The Boys' Brigade in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland

The Boys' Brigade

Motto	Sure & Steadfast
Founded	4 October 1883
Founder	William Alexander Smith
Founded at	Glasgow, United Kingdom
Focus	The Object of The Boys' Brigade is: "The advancement of Christ’s kingdom among Boys and the promotion of habits of Obedience, Reverence, Discipline, Self-respect and all that tends towards a true Christian manliness."
Headquarters	Felden Lodge, Hemel Hempstead, Herts
Area served	United Kingdom & Republic of Ireland
Members	50,000 Children and Young Leaders in 1,400 Companies
President	Lord Griffiths of Burry Port
Brigade Secretary	Bill Stevenson
Patron	HM Queen Elizabeth II
Volunteers	15,000 volunteer Leaders
Mission	Faith in Young People
Website	boys-brigade.org.uk

The Boys' Brigade (BB) is the largest Christian uniformed youth organisation in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. The Boys' Brigade was founded in Glasgow, Scotland on 4 October 1883 by Sir William Alexander Smith, and celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2008. Today Felden Lodge in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire serves as the main headquarters and England regional headquarters, while other regions have their own regional headquarters.

The first Company of The Boys' Brigade was set up by Sir William Alexander Smith, on 4 October 1883 at Free Church Mission Hall, North Woodside Road, Glasgow, Scotland to develop "Christian manliness" by the use of a semi-military discipline and order, gymnastics, summer camps, and religious services and classes.

In the years following the establishment of the 1st Glasgow company, others were rapidly formed throughout Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom leading to a movement comprising thousands of boys: in the early 20th century there were about 2,200 companies connected with different churches throughout the United Kingdom, the British Empire, and the United States, with 10,000 officers and 160,000 boys.

The object of The Boys' Brigade since its formation has been "the advancement of Christ's kingdom among Boys and the promotion of habits of Obedience, Reverence, Discipline, Self-respect and all that tends towards a true Christian manliness". These aims led The Boys' Brigade to become one of the founders of The National Council for Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS), which is an England-wide organisation working to support and promote the activities of charities and groups with a focus on the welfare of young people. The Boys' Brigade has remained a member of NCVYS since its creation in 1936. When writing the object Sir William Smith wrote down all of the important words in capital letters as to highlight them and as true of his century, when Glasgow was the heart of Queen Victoria's ever expanding empire, it was said that everything was either flown, carted, shipped or carried from there that was in the Industrial Revolution.