Funding was applied to the National Heritage Lottery Fund in October 2022.
We have successfully run a project with the National Heritage Lottery Fund on the role of the 16th Highland Light Infantry (The Boys’ Brigade) in World War One in 2016. There was interest from young people in finding out more about the Heritage of the Boys’ Brigade movement itself and so having met the young people the group applied for funding to undertake this new project.
The project was originally for a group of 23 young people with some adult support. Such was the interest that over 47 young people got involved supported by 16 adults.
Meetings were held most weeks and planning took many months.
Most of the booking of accommodation, travel, food etc. was made by the project manager but all the research work, interviews, visits etc. were undertaken by young people.
A visit was made to the National BB Heritage Centre, meeting the centre manager, visits to local BB groups and of course the visit to Scotland.
Here the group went to Glasgow and undertook a walking tour of the BB Heritage sites, a visit to where the Founder lived and worked and also where the first BB group met in 1883.
The group also visited Thurso where the Founder was
born in Pennyland House as well as
Edinburgh and also Inverness. Interviews took place with people from all
these locations and two Lord Lieutenants – Thurso and Inverness, came to meet
and greet us.
At Edinburgh we were met by the governor of the castle
who gave us all free entry and a guided tour of the castle.
A lot of training took place throughout this project
in safeguarding for all adults involved (3hrs face to face plus website online
courses), training young people in camera use, recording and presentations.
The aim of the project was to discover more about the
Heritage of the Boys’ Brigade movement which started in 1883 by Sir William
Alexander Smith and to tell others about the movement and its rich heritage
over 140 years.
We discovered that it was through the Boys’ Brigade
movement that the Scout movement first started in 1907 and we saw the place
where discussions took place between Sir William and Baden Powell concerning a
joint youth organisation.
This was all achieved in full by museums exhibitions,
local talks, Facebook discussions and ultimately the production of a YouTube
video available to all on a public platform.
The young people learnt a lot throughout this project
and got fully involved in all aspects of the project as can be seen in the Heritage
Video. CLICK HERE
The young people engaged in the project throughout,
took film evidence and conducted interviews and discovered more about the
movement that they are all a part of and its rich history.
This has been a very successful project, well worth
doing and much appreciated not only by the young people but the wider BB
community.
Group picture outside Kelvingrove Hall before we did the walking tour of Glasgow.
Picture of the sign post at Thurso - The group at Pennyland House - The group at the museum in Thurso
Picture of the group at the location where the BB was first started in Glasgow
Pictures of the group at the grave of the Founder
Picture of the group at Edinburgh Castle
Picture at Inverness with the Lord Lieutenant - and with the Lord Thurso
Picture of the wreath laying at Pennyland House
Picture of the Jubilee casket which we were shown at Stirling and also by the BB archivist.
Pictures of the BB badges and membership cards.
Picture of the heading “The William Smith Museum” at Thurso ----------- Picture of the plaque in Glasgow Cathedral to Sir William.