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

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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

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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
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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
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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 »

Young People Take the Lead as BB Holds Annual Conference in Edinburgh

August 31st, 2018

For the first time in its 135 year history, The Boys’ Brigade (BB) annual conference is being led by young people. Themed on 2018 – Scotland’s Year of Young People, the event takes place in Edinburgh on September 1^st and brings together 180 BB volunteers from across the British Isles to develop skills and shape the future of the organisation.

This year’s ‘Year of Young People’ conference has been co-designed by a team of BB young leaders, volunteers and staff. The Boys’ Brigade’s two members of the Scottish Youth Parliament, will host the event the event.

Making the keynote address will be John Swinney MSP, Deputy First Minister and former member of The Boys’ Brigade.. Mr Swinney, who formerly attended the 13^th Edinburgh company, is expected to reflect on the organisations impact on his life and also share why Scotland is celebrating the Year of Young People in 2018 and what the legacy will be for communities and also for youth organisations like The Boys’ Brigade.

Ahead of the event, Mr Swinney said:

“One of the greatest influences in my life has been the years I spent in The Boys’ Brigade. Those experiences instilled in me a fundamental sense of duty towards others that has shaped my approach to public life.

“I feel a great sense of gratitude to The Boys’ Brigade for that and feel very privileged, as now Deputy First Minister of Scotland, to have the opportunity to deliver the keynote address at this year’s conference.

“It is strikingly clear to me that youth work can have an incredibly valuable influence on the life chances of young people. That is why the Scottish Government works to improve the opportunities available through our national Youth Work Strategy.

“The work that youth organisations like The Boys’ Brigade do, year in and year out, is something we can be proud of every day and every year, both now and for generations to come.”

Included in the programme will be workshops on improving youth participation and in the morning, delegates will hear from several young people from across the UK sharing how BB has changed their lives.

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

“It has been terrific to work alongside such a passionate, enthusiastic and talented group of young people. It’s been very clear just how much membership of the BB means to them and how much they value all the key life skills they’ve had an opportunity to develop through the BB.

“The Boys’ Brigade’s work is all about young people reaching their full potential and supporting them to learn, grow and discover. Listening to the voices of young people and giving them the skills and opportunities to share what BB means to them is so important.”

In addition to the election of two members of the Scottish Youth Parliament, The Boys’ Brigade has also started a ‘Year of Young People’ advisory group, made up of BB young leaders to help ensure that there is a youth-led approach to how BB shapes its programmes and activities.

John added:

“Every year is the year of young people for The Boys’ Brigade, but 2018 allows us even more opportunity to shine a light on young people and ensure they are able to shape the direction of the BB for years to come.”

The Boys’ Brigade’s two members of the Scottish Youth Parliament, David Kong and John Paterson, are hosting the conference.

David said:

“Since 1883, The Boys’ Brigade has been working to empower young people so it is important to have young leaders take part in the Brigade Conference. It was an honour to have been asked to lead the conference this year.

John added:

“In this, the Year of Young People in Scotland, where The Boys’ Brigade puts the young people at the forefront of everything we do, it’s a privilege to host the National Conference.”

The ‘Year of Young People’ BB conference weekend begins with a Friday evening reception with the Lord Provost and finishes on Sunday morning at Palmerston Place Church.

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

Funded DofE Gold Residential Opportunity

August 23rd, 2018

Thanks to money raised during the DofE Diamond Challenge, BB Scotland is able to offer several last-minute FREE places at the Youth Leadership Festival residential in Kircudbright in Dumfries & Galloway from 17th until 21st September. Event information.

To register for this last-minute opportunity, please e-mail yoyp2018@dumgal.gov.uk at the earliest opportunity to express interest (make sure to copy in irene.davidson@boys-brigade.org.uk & ian.mccallum@boys-brigade.org.uk into the email).

You will then receive a registration form to complete. Within the fee paying section they will have to reference: ‘Fee covered by BB Diamond Jubilee funding’.

