helped me through a lot, I didn’t think I was fit enough to complete it. It really did prove me wrong in what I was capable of doing. It brought friendships closer, and grew my confidence with different people. It gave me skills I thought I never had before.

What is the lasting memory you will take from The DofE experience?

My lasting memory will be that I wanted to give up on my sliver expedition I wanted to give up because I didn’t think I was physically fit enough. But I was so grateful for the boys in my group they wouldn’t let me give up and they helped me carry my bag for a good distance. I will not forget how well my team worked together.

Posted in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, UK & RoI, Wales | No Comments »

Ocean Youth Trust Scotland

February 7th, 2019

The Boys’ Brigade has organised a number of voyages for young people and leaders in the past with the Ocean Youth Trust Scotland. This year OYT has provided The Boys’ Brigade with some new opportunities for both young people and leaders.

Group Leader Training weekend

An exciting chance for BB adult leaders to step onboard our boats for a weekend and see ‘what it’s all about’. OYT Scotland is offering the chance for leaders to have a weekend learning all about our programmes and the different options for them; how they would suit your young people; and just how affordable they might be. What’s even better – you actually get to go sailing!

The charge of this weekend is simply to cover the cost of food, so OYT would ask for a contribution of £50 per person for the weekend.

The dates available are – 5^th to 7^th April or the 12^th to 14^th April.

Both weekends start and finish in Greenock.

The Boy’s Brigade Group Voyage Offer

Due to funding secured OYT is offering groups from The Boy’s Brigade hugely subsidised voyages, these five-day voyages are now being offered at £3,000 (the delivery cost for them is £10,720). This would be for either 10 young people and one or two group leaders, or if you feel it is suitable you could send 12 young people unaccompanied. There are a number of groups who do this as it both makes the cost per young person lower but it is entirely your decision.

On this voyage OYT could offer an SQA Employability Programme, great both for those looking to boost their CV but also for those looking to develop their confidence and leadership potential. Or we could run a personal development programme for younger students looking to build their resilience and self-esteem.

The dates available currently are –

27^th to 31^st May (Greenock)
3^rd to 7^th June (Greenock)
8^th to 12^th July (Oban to Kyle of Lochalsh)
19^th to 23^rd August(Greenock)
26^th to 30^th August (Greenock)
9^th to 13^th September (Greenock)
16^th to 20^th September (Greenock)
23^rd to 27^th September (Greenock)

BB Individual Place Offer

If groups find that they have individuals keen but not enough to fill a boat, two groups could come together, or offer spaces on the Individual voyages for 12-15 year olds and 16-24 year olds. These voyages are longer at seven days and a great chance to meet new people and enjoy a huge adventure. Normally charged at £810 per person , these are being offered at £510 per person.

The dates for these are –

12-15s Individual voyage – 15^th to 21^st July (Starting and finishing in Oban)
16-24s Individual voyage – 29^th July to 4^th August (starting in Oban and finishing in Greenock)

If anyone would like to discuss these options further, please contact Alistair Carter, Senior Development Officer at OYT by calling 01475 722 722 or by emailing Alistair@oytscotland.org.uk

Posted in Scotland | No Comments »

Launching our new Programmes for Under 11’s

January 29th, 2019

We are pleased to announce that new programmes for both the Anchors and Juniors age groups will be launched in April 2019 ready for take up in the 2019-2020 session.

Through our programmes we want to provide children and young people with opportunities to develop skills, to be creative, to have adventures, to try new things, to get to know Jesus and to make a difference. The new programmes have Activity Areas which will be used in both age groups, providing consistency for children and young people as they move through the organisation, as well as making it easier for those leaders that volunteer in more than one age group.

Read the full article

Posted in England, Northern Ireland, RoI, Scotland, UK & RoI, Wales | 2 Comments »

Raise the Bar: Taking on the Challenges

January 25th, 2019

Raise the Bar’ is our campaign for 2018-19 and based on 10 challenges for each Company, Battalion and District focussed on raising the quality of experience for children and young people in The Boys’ Brigade. We are encouraging everyone to get involved and take on the challenges and in this issue we bring together two challenges ‘Getting together as a Staff Team’ and also ‘Programme Planning’.

Steve Dickinson, former Brigade Secretary and Chief Executive (2004 to 2015) shares some of his thoughts on taking on these challenges.

From Brigade Secretary to Kit Boy

I had been to support the Juniors at the Battalion 5 a side tournament and was putting the kit bag containing the shirts into the car when someone made the remark about moving from Brigade Secretary to kit boy.

Many of us have or have had a variety of roles in the Brigade. The movement relies on volunteers taking on a range of positions in Companies, Battalions and wider afield. In the different roles held, I have attended some pretty dire meetings, and run some too. I guess, like most of us, after a particularly excruciating experience I have returned home wondering what the point of that was and making a mental note to be busy on the date of the next meeting. But staff meetings in Companies are important. They build staff teams; ensure everyone feels valued and keen to contribute and mean that the children and young people have the best possible experience.

RAISE THE BAR: CHALLENGE
Get together as a staff team –
The Challenge: Formally and socially come together to plan,to share and to celebrate.

So, what’s the best way to ensure staff meetings deliver positive outcomes that make a difference and improve what we offer children and young people?

The critical question to start with is, ‘What are we seeking to achieve?’

Obviously, the Brigade Object is paramount, but how does the advancement of the Kingdom manifest itself with different age groups and what else are we trying to accomplish with those who join the Company?

When I returned as a Company Captain in 2011, I called a meeting of the whole staff – any adult volunteer that worked in any section in any capacity. I think they were expecting a planning meeting in age groups for the new session, but I simply posed the question, ‘What are we seeking to achieve?’

