“The organisation has shaped my life and made me the person I am today.”
I grew up in Carluke, South Lanarkshire, in a new housing estate where most of our neighbours were young families with children around the same age as me. Towards the end of the 1970s, my parents and their friends founded 4th Carluke in our Church – just in time for when I was old enough to join!
Almost everyone I knew growing up was in The Boys’ Brigade, and I am still in touch with many of them. The organisation has shaped my life and made me the person I am today.
I spent many happy years at 4th Carluke, but we moved away to the shores of the Holy Loch near Dunoon when I was 15. Joining 1st Dunoon helped me make new friends and to have something familiar to belong to when everything else was so different. I was lucky to later return to 4th Carluke as a leader and to take part in KGVI Youth Leader Training as both a young person and more recently as part of the amazing staff teams. Today I work with 1st Stonehouse as their Company Chaplain.
Being in BB from a very young age means I have always been surrounded by great people of strong faith. We all enjoyed many adventures together. One particular highlight is getting to attend the Centenary International Camp at Scone Palace.
It was amazing to meet young people from all over the world and to join in the centenary celebrations at Ibrox Stadium. I was able to experience things I just wouldn’t have done if I wasn’t in BB. It took me to new places and gave me confidence I never thought I’d have.
I studied Community Education, drawing on what I’d learned about youth work and faith from BB and went on to work with the Church of Scotland and the United Reformed Church in youth and adult development posts.
Today, I am a minister with the United Reformed Church serving a Local Ecumenical Partnership (URC and Church of Scotland). BB taught me that hard work and commitment pay off, and this is a lesson I’ve taken with me the whole way through my working life.
There’s nothing quite like BB. It’s a brilliant mix of fun, friendships and faith where you pick up so many things that will help you in all parts of your life: Including how to learn; how to lead; and how to love.
BB builds character and life skills. Everyone who knows me can see the positive impact the organisation has had on my life.
BB, at its core, is about supporting faith-filled young people who can make a positive impact on the world around them. There will always be a place for that and I’m proud to still be able to support the BB.