Should you have any further questions, please contact BB Scottish HQ on 01324 562008 (option 1).

Posted in Awards, Scotland | No Comments »

First President’s Badges for 2nd Uxbridge!

August 22nd, 2018

2nd Uxbridge’s most recent Awards Evening saw the very first presentation of President’s Badges in 2nd Uxbridge Company.

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

Job Vacancy

August 13th, 2018

THE BOYS’ BRIGADE AND GIRLS’ ASSOCIATION in the Republic of Ireland

Applications are invited for the position of National Coordinator to support the work of The BB in the Republic of Ireland.

The Boys’ Brigade, founded in 1883 is the pioneer uniformed Christian voluntary youth organisation. Our mission is to care and challenge young people for life through a programme of activities and informal education underpinned by the Christian faith.

The ideal candidate will be familiar with The Boys’ Brigade, possess a complete understanding of National Child Protection and Welfare requirements and have experience in developing and implementing youth activities at a local or national level.

Candidates interested in the above position should submit their Curriculum Vitae to Martin HR Consulting, Kilmore Business Park, Dublin Rd., Cavan or by email. If you have any questions please call Andy Pierce on 086 1705888.

Closing Date: 29/08/2018.

Canvassing will disqualify

Characteristics required for the role:

Highly-committed to and able to promote the object and mission of The Boys’ Brigade and Girls’ Association in the Republic of Ireland (“The BB”)
Possesses excellent interpersonal skills and is able to deal sensitively and effectively with volunteers within The BB
Well developed written and oral communication skills including writing and communicating instructions, rules and guidelines, reports and funding applications.
Proficient in office administration, logistics and systems including Microsoft Office, converting documents to pdf formats, email and social media
Knowledgeable of statutory and regulatory requirements for youth service providers and the legal framework surrounding charities and voluntary sector organisations
Full understanding of National Child Protection and Welfare Legislation and regulations; familiarity with Tusla and denominational child protection requirements
Able to plan, manage and co-ordinate activities in an effective and professional manner
Proven experience of preparing and managing budgets
Must be able to understand and wholly embrace the values and methods of Youth Work
Must have an understanding of, and commitment to equal opportunities
Must be free and willing to travel internationally; clean Driving Licence
Background in The BB highly desirable
No formal qualifications required but desirable
Satisfactory completion of Garda Vetting is mandatory

Summary of main responsibilities:

Responsible for the delivery of The Brigade’s operational plan in the Republic of Ireland
Arranging meetings of the various Committees and ensuring the recording and implementation of decisions.
Maintaining and developing partnerships with other Voluntary Youth Sector Organisations.
Developing links with appropriate Government / Government agencies to ensure an effective dialogue regarding national youth policy, funding and mutual understanding.
Overseeing the implementation of various policies including, Child Protection, Leader Training and Data Protection.
Responsible with the Management Committee /Regional President for effective financial and budgetary control.
Preparing accounts for Management and Auditors
Maintaining positive relationships with volunteers at all levels of the organisation.
Responsible for ensuring effective internal and external communications within the Republic of Ireland, with the Brigade in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK
Maintain and develop relationships with denominations of the various churches and other voluntary organisations

Job Type: Contract

Apply here

Posted in UK & RoI | No Comments »

National Competitions

August 7th, 2018

National Competitions 2018-2019 . . .

Get involved in the Brigade’s National Competitions next session. Every year hundreds of Companies get involved in the competitions including Badminton, Chess, Football, Table Tennis and Masterteam.

You only need a small number of young people to be able to enter so the competitions are accessible to all Companies.

Entries must be received by 24th September 2018 in order to participate in the 2018-19 competitions.

Could your young people be in the finals of one the national competitions next session?

Find out more and complete the Entry Form at
leaders.boys-brigade.org.uk/nationalcompetitions.htm

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

New Sections Starting in Buchan Battalion

August 2nd, 2018

Two BB groups in the North-east of Scotland have launched new sections to meet increasing demand.