It’s a change of mind-set

It’s a change of mind-set away from what we do to why we do it. It took some time to move away from simply thinking of activities, both traditional and new, to occupy the members, to think about why we were gathering them together in the first place. But perseverance paid off and we created the following list. We agreed the purpose of the Company was:

To create:

An atmosphere to help young people experience and explore the Christian Faith
A place where any young person can feel valued and important
An opportunity for young people to try out new activities. Things they wouldn’t normally do.
A place where young people are given responsibility
An opportunity to experience new challenges
A place where we recognise individual achievement
The development of a strong group identity
An environment where young people take responsibility for each other and develop an awareness of the needs of others
A place where young people are listened to and have a say
A place where young people have fun

Action:
Try doing this in your own Company or Section and see what you can come up with as a Staff Team.

Once the list is created, programme planning focuses on what do we do to meet these objectives.

RAISE THE BAR: CHALLENGE
Programme Planning –
The Challenge: Make sure you are planning at least a term ahead.
Look to bring in new activities to your programme which will help towards ensuring attendance and a high-quality programme. Consider what skills you will need to make this possible.

How do you go about creating an atmosphere where children and young people can explore the Christian Faith?

This question leads to a much more meaningful discussion than simply planning the devotions rota. It considers methods of communication, modelling of life-styles, reviewing and reflecting on what brought us to faith and how we share that with the young people. This doesn’t mean that you will end up changing what you do, but it links the faith aspects of the programme to the whole evening and doesn’t compartmentalise God to the opening service.

Other objectives may be easier to consider such as ‘An opportunity to experience new challenges’:

If you have agreed as a staff team that this is an entitlement for your children and young people in all age groups, think about the different ways this could be achieved. If you have a Company band, this will provide challenges for those who opt to join it. Introduce new games as well as repeating old favourites. Are you able to offer a residential activity and are the programmes and activities reflective of the age groups? Here, of course, you can meet other objectives. Giving responsibility to the Seniors for younger members (tent commanders/leaders) and involving them from the very start in what activities they want the camp to offer. Sometimes such as with a residential, staff may require additional training to be able to offer this activity. Therefore, plan ahead if any leaders need to attend a specific training course such as Holiday Leadership or Campcraft. Many Companies offer the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and the Queen’s Badge as vehicles to offer challenge, taking responsibility and skill development with the older members.

It doesn’t mean that you have to change everything

You will understand the concept of what I am saying. It doesn’t mean that you have to completely change your programme. On the contrary, in our case it confirmed the importance of some tried and tested old favourites for our staff, but we had considered again why we were doing them. Knowing why we are doing something is critical. And it isn’t necessarily a formal part of the programme and may never get written on the plan.

Greeting each young person as they arrive, asking about their week and taking an interest in their life outside BB shows we value them as individuals. Making young people feel valued is vital and the relationships we build often determine whether a young person stays. It provides the very fabric on which we share our faith and delivers a model often far more powerful than the words we say.

I do appreciate that with the pressures of everyday life, it’s difficult even to get everyone together to plan a set of activities. But, if you can, reflect on what you are seeking to achieve and work with the young people to create a programme that moves towards delivering this.

It’s time well spent and a meeting with a purpose.

Check out our resource ‘Delivering a Quality Programme’ which provides further advice and support on programme planning at
boys-brigade.org.uk/bb-gazette/delivering-quality-programme/

Find out more about Raise the Bar and find support and ideas to help you take on the challenges at
leaders.boys-brigade.org.uk/raisethebar.htm

Posted in UK & RoI | No Comments »

Blog: “The BB is making a real and lasting impact.”

December 19th, 2018

As we approach not only the end of 2018, but also Scotland’s ‘Year of Young People’, Director for The Boys’ Brigade in Scotland, John Sharp reflects on the last 12 months and shares his hopes for the year ahead.

The year has flown by and suddenly we are half way through December! How did that happen?

2018 was designated by the Scottish Government as the ‘Year of Young People’ and I’m glad to see how much BB has embraced this national themed year. We have celebrated the achievements and the contribution of young people in our country, and it has made it a very special year.

Of course as we have said many times during the 2018, every year should be a year to celebrate and recognise what young people can achieve.

It’s difficult to pick out just one or two highlights from the year (see our video review for some of them). I may only have been Director for Scotland for a relatively short time, but it has been so rewarding to see some of the young people I have been fortunate to work together with grow and develop. Our new partnership with the Church of Scotland Guild is titled ‘Faith in Young People’ and I think this not only captures our Object, but also the fact that we have faith in young people’s ideas, abilities and contribution. I have been inspired so many times over the last 12 months by our young people – at a BB camp, the KGVI Youth Leadership course, Youth Voice 18, Brigade Conference, Queen’s Badge presentation and Juniors Sleepover to mention only a few.

We can also be proud that this year marks 135 years of the Brigade working with children and young people in Scotland. The BB has a rich heritage and history, but also one full of ambition and innovation. Whilst it is important to mark achievements and milestones, we should always be considering how we engage a new generation of young people – and also the wider community. We all have different ways of describing the BB. We all have different stories to share of what the BB means to us and why we are part of the BB family. I have found the three words of Learn, Grow and Discover to be effective in conveying what we do on a weekly basis with the young people whose lives we are a part of.

As we go into another year of young people, I hope that we may we be confident and bold in who we are as an organisation, what we are doing and why we are doing it. To each and every individual young person, The BB is making a real and lasting impact.

My hope and prayer for the new year is that we all continue to learn, to grow and to discover.

Wishing you a joyous Christmas and a peaceful 2019.

John Sharp is Director for Scotland for The Boys’ Brigade. You can follow him on Twitter: @JohnBBscotland

2018 in Review – The Boys’ Brigade in Scotland from The Boys’ Brigade on Vimeo.

Tags: yoyp2018
Posted in Scotland | No Comments »

Funding Boost for Kincorth BB

December 4th, 2018

An Aberdeen BB company has received a massive funding boost to support the delivery of digital skills for young people.

