User:Doluwamu Kehinde

THE BOYS BRIGADE NIGERIA The boys brigade was founded by sir Willian Alexander Smith in the year 1883 in Scotland Sir. W. A. Smith was a retired army officer, and a devoted sunday school teacherDoluwamu Kehinde (talk) 20:23, 16 August 2015 (UTC) The Boys' Brigade was founded in Glasgow by Sir William Alexander Smith on 4 October 1883 to develop Christian manliness by the use of a semi-military discipline and order, gymnastics, summer camps and religious services and classes.[7] By 1910, there were about 2200 companies connected with different churches throughout the United Kingdom, the British Empire and the United States, with 10,000 officers and 100,000 boys.[7] In May 1903, Robert Baden-Powell became vice-president.[8] Robert Baden-Powell who as Vice President of the Boys' Brigade used it alongside initiatives in schools, particularly Eton, to promote the idea of scouting and outdoor pursuits based on those of the military for boys.[9] This was done with an experimental camp on Brownsea Island Scout camp with the Boys from Eton College, together with members of the Bournemouth & Poole Battalion of The Boys' Brigade. At the time, he did not originally intend that any individual organization would later arise from this aim in the form of the various Scouting movements.[9] Scouting badges (Silver & Gold) were awarded in The Boys' Brigade and there were specialised Boys' Brigade Scout sections, which operated as part of a BB Company, but met at different times, who wore a blue uniform with shorts and the distinctive Smokey Bear hat traditionally identified with Scouts.[10] However, nowadays there is a certain friendly rivalry between the two groups. Two of the Original Boys' Brigade Scout units still exist in the names of 1st Parkstone Scout Group and 1st Hamworthy Scout Group, both formerly sub units of the 1st Poole Boys Brigade.[11] The 1st Bournemouth Scout Group which was run by the 1st Bournemouth Boys' Brigade was in fact a 'BP' Scout Group and never a 'BB Scout 'Section'.

In October 1926 The Boys' Brigade united with The Boys' Life Brigade. The merger also prompted the abandonment of dummy drill rifles that had been used in The Boys' Brigade, due to the Life Brigade's objection to use of weapons or their representations.[12] The Junior organisation of the Boys' Brigade prior to 1926 was called 'The Boy Reserves' but after amalgamation the juniors were called 'The Life Boys'. The name came from the fact that the junior reserve of The Boys' Life Brigade had been known as 'Lifeboys' (all one word). The Life Boys remained as the 'Junior Reserve of The Boys' Brigade until 1966 when the name was changed to 'The Junior Section'.[13] The Boys' Life Brigade (1899) was one of many similar movements formed as 'clones' of The Boys' Brigade. The BLB was formed by the National Sunday School Union (Pacifist). Others included the Church Lads' Brigade (1891, Anglican), the Jewish Lads' Brigade (1895) and the Catholic Boys' Brigade (1894). There were many more smaller Brigades in other denominations and even some in individual churches.

Establishment of recreational camping[edit]Drawing from his military experience, William Smith (Knighted in 1909) introduced the concept of camping into the Brigade to allow boys and officers to remain in contact when other activities ceased for the summer break.[8]

The notion was initially ill-received due to concerns for the boys' safety.[8][9] A mother has been quoted saying, "Camp! My children have always had a roof over their heads, and as long as I live, always will!".[8] They did have a roof over their heads because William Smith proceeded with the idea and 1st Glasgow Company held its inaugural one-week camp beginning on Friday, 16 July 1886, at Auchinlochan Hall, Tighnabruaich in a hall. In later years they took to canvas camping on a site at Portavadie in the Kyles of Bute.[8] The First Glasgow continued to attend summer camp at the same location until the summer of 1974 when Portavadie was selected as the location of a proposed yard for the construction of oil production platforms. However the new camp is located only 100 yards away at Stilliag farm. This camp site is now used by many companies of the BB every summer for their camping trip.