1^st Rosehearty on the Moray Firth coast, near Fraserburgh, is launching a Junior Section to add to its popular Anchor Section which has been led by Lt Maria MacLennan. It has been many years since 1st Rosehearty had a Junior Section and Company Section, but now a group of BB officers from Buchan Battalion will restart the Junior Section and it is hoped that in time this will expand to include a Company Section. There has already been a great deal of interest in the new venture.

1^st New Pitsligo currently has an Anchor and Junior section, led by Captain Stuart Pratt and OIC Elaine Mowatt, but with five boys promoted at the end of last session and two the previous year, the company has decided this is the year to launch a Company Section. This will be led by Andrew Kinnaird an existing leader and a former New Pitsligo boy, Lachlan McKenzie, along with Elliott Dobson who has volunteered to help.

Welcoming the news of the new volunteers, Duncan Leel, battalion President, said:

“I’m delighted that in this day and age with all the hi-tech surrounding us we can still attract people to the BB and encourage them to pass on the skills they’ve learned to a whole new generation. It’s a very rewarding experience and a great organisation to be part of.”

Michael Strachan, who will lead the staff team at the new Rosehearty Junior Section, commented:

“Its quite exciting to start a new section – particularly stepping into the unknown! The good news is that the initial response to the return of the BB in Rosehearty has been welcomed by the community so we expect it to go from strength to strength!”

Find out more about volunteering in The Boys’ Brigade

Tags: growth
Posted in Scotland | No Comments »

Band On Tour

July 30th, 2018

Dunblane BB Band goes to Germany

Thirty young musicians from Dunblane Boys’ Brigade will be heading to Germany on Thursday (2nd August) for a week-long tour. The boys are all members of the 40-strong Boys’ Brigade band in Dunblane as well as three BB members who are bagpipers, an instrument always guaranteed to help please a crowd in Germany.

Heading off by coach on Thursday lunchtime, the boys will arrive in Bacharach in the Rhineland, above the steep-sided gorge of Europe’s busiest river and one of Germany’s most scenic tourist areas, where they will stay in a converted castle youth hostel. Three concerts will follow in quick succession: in Rudesheim on Saturday, Bad Ems on Sunday and in Bad Münster am Stein-Ebernburg on Tuesday. In between, the boys will enjoy a ‘day off’ at the huge Phantasialand theme park on Monday, and will visit a number of other historic attractions on their concert days, too, as well as Cologne Cathedral on the way home.

The band will perform a variety of music, including both Scots and German favourites, movie medleys, marches, original concert band works, and some rousing combined numbers for bagpipes and wind band together. A highlight promises to be a march specially written for the trip by Robert Cowan, Bandmaster of the Regimental Band of the Black Watch Army Cadet Force, entitled ‘Grüße aus Dunblane’ (Greetings from Dunblane) which combines famous ‘Scotland the Brave’ and ‘On the Banks of Allan Water’ with the German national anthem and the local folk song ‘Die Lorelei’.

Band conductor, Fraser Boyd, said,

“The boys have worked really hard towards this tour. They’ve not had a summer holiday from rehearsals, which have continued non-stop all year!

“In the run-up to the tour they’ve had some German lessons as well and we really hope the boys will gain from experiencing German culture and history as well as sharing in that international language of music.”

BB Captain, Paul Christmas, added:

“This is only the second time the BB boys have been abroad following our trip to Malawi in 2016.

“It is really pleasing to see their efforts rewarded, as recent performances – such as the fantastic Spring concert they put on in March – have gone a long way to fund this brilliant opportunity.”

The band would particularly like to thank North Sea Plastics for its generous financial support of the trip as well as everyone who has attended the band’s recent performances and fundraising events.

You can follow the band’s tour on Germany via the Company’s instagram, twitter and facebook accounts (@dunblanebb).