The ‘Coding Kincorth; Building Skills for a Digital Future’ project beat off competition from other local projects to receive a total of £3730 which will be used to deliver and promote digital skills amongst its members.

The boys, parents, carers, friends and family all pulled together for the UDecide event at their local community centre in Kincorth, Aberdeen. The BB company along with other organisations from the local community gave presentations on their projects and then residents of Kincorth above the age of 10 were able to vote on the projects that they would like to have funded.

Michael Aberdein, captain of the 46^th Aberdeen, said:

“We are looking forward to delivering STEM activities and our Boys are looking forward to learning new skills and getting a chance to try out new technology, it will be a really good way to engage with them.

“The fact that we received the most votes in the public vote, shows how much support the BB has in the local area and the value the community sees in the activities we offer.”

The equipment will include Raspberry Pi programming devices, Lego Creator Kits, Fisher Price computer toys for younger boys and ‘build your own’ computer kits.

Using these new resources, the volunteer leaders at the 46^th plan to deliver sessions including computer programming, graphic design, stop-motion animation, podcasting and desktop publishing and will also be equipping Boys with the skills to use IT and the Internet safely.

You can find out more about the 46^th Aberdeen by visiting its facebook page.

The Boys’ Brigade in Scotland is also looking for STEM Ambassadors to support the development of science, technology, engineering and maths within the BB setting. Learn more

Tags: Aberdeen, funding, STEM
Posted in Scotland, UK & RoI | No Comments »

BB Members Raise Money for Refugees

November 28th, 2018

Members of The Boys’ Brigade across Scotland have raised over £6500 to support refugee children in Egypt.

£6509 will go to support the work of St Andrew’s Refugee Service (StARS) in Cairo as part of the Boys’ Brigade / Church of Scotland World Mission Fund. The money will be used to build outdoor play facilities for refugee children and young people for StARS, which provides a safe and inclusive space for displaced people to come together as a community.

The Rt Rev Susan Brown, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, received the cheque on behalf of BB/CoS World Mission at a special presentation evening in Largs on Friday 16th of November. Mrs Brown also presented the awards to the companies which had raised the largest amounts in each age group.

Mrs Brown with members of 2nd Campsie

The winners in each sections were: Anchors – 1st/2nd Milngavie; Junior Section – 2^nd Campsie; Company Section and Best Average Winners – 268^th Glasgow.

BB groups raised the money in variety of different ways – from weekly collections to sponsored events. 2nd Campsie, winners in the Junior Section category, raised money by cycling round the Island of Cumbrae.

John Sharp, Director for The Boys’ Brigade in Scotland, attended the presentation.

He said:

“I would like to congratulate all those members who have raised money to support St Andrew’s Refugee Service, especially from the companies who have received awards this evening. It is particularly special to see their efforts celebrated by so many, including the Moderator, The Rt Rev Susan Brown.

“Raising money for such worthwhile causes is only part of the story, however. The World Mission Fund enables our members to discover more about the world around them and learn how they can make a positive difference to the lives of others.”

Also attending the presentation were members of the 1st Largs company, whose pipe band provided entertainment during the evening.

The StARS school has over 500 students. They are all refugees, coming from countries such as Eritrea, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, and Somalia. Almost all live in places in Cairo where they do not have access to a safe space to play. There are very few public green spaces available in the city, and these are rarely located in the neighborhoods where refugees live.

You can learn more about the World Mission Fund by visiting www.worldmissionfund.org.uk

Tags: World Mission Fund
Posted in Scotland, UK & RoI | No Comments »

National Youth Work Awards

November 21st, 2018

The deadline for nominating for the National Youth Work Awards is fast approaching (Monday 26th November). We know all of you have been involved in great projects, working with fantastic young people and we want to make sure your work is celebrated.

If you haven’t already done so, please nominate an individual, project or team that deserves recognition for their work and the positive life-changing impact this has for young people. The form doesn’t take long to fill in. Details are below:

This year’s categories are:

Community-Based Youth Work
Digital Youth Work
Equality & Diversity
Faith-based Youth Work
Inspirational Leader
Mental Health & Wellbeing
Prevention & Inclusion – youth justice work
Raising Attainment
Skills for Life
Team of the Year
Time to Shine Arts & Creativity
Volunteer Youth Worker
Youth Participation
Youth Worker of the Year

And finally, the Lifetime Achievement award. This award is in the gift of the Board of YouthLink Scotland. Nominations may be submitted in the normal way or via the YouthLink Scotland Board.

Get nominating!

This year, thanks to the work of our awesome 2018 co-design group made up of eight young people, we are keeping the nomination form for young people and will be introducing an online form too. Download or access the relevant nomination form below (deadline 5pm 26th November):

A few points to consider:

It’s youth work not children’s work so particular consideration to those working with seniors, company section and young leaders
There is the Lifetime Achievement category but please remember that there are many categories and people don’t necessary need to be of a certain age or experienced to be doing great work
There are several categories to choose from including community-based youth work, faith-based youth work and volunteer youth worker. The full list is above
It’s important (mandatory) to include the voice of a young person in the nomination.

Nominate using the online form (for adult nominators)

Nominate using the online form (for young nominators)

Download the Nomination Form (for adult nominators)

Download the Nomination Form (for young nominators)

Download the Guidance Notes

Timeline

This is the timeline for this year’s awards:

National Youth Work Awards launch: 10th October 2018
Nominations close: 26th November at 5pm 2018
Judging panel meets: week beginning 10th December 2018
Finalists announced: January 2019
Awards ceremony: 13th March 2019

For further information and support, please contact Niall Rolland at BB Scottish HQ – niall.rolland@boys-brigade.org.uk | 01324 562008 (option 1)

Tags: youth work awards
Posted in Scotland | No Comments »

BB Members At The Heart of Remembrance 100

November 12th, 2018

100 Years since the Armistice, members of The Boys’ Brigade (BB) joined local communities across the UK to honour those who served in World War One and in other conflicts.