The initial reservations towards camping did not last. A tradition developed, where the boys who were marching home on the last day of camp would be greeted by cheers from residents and were each presented with a bouquet of flowers.[14] Camps soon became one of the most anticipated events in the year[15] and early publications of the Boys' Brigade Gazette contained many accounts of camping experiences.[14] Sir William Smith's plans and notes for his first camps have been preserved, and have been used by many other campers.[14]

There are five different age groups, known as "sections", within the organisation for the UK:

Anchors - 5 to 8 years (companies need special permission to accept boys younger than 5 years old) Juniors - 8 to 11 years Company - 11 to 15 years Seniors - 15 to 18 years Amicus - 15 to 22 years (Companies may choose to run a Girls' Association alongside or in combination with these sections)

Within Australia there are three sections known as:

Anchors - 4 to 7 years Juniors - 8 to 11 years Seniors - 12 to 18 years Seniors is divided into 2 groups based on age. 12-14 Alpha and 15 - 18 Omega

Age groups are typically based on school years, so boys in the same year group would be promoted to the next section together, regardless of the dates of individual boys' birthdays. In some companies, sections may merge or there may be minor variations to the normal age boundaries, to accommodate excessively large or small groups of boys or a lack of leaders. Boys might also move to their next section before the end of the year to allow a smoother transition.

Amicus was launched in 1994, and is intended to either run as an alternative to the Seniors programme or even without any other Boys' or Girls' Brigade sections operating. Unlike other sections which may be for boys only in many companies, Amicus is always run as a mixed-gender group. The Amicus concept emphasises involvement of all its members in decision-making concerning the running of the section, such as the content and whether a uniform is to be worn. The section will be overseen and supervised by leaders aged over 18, who receive training from the Boys' Brigade and may deliver parts of the programme.[16] Malaysia has three age group which are

Pre-Juniors - 5 to 7 years Juniors - 8 to 11 years Seniors - 12 to 18 years In the United Kingdom and Eire The BB is divided into 4 Regions, each region is then further divided. In Scotland and England & Wales The BB is divided into Districts and then Battalions. In Northern Ireland the BB is divided into 13 Battalions. The Battalions provide a local grouping of companies. The Battalions are normally based on Cities or Counties. Each Battalion has its own local structure that organises events and training on behalf of the member companies.

Leadership[edit]Officers (adult leaders)[edit]Leaders in training are Warrant Officers, attaining the rank of Lieutenant only when having completed additional formal training in youth leadership. To avoid unnecessary leader hierarchy, all qualified officers are Lieutenants. The post of Captain of a company is a brevet rank with those in the position reverting to Lieutenant when they cease to be in the position; similarly other positions such as the company Adjutant (second to the captain) are considered appointments rather than substantive ranks.

Boys bearing the rank of Staff-Sergeant are non-commissioned officers but act within the company as Officers.

Boys as Non-Commissioned Officers[edit]An older boy can gain promotion from Private to become a Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO). There are four NCO ranks available, each being awarded when a boy is of a certain minimum age and reaches a high enough standard of leadership:

Lance Corporal (minimum age 14) Corporal (minimum age 15) Sergeant (minimum age 16) Staff Sergeant (minimum age 17) NCOs often play an important role in the Boys' Brigade, helping the officers and other adult helpers with organising activities and awards classes, particular in the Anchors and Juniors sections. NCOs wear chevrons on their upper right arm.

Staff Sergeants act within the company as officers and do not stand in the ranks; however as Staff Sergeants are boys of the Brigade, they can still partake in company activities and competitions, and still earn awards and badges. The uniform of Staff Sergeants is slightly different from that of the normal boy or NCO, they wear still wear a blue shirt. If caps are worn, the BB Anchor is used with no coloured surround. Their rank is denoted with an armband on the right forearm with four inverted chevrons (similar to the rank badge historically worn by senior grades of sergeant in the British Army).

In the United Kingdom, those aged 17 to 21 years old who are nominated by their company, may participate in The Boys' Brigade KGVI Youth Leadership Training;[17] this consists of two one-week-long residential training experiences containing all the training needed to become an officer in The Boys' Brigade. KGVI is held at each of the Regional Headquarters (Felden Lodge in England/Wales, Carronvale House in Scotland and Rathmore House in Northern Ireland).