North Scottish Area Boys' Brigade

140BATON

Over the last 10 months the has been on many adventures.

Due to a communication error it now embarks on a new journey…as it enters the postal service!

Wish us luck…

44th Aberdeen Boys Brigade - Anchors Best Bits 2024 A montage of photos and video clips to highlight Anchor Boys best bits from BB session 2023-2024.

This weekend the has been at camp in the Kincraig area with the 1st Rosehearty Company!

CAMP 2024

The 1st Rosehearty are off to their weekend camp at Kincraig!

A fun packed weekend has been planned and the weather is looking better than expected!

We have even been joined by the !

The design of the King’s Badge has officially been released by BBUK!

Following approval from our Patron, HM The King, we are delighted to announce that our highest award will become known as the King's Badge from 1st September 2024!

Find out more, including details of the transition from the Queen's Badge, at https://boys-brigade.org.uk/introducing-the-kings-badge/

BOOK THE BATON

The has completed its tour of the North Scottish but it continues to travel to special events!

If you would like the Baton for a Company camp or special event between now and the end of August get in touch!

Of course the baton can only be in one place at a time so best to get in touch in advance to avoid disappointment.

Any company booking the baton will be responsible for costs transport/posting baton and will be responsible for assuring its safe return to a named individual on agreed dates.

The President, Executive and all in the North Scottish Area wish Alan McIntosh, Captain of 1st Buckie Company and President of Banffshire Battalion, a very Happy 70th Birthday!

Time now for the next birthday ...

Not just anyone celebrating today, it's the turn of our Company Captain, Alan McIntosh.

AND not just any birthday, it's the BIG 7-0. Happy 70th from us all at 1st Buckie.

🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁

Looks like the 12th Inverness are having a fantastic time in the Netherlands!

All set for a day at the theme park 🎢🎡🎠

Well done to Jimmy Muirhead MBE who was presented with a Long Service Award for an astounding 70 years of volunteering in the Boys’ Brigade!

Jimmy is a sitting Honorary Vice-President of the North Scottish Area!

LONG SERVICE AWARD - 70 YEARS

On Friday the Battalion was honoured to have the opportunity to present our Honorary President, James Muirhead MBE, with a Long Service Award marking an astonishing 70 years of volunteering with the Boys’ Brigade.

After 10 years as a BB Boy Jimmy became an officer back in 1954 with the 1st Fraserburgh. He was an active officer in the Brigade for 60 years in the 1st Fraserburgh and a reserve officer latterly with the 1st St Combs. Lately he has been an important supporter of the 1st Rosehearty. As a Brigade Trainer Jimmy has been all around the North of Scotland delivering vital training, including as a Training Officer and coordinator in Buchan. He served as Vice-President of the Battalion and has been Honorary President since 2015.

The President and Executive give their sincere thanks and appreciation to Jimmy on the occasion of his platinum anniversary as an active volunteer and Officer in the Boys’ Brigade. A lifetime of service!

Jimmy was presented with his Long Service Award by Hon. Mrs Kate Nicolson DL, Depty Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire.

Wonderful to see Buchan Battalion celebrate 11 President’s Badges at their annual Queen’s and President’s Badge Night!

Best wishes to the 12th Inverness as they set off for the Netherlands!

have made it to The Port of Tyne and are waiting to board the ferry to The Netherlands 🇳🇱

The Lord Provost of Aberdeen gives his thoughts on the recent Queen’s Badge and President’s Badge celebration evening!

Looks like it was a great night of celebration in the Buchan Battalion last night!

Well done to Kai and Callum of the 46th Aberdeen who were awarded their President’s Badge certificates by Alan Hunter yesterday evening at Aberdeen & District Battalion’s celebration evening.

Further congratulations to Finlay who was presented with his Queen’s Badge certificate - the highest award in the BB!

The Boys are pictured with (left) David Cameron - Lord Provost of Aberdeen and (right) Chief Guest Alan Hunter.

Well done all!

QUEEN’S & PRESIDENT’S BADGES

Well done to Nathan, Dominik, Calvin and Liam of the 44th Aberdeen who received their President’s Badge Certificates at Aberdeen & District Battalion’s celebration last night.

Further congratulations to Aiden of the 44th who was presented with his Queen’s Badge certificate - the highest award in the BB!

Certificates were presented by Chief Guest, Alan Hunter!

The was in Aberdeen & District Battalion tonight for their Queen’s Badge and President’s Badge Celebration!

The Baton was reunited with the Lord Provost of Aberdeen who welcomed it to the City first time round all the way back in September!

It was a wonderful evening of celebration and we look forward to sharing the presentation photographs in due course!

QUEEN’S BADGES

Well done to Sebastian, Charlie and Gracjan of the 2nd Turriff Company who were presented with their Queen’s Badge this morning.

The Queen’s Badge is the highest award in the BB and these awards will be among the last before the King’s Badge is officially introduced from next session.

Well done all!

Happy Father’s Day!

Today we wish all of the fathers and fatherly figures out there a very happy Father's Day!

PRESIDENT’S BADGE

Well done to James of the 1st New Pitsligo Boys Brigade who was presented with his President’s Badge on Friday!

As seen in the Company’s post, James may well become the first in his Company history to be awarded a King’s Badge as opposed to a Queen’s Badge.

Well done James!

⚓⚓Presidents Award⚓⚓

Very proud Captain last night awarding James Bailey with his Presidents Badge 👏

You have worked hard, been a good help at anchors, enjoyed our Refuel night away & residential and been an active member.