At the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in London, The Boys’ Brigade was represented by 80 young people and leaders from different corners of the UK. Members and leaders from 31st Northampton, 1st Acomb, 3rd Kettering, 1st Ossett (England); 16th Newtownabbey, 24th Belfast, 1st Fintona and 7th Portadown (Northern Ireland); and 22nd Paisley and 1st Whitburn (Scotland) took part in the Cenotaph Parade.

BBC News’ Simon McCoy with Karl Boyd

Karl Boyd, member of 16^th Newtonabbey company, was one those taking part in the parade. His Great Grandfather L/Cpl William Boyd served in WW1. Karl was interviewed by Simon McCoy on BBC News on Sunday afternoon.

He said:

“As I’ve got older I’ve taken more of an interest in what my Great Grandfather did and researched the medals he received.

“It was a privilege and an honour to participate in the parade.”

Elsewhere, 68 BB groups from around the UK have been taking part in the ‘There But Not There’, a project to commemorate those who died in the First World War through installations of silhouettes wherever there is a Roll of Honour.

7th Northampton was one of the BB companies to get involved. Warren Mayes, adult leader with the company, said the installation has had a profound impact on the young people:

There But Not There installation at the home of 35th Liverpool

“The boys within our company found having the silhouettes very moving and a great visual representation of soldiers who lost their lives. Having them sat amongst the boys during devotions was very thought-provoking.”

Member of the company, Louis, 17, said:

“I found the devotions we had about this project a very moving experience. It almost felt like we had soldiers there with us. It made it really special when we were remembering them.”

Neil Pyper from 5th Livingston

Many other BB young people played their part in ‘Battle’s Over’, an international commemoration marking 100 years since the guns fell silent at the end of World War I. It began at 6am with lone pipers playing Battle’s O’er, a traditional Scottish air played after a battle, outside cathedrals and churchs, following which a specially written tribute was read out. At the same time, over 1,000 pipers played the tune in individual locations within their local communities, including many BB pipers.

At 6.55pm Buglers sounded the Last Post at more than 1,000 locations, where at 7pm beacons were lit in a tribute called Beacons of Light, signifying the light of peace that emerged from the darkness of four years of war.

To find out more about The Boys’ Brigade, please visit https://boys-brigade.org.uk/

Tags: remembrance
Posted in England, Northern Ireland, Publicity/PR, Scotland, UK & RoI, Wales | No Comments »

The Boys’ Brigade Remembers

November 9th, 2018

80 young people and leaders from The Boys’ Brigade are taking part in the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph on Sunday (11 November).

Young people from England, Northern Ireland and Scotland will come together to join the parade, representing the wider organisation. Throughout the UK and around the world, BB members will also be taking part in local acts of remembrance.

Representing The Boys Brigade will be members from 31st Northampton, 1st Acomb, 3rd Kettering, 1st Ossett (England); 16th Newtownabbey, 24th Belfast, 1st Fintona and 7th Portadown (Northern Ireland); and 22nd Paisley and 1st Whitburn (Scotland).

Callum Gibson, 12, member of 1^st Ossett BB company in West Yorkshire, is amongst those taking part in the Cenotaph Parade on Sunday. Callum’s Great Grandad, Harry Gibson, served in the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infinitary and his Great great Grandad, Alfred Firth, served in Belgium and France.

Callum, 12, said:

“I feel it’s important to remember those who died because they were prepared to give their lives for us.

“I also think we should remember that war caused so much death and pain and that we should always try to choose peaceful negotiations over killing people”

Many former members of The Boys’ Brigade fought in both World Wars. Amongst the 628 members of the armed forces to receive the Victoria Cross during the First World War, 11 were former members of the BB.

Bill Stevenson, CEO of The Boys’ Brigade UK & RoI, will also be attending Sunday’s parade.

He said:

“I am very proud to be a member of The Boys’ Brigade which does so much to help remember the sacrifices of those who served in our armed forces. I have just returned from visiting some of the WW1 battlefields and I really am in awe of those who served part in those campaigns.

“Whilst it is now 100 years since the end of the Great War and over 70 since the end of WW2, it is humbling and encouraging to see how keen our young people are to play their part in Remembrance day.

“Whilst the national focus is on the Cenotaph Parade in London, I know that BB companies throughout the UK will be playing a very active part in local commemorations.”

Elsewhere, 68 BB groups from around the UK have been taking in the ‘There But Not There’, a project to commemorate those who died in the First World War through installations of silhouettes wherever there is a Roll of Honour.

1^st Holmer Green based in Buckinghamshire is one of the BB groups taking part in the project.

Mark Durn, adult leader with 1^st Holmer Green, said:

“We decided to get involved in order to help the children understand what has been given to them in terms of sacrifice from generation past.”

To find out more about The Boys’ Brigade, please visit https://boys-brigade.org.uk/

Have a story? Share this to local media by using our Remembrance 100 Template release

Remember to include at least one good quality photo.

Posted in England, Northern Ireland, Publicity/PR, Scotland, UK & RoI, Wales | 1 Comment »

Heroes of The Boys’ Brigade

November 8th, 2018

There isn’t a community in the country which wasn’t affected by the events of the First World War. The same is true for churches and organisations, including The Boys’ Brigade.

As we look to Remembrance Sunday and commemorative events throughout the UK and beyond, it’s also an opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices given by BB members in the World Wars and in other conflicts.

The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest award for gallantry and is awarded for courage “in the presence of the enemy” to members of the British Armed Forces. Amongst the total 628 VCs awarded during the Great War (WW1), 12 were awarded to former members of The Boys’ Brigade.

