Boys’ Brigade is an international organization for boys from 6 through 18 years old. It works to develop Christian beliefs among its members through educational, religious, physical, and social activities. The Boys’ Brigade is active chiefly in the United Kingdom and a number of other countries, including Australia, New Zealand, and many nations of Africa.
The Boys’ Brigade consists of units called companies, each of which is sponsored by a local Christian church. A company may be divided into four sections for boys of various ages. Adult church members give religious instruction and organize such activities as arts and crafts, camping, community service, first aid and safety, music, and sports.
The Boys’ Brigade was founded in 1883 in Glasgow, Scotland, by William Alexander Smith, a Scottish merchant. It was one of the world’s first uniformed youth organizations. Its headquarters are in Hemel Hempstead, near St. Albans, in the United Kingdom.
