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