One particular recipient’s (Edgar Kinghorn Myles) citation reads:

“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When all the officers except two had become casualties, he, for five hours, inspired confidence in the defence against two counter-attacks and sent back most accurate and valuable reports of the situation. His courage and fine example were largely responsible for the steadiness of all ranks under him.”

Details about each of the VC recipients are included in a new version of the book Heroes of The Boys’ Brigade. Printed copies of the book will be available to purchase from the Heritage Society at http://heritagesociety.boys-brigade.org.uk

This Sunday current members of The Boys’ Brigade will participate in acts of remembrance across the UK, including at the Cenotaph in London, where 80 young people from 12 BB companies will join the parade.

How is your section, company or battalion marking Remembrance? Share your photos, videos, stories and more by emailing newsdesk@boys-brigade.org.uk or tweeting @theboysbrigade

Tags: remembrance
Posted in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, UK & RoI, Wales | No Comments »

Night Under the Stars for 400 Juniors

November 5th, 2018

Boys’ Brigade (BB) members from across Scotland have experienced a night to remember at one of Scotland’s top visitor attractions. 400 eight to ten year olds from BB Junior Sections spent an evening and overnight at Glasgow Science Centre for the organisation’s ‘Juniors Giant Sleepover’ on Friday (02 November).

During the evening, the BB members experienced the state-of-the-art planetarium, live Science Show and hundreds of interactive scientific exhibits. The theme for the live Science Show was ‘Fantastic Forces’.

Hamish, member of the Junior section at 5^th Glasgow, was one of the 400 members attending.

He said:

“It’s been an amazing experience – especially the Planetarium and the doing all the fun experiments.”

This is the sixth time that the BB has run its Science Centre event and in that time almost 2400 children and 600 adult leaders leaders have attended. This year’s event coincided with The Boys’ Brigade’s new STEM ambassador scheme to support learning in science, technology, engineering and maths.

John Sharp is Director for The Boys’ Brigade in Scotland. He explained why BB is placing so much importance on STEM and events like the Science Centre sleepover.

John said:

“The Juniors Giant Sleepover is a very special and exciting event – and this year’s was no different. It offers children from different parts of Scotland a chance to enjoy a national BB event which combines learning, fun and a residential experience. I would like to extend my thanks to all the volunteer leaders and others who made this year’s event such a success.

“We know that the majority of a child’s learning takes place out with the classroom. By launching the STEM ambassador programme, we want to support our leaders to offer new and exciting ways for children and young people to get into STEM activities.”

After the live shows on the Friday evening, the BB members enjoyed hot chocolate and story time from Alpha Scotland’s Dez Johnston. Photos from the event are available to view here.

To find out more about The Boys’ Brigade and the nearest opportunities to get involved as member or volunteer, please visit https://boys-brigade.org.uk/scotland/

Tags: juniors, science centre
Posted in Publicity/PR, Scotland, UK & RoI | No Comments »

Boys’ Brigade Scotland HQ closed on 31st October

October 30th, 2018

Please note that the SHQ office of BB Scotland will be closed on Wednesday 31st October for staff training purposes.

Calls to our office (01324 562008) are being handled by colleagues at The Boys’ Brigade UK/RoI team at Felden.

We will reopen at 0900 on Thursday 1st November.

Tags: carronvale
Posted in Scotland, UK & RoI | No Comments »

Update from your MSYPs…

October 19th, 2018

David Kong (65th Edinburgh) and John Paterson (3rd Kilsyth) are the current BB members of the Scottish Youth Parliament, Scotland’s democratically elected voice of young people. Here’s their take on what’s been happening recently:

In June, we attended a Scottish Youth Parliament sitting in Dumfries and Galloway to mark the start of the second year of our term. Last year, the SYP National Campaign was “Right Here, Right Now” and we visited several Queen’s Badge Courses to deliver sessions about young people’s rights. We are delighted to share that the “Right Here, Right Now” campaign has been successful as the First Minister announced in September the Scottish Government’s intent to incorporate the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in the Government’s Programme for Scotland 2018-19.

Since the last sitting, we have both been involved in the BB Year of Young People Advisory Group to plan national events such as the Big BB Brunch after the huge success of the Youth Voice Event. We also had the huge privilege of hosting the YOYP-themed Brigade Conference in September. That was a fantastic weekend!

The new SYP National Campaign for 2018-19 is public transport and we will continue to work on this campaign at our next sitting in Kilmarnock, on October 20^th and 21^st. Our final sitting during this term will be in March so if you have any suggestions of member’s motions that you would like us to submit feel free get in contact us via email or Twitter.

Finally, we would like to persuade all young people (14 – 25) in the BB to apply for the role of MSYP as we have both really enjoyed our time as MSYP so far. The application deadline is the 31^st of October. Visit the elections website.

Why not get in touch with David and John to find out more about SYP and their roles as MSYPs?

David Kong, 65^th Edinburgh| Email: David.Kong.MSYP@sypmail.org.uk | Twitter: @DavidKongMSYP

John Paterson, 3^rd Kilsyth| Email: John.Paterson.MSYP@sypmail.org.uk | Twitter: @JPatersonMSYP

Tags: MSYPs, Scotland, SYP
Posted in Scotland | No Comments »

Strathkelvin Battalion

October 18th, 2018

Picture here are members of the Strathkelvin Battalion Boys Brigade receiving their Presidents and Queen Badge Awards at Torrance Parish Church, the awards were presented by Rev Mark Johnstone, Deputy Lieutenant of Dunbartonshire and Mr Alan Brown, Provost, East Dunbartonshire Council.

Posted in Awards, Scotland, UK & RoI | No Comments »

3rd Aberdeen Junior Section Curry Night

October 16th, 2018

3rd Aberdeen Junior Section had a curry night on Friday 5th October. They made and ate the chicken & sweet potato curry from this month’s Gazette. The Juniors first made & decorated their chefs’ hats, then from scratch made the curry. All the Juniors and parents then enjoyed a small sample of the evening’s work. A huge success all round with some budding MasterChef candidates in the coming years.