Posted in Publicity/PR, Scotland, UK & RoI | No Comments »

“You are leading the way for your generation.”

July 18th, 2018

Church of Scotland Moderator meets BB Young Leaders at KGVI

The Rt Rev Susan Brown, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, has praised the young people attending The Boys’ Brigade’s KGVI youth leadership course on a visit to Carronvale House on Monday (16 July).

The course offers a residential training opportunity to young people aged 17 – 21 who wish to move into BB leadership. This year the course is attended by 18 BB members from different parts of Scotland.

Mrs Brown who was previously a KGVI course chaplain in 2009/10, spent time chatting with the young people and hearing their views on range of issues – including international affairs and their future careers. Susan was even questioned about the various celebrities she has married as parish minister in Dornoch!

Speaking after dinner with the KGVI young people, Mrs Brown said:

“What you have started this week will stay with you for the rest of your life. Having been a course chaplain previously, I know that KGVI is a brilliant experience. It’s brilliant because of what you learn – but also what you give.

“The impact you make on this world is up to you. I would encourage you to engage fully in what this week is about and to make the most of it and of what lies before you. Enjoy what it brings you and enjoy what you can give back because that is every bit as important.”

The Moderator brought a gift for each of the young people and also the course staff – a carved footstep. She added:

“You are leading the way for your generation. By being part of this experience, you are saying that you are important, the people around you are important, the world around you is important and that relationships are important too. Don’t underestimate the difference you can make.”

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

“We were delighted to welcome Susan to the KGVI course and really appreciate not only the time she spent with us, but also her encouraging words to our young leaders.”

The KGVI Course is SCQF Credit-rated by the SQA and since its inception, over 2,400 young leaders have benefited from this training.

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

1st Rugby Soap Box Success

July 11th, 2018

Over the winter the boys of the 1st Rugby Boys Brigade constructed their own Soap Box Cart in preparation for the Soap Box Challenge at Wicksteed Park in Kettering on June 17th. 6 boys aged 11 and 16 took part in the event, against a field of 60 other drivers, claiming 2nd Place in the Junior section. There was also a public vote for entertainment value, with awards for best cornering and most spectacular run being awarded to the 1st Rugby team as well.

Posted in England, Trip/Outing, UK & RoI | No Comments »

Juniors Adventure Weekend 2018

July 4th, 2018

After a successful event in 2017 we will be holding another regional event for the Juniors in the form of an Adventure Weekend with exclusive use at Kingswood Staffordshire. The event will take place from the 19th – 21st October 2018 and there is an option of a two night or one night stay. The activities on offer will be a broad range of outdoor adventure activities including climbing, abseiling, zip wire, orienteering etc. and will also include movie night, disco and a bonfire with a time of worship on the Sunday together.

You can stay Friday – Sunday and take part in up to 15 Activities for only £67 or a one night stay Saturday – Sunday taking part in up to 9 Activities for only £39. The price covers all activities, accommodation and meals provided by Kingswood.

For more details and to book your groups place visit boys-brigade.org.uk or
email ewhq@boys-brigade.org.uk

Booking closes on 31st July and numbers are limited so book early to avoid disappointment.

Posted in Camp/Residential, England, Trip/Outing, UK & RoI, Wales | No Comments »

Unite 2018

July 3rd, 2018

On Friday 25th to Monday 28th May around 250 young people and leaders came together for Unite at Felden Lodge.

Throughout the weekend there were activities including football, archery, hockey, rounders, American football, strong person competitions, a quiz, a campfire and much more. There was even Unite’s version of Total Wipeout, where teams took part in a range of challenges including an inflatable assault course, wrecking ball, water games and puzzles. Evening entertainment included a film, Minute to Win It challenges, a disco and Unite’s Got Talent, the popular talent show which again featured a number of memorable performances!

There were times of worship where everyone came together in the Marquee (the main venue). The speaker was Jim Sutton, who is one of the pastors of Balham Baptist Church in south west London. He spoke on the theme “Faith, Hope and Love”, based on 1 Corinthians 13:13.