I look forward to supporting you on your Kings Badge journey which will be the first ever one for 1st New Pitsligo. I know you will work hard and put the effort in to achieve this.

Huge congratulations once again 👏👏

QUEEN’S BADGE

Well done to Finlay from the 46th Aberdeen who was recently presented with his Queen’s Badge, the highest award in the Boys’ Brigade! Finlay will be among the last to receive the award before it becomes the King’s Badge in the new session!

Aberdeen & District Battalion will have their Queen’s Badge and President’s Badge celebration soon so we will see more from Finlay and the other recipients soon!

QUEEN'S BADGES & PRESIDENT'S BADGES

Well done to 5 young men from Highland Battalion who were recently presented with their Queen's and President's Bagdes, the highest and second-highest award in the Boys' Brigade.

From left to right they are Blair McAra (3rd Inverness, President's Badge), Jamie Wollam (1st Culloden, Queen's Badge), Declan McKee (1st Culloden, Queen's Badge), Ewan Aitken (12th Inverness, President's Badge), and Calum Mackie (12th Inverness, President's Badge).

Well done to all on theses marvellous achievements!

One Company in the North has been shortlisted for a BB Social Media Award. Vote for the 1st Rosehearty Boys' Brigade in the ‘Best Use of Photography’ category to help get a win for the North!

https://boys-brigade.org.uk/social-media-awards/

We’re delighted to announce our 2024 Social Media Awards finalists today, after receiving over 90 nominations!

Here are our finalists for the Best Use of Photography category 🏆

Thank you to all of our groups for your fantastic work in using social media to share the opportunities that children and young people have to experience “life to the full”.

Vote for your winning group by following this link: https://boys-brigade.org.uk/social-media-awards/

VOLUNTEERS' WEEK

"It always felt right to continue with BBs as I enjoyed it so much and wanted to give back to my community and the leaders/officers who helped me!"

On the final day of we meet Chris Cairns who is a leader with the brand new 1st Isle of Skye Company. Chris has been involved with the BB since he was 5 and gained his Queen's Badge with the 2nd Fort William when he was 16. He was then an officer with Fort William for 9 years before he moved to Isle of Skye with work.

Leaving your 'own' Company can be difficult but it showed Chris how valuable his volunteering was: "The best part has to be my difficult leaving off the BBs in Fort William because of how sad everyone was to see me leave. It really hit home how much of a difference we make".

Sadly when members move away from their 'own' company, they often feel that working with another company wouldn't work for them. Chris has found the opposite to be true! "Starting up BBbs here in Skye along with all the other volunteers has been such a fun and amazing experience. I would recommend anyone to spare a few hours of their time to find out what it is all about".

It seems that the rewards of volunteering are the same in the BB, wherever you find them: "It fills me with so much pride to see children and young people smiling at something you have taught them, that enthusiasm is contagious and is what got me back into it"!

"You are guaranteed to leave smiling!"

It is great to see what Chris and the other volunteers have achieved at 1st Isle of Skye and shows what can be done when you see yourself as being part of a Brigade, rather than only part of a Company. Well done all!

Great day at Trooping of the Colours in London.
Two companies from North Scottish Area 4th Lossiemouth and 2nd Forres along with our President James Allan attended this fantastic event in London.
The two North companies were joined by 22nd Paisley and 1st Ossett representing the Boys' Brigade UK

VOLUNTEERS' WEEK

"I would encourage people to start volunteering if they are thinking about it, even if it's only for an hour a week, it can make such a difference".

On day 6 of we meet Stuart Allan who is a leader with the 2nd Forres Boys Brigade.

Stuart first joined the BB at the age of 5 in 1989 but as with many BB boys life took him away from the Brigade. Happily for us Stuart returned and has now been a helper then officer for the past 5 years: "I started volunteering when my oldest son started attending BBs".

Stuart is not just a leader due to his own son and he tells us of the satisfaction he gets from volunteering: "Volunteering at BBs makes me feel that I'm making a positive impact on the children. It is great to see them develop year to year and become young adults. I really enjoy all aspects of being a volunteer but have really enjoyed our camping trips and trips to Abernethy outdoor centre".

A great deal of work has gone on at 2nd Forres in recent years thanks to Stuart and officers like him. Its wonderful to see volunteering having such a positive impact on all involved. Keep up the good work!

This we remember how valued volunteering is to local communities.

Due to the high standard and commitment to voluntary service at 1st Buckie Company they were even awarded a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS), seen as being an MBE equivalent to an organisation or group!

Well done!

VOLUNTEERS' WEEK

"For anyone who wants to volunteer with Boys' Brigade I would say go for it! It is the most rewarding thing you will ever do".

On day 5 of we visit Michael at 2nd Turriff Boys' Brigade who has been a volunteer for just over 20 years. Previous to being an officer he was in the BB Company Section for three years.

Like many other volunteers in the BB Michael didn't quite expect to stick around for as long as he has: "I was asked along to the BBs to help coach badminton and the rest is history". Its amazing how coming along to help for a week or two often becomes years!

Michael has recently just stepped down as Captain after 14 years, but is now helping as a Lieutenant much to the delight of the new Captain: "Being Captain was very satisfying and seeing young people at the end of their journey as a boy and receiving their Queen's Badge...to see the joy and admiration on the faces of young people is very rewarding".

As for why he started volunteering with the BB, it was quite simple really: "I have always liked helping young people".

If like Michael you would like young people reach their full potential, why not consider joining out team at the Boys' Brigade!