Training Courses
BBNI provides leaders with a wide range of training opportunities, ensuring leaders have the knowledge and skills to equip them in their role as a BB Leader. BBNI also empowers leaders to continually develop within their leadership roles.
BBNI leaders have the privilege of serving God in Boys’ Brigade and fulfilling the object of advancing Christ’s Kingdom. Our comprehensive training programme includes:
- Core leadership and safeguarding training
- Specific training designed and developed to equip leaders to support the emerging needs of children and young people
BBNI provides leaders with a wide range of training opportunities, ensuring leaders have the knowledge and skills to equip them in their role as a BB Leader. BBNI empowers leaders to continually develop within their leadership roles.
Core Training
BBNI Safeguarding Training
This one-hour safeguarding training will complement the training delivered by churches and provides leaders with relevant information about the safeguarding processes within BB. We recommend that all BBNI leaders complete this new safeguarding training. We will be running a few different sessions throughout the year.
BBNI Leader Training
This training course is for anyone who has been appointed by the Church as a leader or helper in the Boys’ Brigade. There are courses throughout the year. It equips you with the leadership skills, ideas, and resources for your role in BB which will be of massive value to your BB Company. The training is a fantastic experience for any leader or helper, with plenty of discussion, interaction, and conversations with other BB leaders.
Step Up
An unforgettable weekend for young leaders 17-30 years old, who are already serving in the Boys’ Brigade or are planning to start. It takes place in the summer and brings together faith, friendships, and training. It will equip you with the same skills/qualification that the BB Leader Training course provides, but the programme is tailored to young adults. It is fun, challenging, and an opportunity to meet new people and make memories that will last a lifetime.
BBNI Leader Training and Step Up will provide you with the core BB Leader training. It will equip and enable you with the skills and knowledge to work effectively with children and young people. At the very heart of the courses, we aim to equip leaders to share Jesus with our children and young people and live out our object of Advancing Christ’s Kingdom.
Captains’ Training
This virtual training course is for newly appointed Captains and those who are currently serving as Captains and would like to update their training. This training provides you with the necessary skills and knowledge to be an effective Captain. We recommend that all new Captains complete this training.
The course is made up of several different sessions including the role of the Captain, safety in the company, planning and managing the company, developing the company, building a leadership team, and working together with your Church.
At the very heart of this course, we aim to equip and enthuse Captains to lead a BB company that is full of passion to share Jesus with our children and young people and live out our object of Advancing Christ’s Kingdom.
Expedition & Outdoor Leadership (Level 1 & Level 2)
This training course is delivered in partnership with Girls’ Brigade NI. This training is a requirement if your BB Company participates in The Duke of Edinburgh Award or takes your group on hikes/expeditions. It is delivered over two weekends – a training weekend in the spring and an assessment weekend in the autumn. Each of the levels are required for different levels of expedition.
- Level 1
- Lowland or Open Country.
- This course is only available to leaders aged 18 or ever who have completed BBNI Leader Training (YLT Prior to 2023).
- Level 2
- Mountainous or Wild Country.
- This course is only available to leaders who have completed Expedition & Outdoor Leadership Level 1.
Queen’s Badge Training
The Queen’s Badge Award is the highest award in the Boys’ Brigade. Young people are required to attend two training courses provided by BBNI.
Skills for Queen’s Badge
This course focuses on leadership skills providing and equipping the young person with appropriate skills to help them progress through the award.
Queen’s Badge Completion
This course focuses on celebration and reflection. Participants will look back on what they have achieved through the award, the challenges they faced and the moments they will remember. They will have the opportunity to acknowledge their achievement and celebrate completing the award.
The Christian Faith Journey is central to these courses. Our hope and prayer through each of the courses is that the young people participating will come to know and love Jesus.
Training Extras
We continually assess the training needs of our leaders through our engagement with companies, conversations, evaluations, and the Education Authority’s Regional Assessment of Need for Children and Young People. The feedback is used to develop partnerships with external organisations to deliver thematic training that addresses the needs of the leaders.
Great training from the very serious to the more light-hearted moments and the undeniable message through the background music and devotions that it is all about Jesus and inspiring faith in a generation of young men who need good news in a very challenging world!
Carole Grattan - BB Leader, 1st MaralinBB Leader Training has ensured us to keep compliant on the important regulations required as well as sharing ideas with other leaders in other companies to ensure we deliver the best programme for the boys under our care. It has enabled us to develop new and innovative programme ideas as well as sharing with others.
Stephen Kinkaid - BB Captain, 5th CarrickfergusThe training provided by BBNI greatly exceeded my expectations and provided me with a wonderful opportunity to grow in my leadership skills. The course was extremely practical, with opportunities to ask questions throughout the day and have group discussions with other BB leaders from around Northern Ireland. The content, presented by a range of wonderful speakers, was engaging from start to finish and I left the course well equipped with a greater knowledge of the Boys’ Brigade and many practical ideas to bring back to my BB Company.
Chloe Scott - Children’s & Family Worker, Whitehouse Presbyterian Church & BB Leader, 5th Newtownabbey