Each group at Unite was part of one of three ‘villages’: red, blue and yellow. The villages competed against each other throughout Unite to earn points for taking part in activities and winning competitions, with the aim of being named the ‘best village’ during the Unite awards ceremony at the end of the weekend. The winners this year were the blue village – well done blues!
We’re already looking forward to Unite 2019, which will take place from Friday 24th to Monday 27th May. For more details as they become available keep an eye on the website at www.unitebb.org.uk

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

Trooping of the Colour 5th & 7th Gloucester

July 2nd, 2018

18 young people and officers from both 5th Gloucester and 7th Gloucester travelled by minibus and left the bus at the church of 4th Ealing and completed our journey by tube.

They arrived at Horse Guards Parade at 8.00am and took their places in the youth enclosure and waited for the parade to start. A number of the youngsters were heard to say that this day was something they would remember for the rest of their lives.

Posted in England, Trip/Outing, UK & RoI, Wales | No Comments »

Top Team Challenge 2018

July 2nd, 2018

Top Team Challenge

Well done to 28th West Kent Company , winners for 2018 . A total of 178 Teams took part in a range of physical and mental activities testing their knowledge and skill.

top team results sheet 2018

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

Life 2 the Max

June 29th, 2018

Over 750 young people and leaders came together for Life 2 the Max 2018 which took place over the weekend at Felden Lodge. The event is run by London District, but also welcomed young people and Leaders from outside the District with participants from Birmingham, Bedford, Mid Suffolk, Bletchley and Chiltern. It was a fantastic day with a range of rides including the massively popular Dodgems and King Frog along with activities, workshops and shows for all age groups. Ben Jack from the Message Trust concluded a brilliant day with a powerful message about living life to the full through a relationship with Jesus.

Life 2 the Max takes place next year on Saturday 22nd June 2019 at Felden Lodge and there is an open invitation to all Companies – so put the date in your diary now! Check out www.thebbinlondon.org.uk for more details.

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

Junior Section International Team Games

June 29th, 2018

Well done to 19th Hobart (Australia) winners of the Junior Section Internation Team Games for the 2018. There were 179 entries to the competition this session including Companies from New Zealand, Thailand, Ghana, Australia, Scotland, Northern Ireland, England, Wales, Malaysia and Canada.

JSITG results 2018

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

Top Award for Members in Mid-Scottish

June 19th, 2018

72 BB young people from across central Scotland have been recognised at special ceremony in Carnoustie Panbride Church on Sunday 17th June.

BB members from the counties of Angus, Dundee, Falkirk and District, Fife, Perth and District and Stirling received their Queen’s Badge certificate from Mrs Georgiana Osborne CVO, Lord Lieutenant for the County of Angus. Provost Major Ronnie Proctor MBE of Angus Council, representing the local authority, also attended and read one of the lessons.

The Queen’s Badge is the highest award a young person can achieve in The Boys’ Brigade and represents the culmination of two years’ commitment, including community service, developing new interests, sporting development and an optional three-day expedition. The young people also attended two residential courses at the BB national headquarters at Carronvale House in Larbert.

Each young person carries out a minimum of 60 hours of volunteering, with half spent helping within the BB or church and the other half in the local community. In total, 6500 hours of volunteering have been undertaken by the Queen’s Badge recipients.

Gregor Bruce, 17, member of the 6/8^th Dundee Company, volunteered more than 45 hours with the Dundee Botanic Garden.

He said :

“I learned a great deal during for my Queen’s Badge volunteering section. I now know about the effort required to maintain a garden and how to look after plants properly. I doubt I would have got involved in this, had it not been for my Queen’s Badge.”

Louis Ross, 16, member of 25^th Stirling (Dunblane) commented:

“Over the past couple of years, I’ve learnt more about coaching, leadership and communication skills than I have anywhere else in my life. Taking part in football training has allowed me to grow in confidence enormously and develop myself as a person. All thanks to the Queen’s badge!”