Posted in Scotland, UK & RoI | No Comments »

National Competitions: First Round Draws

October 15th, 2018

Information has already been to sent to company contacts a couple weeks ago, but you can now view the Round 1 draws for each of the competitions.

Please direct any enquiries to the National Competitions coordinator or to Irene Davidson at Scottish HQ – irene.davidson@boys-brigade.org.uk | 01324 562008 .

Tags: national competitions
Posted in Scotland | No Comments »

BB members past and present mark 135th anniversary

October 5th, 2018

Member of The Boys’ Brigade (BB) youth organisation past and present have marked the 135^th anniversary of its founding.

As part of the celebrations, a special service of thanksgiving was held in Edinburgh’s St Giles’ Cathedral on Thursday (4^th October) where flowers were laid next to a plaque to the BB founder, Sir William Smith. The service was led by Rev Derek Gunn, national chaplain to the BB Scotland.

The Boys’ Brigade was founded in Glasgow on Thursday 4^th October 1883.

John Sharp, Director for Scotland for The Boys’ Brigade, attended the short service at St Giles’.

He said:

“It’s been a chance to celebrate our history and our heritage, but also to look forward. Today we are working with thousands of young people in the UK and around the world. We are an organisation with a great past, but also a great present and future.

“Hearing stories from around the Scotland of the impact The Boys’ Brigade has had on their lives is truly inspiring.

John also highlighted the role volunteers play in delivering BB in communities across the country.

“I’m struck by the passion our volunteers have for the organisation. We have 3,500 volunteer leaders who give up their time and talents – week in, week out. They do so much to support children and young people to learn, grow and discover.”

Ronnie Campbell is Chairman of the BB Scotland committee and is also leader in charge of the 135^th Glasgow company which is based in Scotstoun. He emphasised how much can be gained through volunteering.

Ronnie said:

“It’s so wonderful to watch young people develop and it’s a great feeling to know that The Boys’ Brigade has had a part to play.”

Kirsty Melville, 20, is a young leader with the 1^st Monifieth company in Angus. Kirsty explained how much she gains from her volunteering with The Boys’ Brigade.

She said:

“Volunteering is something I have always done but with the B.B. it doesn’t feel like volunteering it’s like visiting family. The bonds created with others of a similar mindset – no matter your background – is one that truly is unbreakable!

“My anchors section consists of boys aged five to eight. It is incredibly rewarding to get to watch these boys grow and prosper over the three years.”

Former members of BB include many notable figures in sports, politics and wider society, including the current managers of both Scotland men’s national football and rugby teams – Alex McLeish and Gregor Townend. The Boys’ Brigade can also count on alumni such as Deputy First Minister John Swinney, Radio 2 DJ Ken Bruce and even London rapper Stormzy.

Amongst others to pay tribute to The Boys’ Brigade’s 135 years of working with young people are personalities from the sporting world.

Current manager of the Scotland national men’s football side, Alex McLeish, spent several years as BB member in Barrhead.

He said:

“I was fortunate to have been a BB member and I’d like to pay tribute to the organisation on reaching 135 years. I learned a lot about values, education and it has also contributed to my footballing career.”

Sports journalist and commentator Paul Mitchell is a former member of the 19^th Leith in the Granton area of the city.

Paul said:

“I fondly remember my days at 19th Leith. It was a great experience and made many friends. BB remains a wonderful organisation doing great work helping young people learn valuable skills and encouraging teamwork.”

The Boys’ Brigade was founded in Scotland in 1883 and has become a worldwide youth organisation, which is active in 68 countries. You can find out more by visiting https://boys-brigade.org.uk/scotland/

Tags: BB135
Posted in Anniversary/Special Occasion, Scotland, UK & RoI | No Comments »

Blog: “life changing experience for young people”

October 4th, 2018

As The Boys’ Brigade marks 135 years of its work with children and young people across the world, Brigade Secretary and CEO Bill Stevenson reflects on the importance of the organisation’s work with young people.

At 8pm on Thursday 4th October 1883 twenty eight boys arrived at the North Woodside Mission Hall in Glasgow – The Boys’ Brigade (BB) was born – ever since then, countless numbers of BB members have met on a weekly basis, taking part in a wide variety of activities and have learned skills that have helped develop them for life. Our founder Sir William Alexander Smith has been widely acclaimed as being one of the key pioneers of youth work and we are rightly proud of our rich heritage.

In an increasing secular age the Brigade has remained constant to its Christian roots and often the BB is the only way that many young people connect with their local church. Although the programmes have changed many times over the past 135 years, the organisation is still supporting young people to grow, develop and, most importantly, learn about the Christian Faith. Our values and our object remain the same.

When Smith founded The Boys’ Brigade he was very much responding to an immediate need in his own part of Glasgow. Today we continue to respond to the needs of today’s children and young people. You will find BB companies in all types of communities across the UK and Republic of Ireland, often in areas with high levels of deprivation. The BB is also an international movement now operating in 68 countries,

We work with over 1300 churches and aim to partner them to build sustainable Christian youth and children’s work in their community. Although the challenges and opportunities facing young people today are often quite different from those of the Victorian era, our vision and structures continue to support young people to develop key life skills and help them live life to the full.

The Brigade is indebted to the countless volunteers who give us so much of their time to help make this all possible. In the UK and Republic of Ireland thousands of young people benefit from their care and compassion. Our volunteer leaders, both young and old, provide positive role models for our members. We believe in the benefits of BB membership and are convinced that it really is a life changing experience for young people and leaders. We want to see more young people and volunteers benefit from the BB adventure.

So as we celebrate this important anniversary, let us pause to give thanks to our Founder and the thousands of leaders who have helped deliver his vision which continues to shape the lives of young people here and right round the world.

