Lockdown limitations on work for badge

As what would normally be the concluding weeks of the session, boys will have been missing out on their usual activities. As well as the traditional parade nights they have lost out on football, badminton, volleyball, athletics, basketball, annual camp and so on. The #BB@HOME, online activity programme has been successful in delivering an interesting and entertaining scheme of activities during lockdown. It has been used not only by the BB boys but also by brothers, sisters and friends and could result in other young people becoming interested in becoming BB members when ‘‘normal’’ activities resume. It has been a particularly difficult time for boys who should have been working for their Queen’s Badge. To gain the badge boys have, amongst other activities and service criteria, to serve in the church, in the community and demonstrate a recorded improvement in artistic, sporting or other skill. The very nature of lockdown limits these possibilities. During lockdown Professor Jason Leitch has become a familiar face on television. As the national clinical director of the Scottish Government he plays a very important role in the fight against the Coronavirus. In a recent YouTube video he explained his association with the Boys’ Brigade as a member of the 6th Airdrie Company. He indicates his support and encouragement for young people to use the current #BB@HOME programme. In the context of Queen’s Badge, a memorable occasion for all who achieve that highest award in the organisation, is the opportunity to attend a parade, presentation service and reception arranged each year by different battalions within the Mid Scottish Area. Our battalion has been allocated the parade for 2021 and it will involve considerable planning; something at which the battalion has been successful in the past. Hopefully we will again be able to take on this challenge.

As what would normally be the concluding weeks of the session, boys will have been missing out on their usual activities. As well as the traditional parade nights they have lost out on football, badminton, volleyball, athletics, basketball, annual camp and so on. The #BB@HOME, online activity programme has been successful in delivering an interesting and entertaining scheme of activities during lockdown. It has been used not only by the BB boys but also by brothers, sisters and friends and could result in other young people becoming interested in becoming BB members when ‘‘normal’’ activities resume. It has been a particularly difficult time for boys who should have been working for their Queen’s Badge. To gain the badge boys have, amongst other activities and service criteria, to serve in the church, in the community and demonstrate a recorded improvement in artistic, sporting or other skill. The very nature of lockdown limits these possibilities. During lockdown Professor Jason Leitch has become a familiar face on television. As the national clinical director of the Scottish Government he plays a very important role in the fight against the Coronavirus. In a recent YouTube video he explained his association with the Boys’ Brigade as a member of the 6th Airdrie Company. He indicates his support and encouragement for young people to use the current #BB@HOME programme. In the context of Queen’s Badge, a memorable occasion for all who achieve that highest award in the organisation, is the opportunity to attend a parade, presentation service and reception arranged each year by different battalions within the Mid Scottish Area. Our battalion has been allocated the parade for 2021 and it will involve considerable planning; something at which the battalion has been successful in the past. Hopefully we will again be able to take on this challenge.