Prior to the church service, The Queen’s Badge recipients marched through the town and were accompanied by 15 members for the 1^st Monifieth and 44^th Dundee (Broughty Ferry) BB pipe band.

Youngest member of the band, piper Lachlan Rennie, 8, said:

“It seemed like a really long way to march, but felt really good to be involved in such a special event.”

Alan Hunter, Training & Development Officer for The Boys’ Brigade, represented BB nationally at the event. He said:

“Congratulations to all the young people on an amazing achievement and the impact they have made on their companies and communities.”

Find our more about The Queen’s Badge.

Tags: awards, queens badge, youth volunteering
Posted in Awards, Publicity/PR, Scotland | No Comments »

125 Young People Take on the Kilbryde Hike adventure!

June 12th, 2018

31 Teams from The Boys’ Brigade Girls’ Brigade Scotland and Scouts Scotland competed at this year’s Kilbryde Hike in hills near Crawfordjohn, South Lanarkshire, last weekend (9/10 June).

The Hike, run by The Boys’ Brigade, is an annual competitive two-day adventure challenge in the hills of South Lanarkshire and East Ayrshire. In the senior categories, teams covered a gruelling 29 miles and also had to negotiate a series of additional checkpoint incidents, including two water-based challenges. Winning this year’s senior category was a team from 2nd East Kilbride BB company, based in the town’s South Parish church.

Member of the winning 2nd East Kilbride senior team, William Craigie (18), said:

“Our success is down to working hard and our determination. It was tough at times, but until you push yourself, you don’t know what you’re capable of.”

In the ‘Expedition’ category, covering 20 miles, another team from 2nd East Kilbride, also clinched the title. Teams from 25th Stirling BB company, based in Dunblane, triumphed in the ‘Junior’ title and also in the ‘Incidents’ category for their problem solving skills at the checkpoint challenges.

Member of the winning Junior team, James Carter (14) from 25th Stirling, said:

“I am very proud of my team. We trained very hard for this event and I am very happy we won the title. The level of competition was very high so respect goes to the other teams.

“The Kilbryde Hike offers a great experience. It gets you away from your phones and devices, out into the wilderness – an environment many kids don’t get to enjoy. It’s something you will remember for a very long time.

“It’s not easy. The checkpoint challenges are particularly tough. But the Hike is definitely one of the many great opportunities you get in the BB.”

This year’s event attracted a total of 125 young people from 31 teams and also included members from Girls’ Brigade Scotland and Scouts Scotland. For many, this year’s Hike was their first – and for some – their first taste of such an environment.

Jay, left, and the 1st Vale of Leven team

Jay Smith (11), is a member of 1st Vale of Leven BB company. He said:

“Despite the midges and the lots of walking, it’s really good fun. It’s great that other organisations get involved in this too.

“I would definitely recommend joining the BB. It sets you up for lots of opportunities when you’re older.”

John Sharp, Director for the BB in Scotland, presented the trophies and medals to the winning teams. He said:

“Many congratulations to everyone who took part in this year’s Kilbryde Hike, especially the winning teams.

“Taking part in the Kilbryde Hike is an achievement in itself. It takes determination, teamwork and a great deal of preparation. Whilst there will be many sore legs this week, I am sure that all the young people and the team of adult volunteers will look back at the weekend with a great sense of satisfaction.”

The Kilbryde Hike has been running for the past 49 years and has given 8,000 young people the chance to build team work, resilience and expedition skills. It welcomes young people from other organisations, including from Girls’ Brigade Scotland, Girlguiding and Scouts Scotland. Next year’s Hike , which marks 50 years of the event, takes place over the weekend of 8th & 9th June 2019.