Bill Stevenson is CEO of The Boys’ Brigade UK & ROI. You can follow Bill on twitter @billBBhq

Posted in Anniversary/Special Occasion, UK & RoI | No Comments »

BB Beach Clean to Combat Plastic Waste

October 3rd, 2018

Giving back to communities is something which many BB companies do and this is certainly the case for the young people of the 135th Glasgow company.

The Scotstoun-based group undertook a beach clean of the area around its camp site near Portavadie in Argyll over the weekend of 22nd/23rd September. In partnership with local organisations, the BB members and leaders used litter pickers, gloves and other equipment to tackle pollution on our beautiful coastline.

Company leader and adult volunteer, Ross Galbraith, said:

“At this session’s camp we wanted to look at challenges facing communities around our coasts and identify our role in creating and combating these issues. Coast waste, specifically long life plastics, is the most obvious of those subjects so, this year we have volunteered to take part in the Argyll Secret Coast clean-up which also ties in with Zero Waste Scotland’s ‘action on plastics’ campaign week.

What the group discovered was certainly surprising. Within the three small bays around the campsite they recovered eight black bin bags worth of discarded items including cans, bottles, fishing rope, straws, toys and lots more. The most startling thing they discovered was the sheer volume of micro, or small, population that lives between the pebbles on the beach.

The initiative is something which the company would also like to look at closer to home to see how they can reduce the amount of plastic usage in a more urban setting. The company has pledged to stop selling plastic bottles at their weekly meeting nights and instead have brought in reusable ones free-of-charge for the young people.

Ross added:

“The guys in the company did a fantastic job and I’m really proud of them all. We are keen that we continue to look at this important issue and see what we as a BB company, but also as individuals can do to reduce our use of plastics.”

Figures from the Marine Conservation Society’s 2017 Beach Clean initiative showed that around the UK on average 718 pieces of rubbish for every 100m stretch of beach cleaned, which represents a 10% rise compared with the previous year.

Litter from foods and drinks, usually used just once and thrown away, made up at least 20% of all of the rubbish we picked up. 138 pieces of “on the go” litter were found, on average, for every 100m of beach surveyed.

You can find out more about the 135th Glasgow company by visiting its facebook page.

Tags: our community, raise the bar
Posted in Publicity/PR, Scotland | No Comments »

STEM Ambassadors

October 3rd, 2018

Can you help us develop STEM activities in The Boys’ Brigade?

STEM Ambassadors are volunteers from a wide range of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) related jobs and disciplines, along with enthusiasts from all walks of life. They offer their time and enthusiasm to help inspire children and young people to bring STEM subjects to life, demonstrating the value of them in life, education and in careers.

Scotland has three STEM ambassador hubs:

North – Aberdeen Science Centre
East – Carnegie Conference Centre, Dunfermline
West – Science Connect, Glasgow University

Would you like to be the STEM ambassador for your area or battalion?

As a STEM ambassador you will register with STEM UK programme, complete induction training, develop STEM programme materials, and champion STEM learning within the battalion and wider organisation.

To register you interest in becoming a STEM ambassador for your battalion contact Ian McCallum with brief profile of why you are interested in the role. E: ian.mccallum@boys-brigade.org.uk

See our current list of STEM Ambassadors

Tags: STEM
Posted in Leaders News, Scotland | 2 Comments »

Free Recruitment Material

October 2nd, 2018

Recruitment Material Order Form

Posted in England, Northern Ireland, Recruitment, Scotland, UK & RoI, Wales | No Comments »

Blog: The Boys’ Brigade marks anniversary

September 27th, 2018

John Sharp reflects on The Boys’ Brigade marking 135 years of shaping young lives in Scotland.

Next week we will celebrate 135 years of The Boys’ Brigade with a thanksgiving service at St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh on 4^th October.

It is important that we remember the history and heritage we have as an organisation. We can be proud that with such a visionary founder in Sir William Alexander Smith that we were the first uniformed youth organisation in the world.

Smith was 29 years old when he started the Brigade in Glasgow, and of course we should take a great deal of pride in Scotlandthat the BB has gone out to different parts of the globe, and that today it is active in 68 countries around the world.

As we remember our rich history, it also is a good time to remind ourselves of the purpose for which we were established and why we are here today – what our organisational vision and mission actually are and what we are trying to achieve in everything we do.

Our vision is that children and young people experience “life to the full” (John 10 v10).

For The Boys’ Brigade every year is a Year of Young People – it must be, if we are to live our vision.

Every year is a year when we have the privilege of working with children and young people – providing them with the space and the opportunity to learn, grow and discover.

I was delighted that it was young people who were taking the lead at our recent UK & ROI Brigade Conference in Edinburgh. Throughout the conference weekend, young people were leading the meeting, leading worship, leading the workshops and leading our entertainment – a powerful affirmation of what we believe as well as providing a great experience for our young leaders, and all those involved in the event.

As mark the 135th year of the Brigade it is vital that we continue to follow in Smith’s footsteps and stay vision-focused, continually asking ourselves whether what we are doing and how we are doing it is serving Christ and the children and young people who we walk alongside.

John Sharp is Director for Scotland for The Boys’ Brigade.

How can you help us mark BB135?

The Boys’ Brigade would love to be able to share some your reflections of your time in The BB and how it has benefitted or continues to benefit you. These will be shared on the 4^th October. This could be a through a quote, an audio clip, post on social media, or even a piece to camera. If using social media, please use hashtags #bb135 and #boysbrigade – and please tag @TheBBscotland

Find your nearest BB opportunity…

Tags: anniversary, BB135
Posted in Anniversary/Special Occasion, Scotland | No Comments »

Raise the Bar: Our Campaign for 2018-19

September 24th, 2018

In 2018-19 we are setting out a challenge for our groups to raise the bar and build on the quality of what we offer as an organisation.