For further information, please visit http://kilbrydehike.bbglasgow.org.uk/

Photos from the 2018 Hike are available here

Tags: Hike, Kilbryde Hike
Posted in Camp/Residential, Scotland | No Comments »

Celebrating 70 Years with HRH The Prince of Wales

May 23rd, 2018

As part of the celebrations to mark HRH The Prince of Wales’ 70th Birthday, BB members from across the country attended a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace to recognise and celebrate the work of his Patronage Charities. The BB members attending were part of a group of 100 young people representing the Youth United Foundation, a charity which HRH is Patron.

As well as being attended by HRH The Prince of Wales, other members of the Royal Family were also present including TRH The Duke & Duchess of Sussex, on their first official engagement since their marriage last weekend.

This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for our young people, one that they will remember for many years to come.

With best wishes to HRH The Prince of Wales as he celebrates his 70th Birthday later this year.

Posted in England, UK & RoI | No Comments »

1st Moneymore Lifts Football Trophy!

May 17th, 2018

The 1^st Moneymore made history last Saturday at Powerleague in Derby by winning their first Junior Football title. In what turned out to be a very competitive day, it came down to the very last match before the destination of this session’s title was known.

In the final match, 1^st Moneymore narrowly beat 4^th/5^th Kilmarnock, and in turn, triumphed 14^th West Bromwich to the title.

Six teams from around the UK had qualified for the final. These were 4^th/5^th Kilmarnock, 6^th/8^th Dundee, 5^th Carrickfergus, 1^st Moneymore, 14^th West Bromwich and 4^th Southampton.

The finalists were welcomed by Jaime Ellis, President of East Midland District. The winning team of Lee McMenemy, Matthew McMenemy, Travis Harkness, Lewis Francis, Glenn Caldwell, Curtis Neill and Luke Marks were presented their individual trophies and finalist medals and the National Competitions trophy by Paul Haggan, Member of Brigade Executive & England Regional committee and Leigh Maydew, also a Member of England Regional committee.

1st Mon Moneymore Team Captain Lewis Francis said:

“It was a great event and a privilege to play and to captain this team. Nobody let the team down and travelling to Derby to participate made the experience even more exciting and rewarding.“

On arrival back in Moneymore, the team received a reception from members of the public on the main street, who came out to offer their warmest congratulations to the boys and coaches for their unprecedented success.

Cookstown UUP Councillor Trevor Wilson congratulated 1st Moneymore company on their triumph. He said:

“This is a tremendous achievement for a small company and credit must go to the boys and their coaches on winning this national award.”

1st Moneymore ex member and Northern Ireland International footballer, Stuart Dallas tweeted:

“Well done boys. Fantastic achievement. Congratulations to everybody involved.”

You can find out much more about The Boys’ Brigade’s national competitions here.

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

Monifieth Team Triumphs in Table-tennis

May 8th, 2018

Members of 1^st Monifeith company, The Boys’ Brigade, have won the organisation’s national table-tennis title at the championship finals in Inverness on Saturday (5 May).

1^st Monifieth has reached the finals before, but this this is the very first time that the company has won the National Table-tennis competition. The team, Jordan Ednie, Mackenzie Rough and Duncan Fulton, progressed through regional heats to reach the national finals.

BB Companies from England, Northern Ireland and Scotland competed at the finals, which were held at Inverness Royal Academy. This annual competition sees teams from each part of the British Isles compete for the honour of being crowned The Boys’ Brigade Table-tennis Champions. Also competing in the finals were teams from 44^th Glasgow; 4^th Southampton and 1^st Kempston from England; and 2^nd Coleraine and 1^st Greenisland from Northern Ireland.

Duncan Fulton, 18, member of the winning Monifieth team, said:

“The day was full of different emotions for me, as it was one of my last events as a member in The Boys’ Brigade. We had been in the finals twice before, finishing fifth in Greenock, third in Liverpool.

“The event was so well organised and everyone was really friendly! We were so excited to get to the final and knew it would be tough against 44^th Glasgow who we had beat in the Scottish Final weeks before. It’s the closest and tightest game we have ever played.

“I had realised that it was down to me, as everyone moved to watch our final game. I remembered [the words of] my coach, concentrate on your serve! I did that and managed to win 11-9.

“It was such an amazing day, I could not have imagined how excited it was to be National Champions. We are all still on cloud 9!”

The event was organised and hosted by Highland Battalion, The Boys’ Brigade. Cllr Graham Ross, Deputy Provost of Inverness, met the finalists and also presented the championship trophy to the winners.

Michael MacAulay, young leader with 3^rd Inverness and member of the of the organising team, said:

“It was great to host the National Table Tennis Finals on Saturday 5th May and welcome the six teams to the Highlands. The skills demonstrated by the young players and the amount of sportsmanship were really impressive.

“Everyone involved in organising all played their part to make the day such a success. With this year being Scotland’s ‘Year of Young People’ it was amazing to see so many young people involved helping organise the event.”

You can find out more about The Boys’ Brigade’s national competitions here.

Full Results

1st Monifieth
44th Glasgow
1st Kempston
4^th Southampton
2nd Coleraine
1st Greenisland

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

Asda Community Support for 72nd Birmingham

May 3rd, 2018

The Anchor and Junior Sections of the 72nd Birmingham were please to accept a cheque for £200 from Asda in Shirley, Solihull as runners up in the Stores Community Giving Scheme. This was presented by Sandra Grice, the stores community champion.

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

Two in a Row for 1st Bearsden

May 1st, 2018

A team from 1^st Bearsden company, The Boys’ Brigade, has been crowned national champions for the second year running at The Boys’ Brigade ‘s Masterteam finals held in Liverpool last Saturday.

BB Companies from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales competed at the finals at All Saints’ Church in Childwall. 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 winning team comprised of Lyle Hamilton , Fergus Hempel, Fraser Ellis and Ross Brown.

Ross Brown and Fergus Temple were members of last year’s winning team.

Ross, 17, said:

“After narrowly missing out on the Scottish title this year, it was a great reward to win the UK Masterteam for the second time running!”

Fergus, 17, said:

“At 1st Bearsden, we have a really good seniors with quite a few people our age, and when you’ve been with them since Anchors it’s great to be around friends.”

The team was presented with their medals and the championship trophy by Bill Stevenson, CEO of The Boys’ Brigade UK & RoI. The other finalists were: 1st Ardstraw and 4th Newtownabbey from Northern Ireland, 1st Cheslyn Hay from England; 2nd Llantwit Major from Wales; and the other Scottish company was 1st Polmont.

The youngest member of the 1^st Bearsden team, Lyle Hamilton, said:

“As the new recruit and youngest member, I was delighted to be on the team representing 1st Bearsden and Scotland.”

The event was organised by Liverpool battalion, The Boys’ Brigade. Teams were welcomed to the city by Right Worshipful Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Malcolm Kennedy.

1st Bearsden company captain, Graham Sharp, commented:

“I’m delighted for the team. To win the UK Masterteam title for the second consecutive year is an amazing achievement and one they should be very proud of.

“It was a great competition from start to finish and the fact the results in the final were so close is testament to the many fantastic young people in the BB today.”

Bill Stevenson, Brigade Secretary and CEO, presented the medals and also spoke to each of the teams. He commented afterwards:

“The teams have done brilliantly to reach the finals in Liverpool. It was a really close final, but congratulations go to 1^st Bearsden for winning the trophy for the second year running.

“Competitions and events like this give our members the chance to experience opportunities the wider BB has to offer, whilst also promoting teamwork, trust and determination.”

Final results:

1^st – 1st Bearsden
2^nd – 1st Ardstraw

3^rd – 1^st Polmont and 2nd Llantwit Major

5^th – 1^st Cheslyn Hay

6^th – 4^th Newtonabbey

Learn more about The Boys’ Brigade’s National Competitions

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

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