There is already so much we can be proud of, but can we do more? ‘Raise the Bar’ is the title of our new campaign and is set around 10 challenges for each group (Company), focussed on raising the quality of experience for children and young people.

This challenge is all about asking the question ‘How can we do better?’. It’s about taking time to consider our approach to specific areas of our work, looking at what needs to change and setting targets to strive for.

Check out #RaisetheBarBB for stories from our groups on how they are getting on!

Find out more about the campaign and challenges at http://leaders.boys-brigade.org.uk/raisethebar.htm

Posted in UK & RoI | No Comments »

100M WORLD CHAMPION VISITS 17TH NOTTINGHAM BB

September 20th, 2018

Former 2002 Commonwealth Games and 2003 World 100m Champion Kim Collins from St Kitts and Nevis recently visited The Pearson Centre for Young People in Beeston, Nottingham during a visit to the area. Kim, 42, retired at the end of this summer from sprinting. His career has spanned over 20 years competing at international level for most of that time. He former competitors have included Linford Christie, Usain Bolt, Dwain Chambers, Justin Gatlin to name but a few. His career started before Usain came onto the scene and went on beyond Usain’s retirement. At the age of 40 he broke the world record for 100 metres – which he still holds. Pretty impressive that someone can remain at the top of their sport for such a long time.

Kim visited The Pearson Centre and took some of the children through a typical sprints warm up. He also joined them for a trip to the cinema.

Posted in England, Other, UK & RoI | No Comments »

Fraserburgh BB Company joins Challenge to Clean Ocean

September 7th, 2018

1st Fraserburgh company, The Boys’ Brigade (BB), one of three BB companies in Fraserburgh, has begun a fundraising campaign to purchase a seabin for Fraserburgh Harbour. The submerged bins collect waste 24 hours a day using a pump to suck rubbish from the sea surface. Once full, the bins can be emptied and the plastic waste recycled.

The bins catch everything floating in the water, such as plastic bottles, paper, oil, fuel, and detergent, but not fish, as they don’t go close enough to the sea surface to be pulled in. They then pump the clean water back into the sea, making a massive difference to the levels of pollution in our waters.

The Boys Brigade Company, which is based at the Old Parish Church centre is hoping to raise £3000 to buy a seabin and have made a great start, already raising over £1000 in a few months.

Warrant officer in the Company section, Ryan Clark, said:

“We wanted to do a fundraiser for something a bit different, hence the choice of the seabin. It was originally suggested through our presidents badge boys’ meeting by warrant officer Grant Duthie, who also volunteers for the local Lifeboat crew, and it went from there.

“It’s now a company section goal to raise the money through various fundraisers, such as coffee mornings, sponsored sports challenges and other events. Originally our plan was to raise the money over a couple of years but with the speed that we’ve raised funds already we hope to have it done in maybe over a year or so.”

The boys choose a charity every year to support with the money they get at their Display evening.

Marc Thomson, Officer in the Company Section added:

“The Company section boys are leading the campaign by helping to plan, organise and run the fundraisers and it will count as part of their badge-work.”

A meeting with the Harbour Master has taken place already and the reaction has been very positive. Fraserburgh Harbour had already been looking in to purchasing seabins and several areas within the harbour have already been identified.

Keep track of news and more from The Boys’ Brigade in North East Scotland on its dedicated facebook page.

Tags: our community
Posted in Publicity/PR, Scotland | No Comments »

Deputy First Minister Praises Values of BB at Annual Conference in Edinburgh

September 4th, 2018

John Swinney, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, has praised the values promoted by The Boys’ Brigade (BB) in a keynote address to members at their annual conference in Edinburgh on Saturday (01 September).

Mr Swinney, who formerly attended the 13^th Edinburgh BB company, reflected on the organisation’s values and the impact it’s had in his life and also how it has helped improve the life chances of many generations of young Scots.

Deputy First Minister, John Swinney, said:

“The Boys’ Brigade gave me a set of well-anchored values which have had a huge influence in forming my contribution to public life in Scotland. I owe The Boys’ Brigade a huge debt for the positive impact the organisation had on my life.

“I believe that The BB helps young people be more resilient, make the correct choices in life and encourages individuals to support others.”

For the first time in its 135 year history, The Boys’ Brigade annual conference was led by young people. Themed on 2018 – Scotland’s Year of Young People, the event brought together 200 BB volunteers from across the British Isles to develop skills and shape the future of the organisation.

Mr Swinney also emphasised the importance of youth organisations, like The Boys’ Brigade in tackling the poverty-related attainment gap.

Mr Swinney added:

“When we talk about closing the attainment gap, we don’t just talk about the school-based education system, we take a much broader perspective. This is one of the reasons we work with youth organisations – such as The Boys’ Brigade.

“In founding the organisation in 1883, Sir William Smith was tapping into the same issue and sentiment about the well-being and prospects of young people.”

Included in event were workshops on improving youth participation and additional support needs. In the morning, delegates heard from several young people from across the organisation sharing how BB has shaped their lives.

Fiona Graham, young leader with the Blackburn BB group in West Lothian, said:

“The Boys’ Brigade means opportunities without boundaries. As a young leader, it has given me the opportunity to discover myself, develop skills and grow in confidence in a safe environment.”

The conference weekend opened on Friday evening with a reception and remarks from the Right Honourable Frank Ross, Lord Provost of Edinburgh. Mr Ross was formerly a member of The Boys’ Brigade.

The conference dinner on the Saturday included first-class performances from young BB leader Ross Fettes, the Wishaw & District Brigade Band and members of 10th Leith company.

Sunday morning worship, held in Palmerston Place church, was led by Rev Dr George Whyte, Principal Clerk to the Church of Scotland alongside young leaders from The Boys’ Brigade in Scotland.

Tags: brigade conference 2018, yoyp2018
Posted in Publicity/PR, Scotland, UK & RoI | No Comments »

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