 The next item of business is a member's debate on motion 7188, in the name of Alexander Stewart, on Boys Brigade Junior's 100th anniversary. The debate will be concluded without any questions being put. Can I ask those members who wish to speak in the debate to press their request-to-speak buttons now, please? I call on Alexander Stewart to open the debate. Mr Stewart, seven minutes, please. I'm delighted and grateful for the opportunity to open this member's debate this evening. This autumn, the Boys Brigade in Scotland is celebrating 100 years of the Boys Brigade Junior's section. From its formation in Glasgow on 4 October 1883 by Sir William Alexander Smith and up until 1917, the Boys Brigade was only catered for boys aged over 12. However, in September 1917, rebate councils set up the boy reserve to cater for boys aged between 8 and 11. The mission of the boy reserve was the advancement of Christ's kingdom among boys and the training of suitable recruits for the boys' brigade. In the early days, the boy reserves saw a notable increase in attendance at Sunday schools in the churches that had adopted at this section, and the number of companies operated by the reserve continued to grow. By 1918, there were almost 1,500 members of the reserve across the UK, with 59 sections being formed in the first session of 1917-1918 for the original, and there are 25 of those still remaining today. In 1926, the Boys Brigade reserve merged with the boys' life brigade to be known as the life boys. With this amalgamation, members increased from more than 30,000 in the early 1930s up to 70,000 in the 1950s. In 1966, the life boys became a full part of their brigade as the junior section, and the name, which was instead interpreted to be temporary, remains still today and holds true. Members of the juniors have been marking their milestone through 2017. By including taking part in junior hundred challenges, young people are encouraged to compete. 100 challenges include activities such as taking part in a world record attempt, learning from first aid skills, raising £100 for a local charity and trying a new sport. Many of those have been actively engaging across the country over the past few months. Members have also got the opportunity to be creative learning new skills, exploring and being adventurous, while at the same time striving to support their local communities. On-going celebrations have also involved looking back at the heritage of the juniors, showing and sharing some of the stories of the current celebrations and looking forward to the next 100 years. Primarily the Boys Brigade junior section provides a fun and safe learning environment for children between the ages of 8 and 11. The programme consists of five areas—body, mind, spirit, community and collaboration. Those all take place and ensure that they have the opportunity to learn and to grow. The programme enables the youngsters to take teamwork and responsibility that gives them the opportunity to grow and develop in their roles. Juniors also have the opportunity to go on camps and residential trips. Indeed, for some, that might be the first time that they are away from home for an evening. Throughout the time in the junior section, youngsters are able to gain badges and recognition for their participation in simple activities. That is a real form of motivation and gives a visual tangible record of their achievement, and many of them wear their badges with real pride. Membership of the Boys Brigade offers young people so much more to excel in new skills and talents, to explore, to deliver and to provide new opportunities that they can do with fun. As I said in my motion, the Boys Brigade is to be commended and congratulated in trying to gel this team approach, the participation in sport, activities, and it is crucial for children and young people's physical and mental thinking and tackling childhood obesity and also bridging the gap between the attainment. The Boys Brigade is a Christian youth organisation and it is committed to fun and safe learning environment. As a result, the majority of the members benefit from a church-based premises and share the use of equipment. That is why, in many cases, expenditure is kept low. As a result of that positive merge, the Boys Brigade junior section, we now have 1,400 with 5,010 members in Scotland. As a past battalion president of Perth and Kinross district and the current battalion president of Stirling and District Boys Brigade, I am proud—and I have witnessed many of those youngsters' opportunities to grow and to be proud and confident. As they excel, they become very capable young adults. Indeed, an example of that is a young member from the Boys Brigade company in the Stirling area, whose name is James and who joined the local group several years ago. Although now, in his late teens, his mother reflected to the directors of the Boys Brigade on how his time in the junior section had helped us on progress. Those are her own words by permission of the Boys Brigade. The junior section provided a well-balanced programme of activities, including trying different sports and drill and, of course, the introduction to camp and the first day away from home. In three years, James did not miss a single Boys Brigade meeting. There can be no better testament to the programme and the leaders than that. As a parent, I appreciated the Boys Brigade for providing so many varied opportunities in a safe and structured environment and its leaders who gave over their time and their talents, and they became real role models for the youngsters. In concluding, I am proud of the organisation and what it stands for. It has unlocked and continues to unlock the potential of youngsters, and I wish it continued success. I have much pleasure in speaking this evening and commend and congratulate all who have worked in the past, the present and who will continue in the future to ensure that the Boys Brigade goes from strength to strength. Open debate, speeches of four minutes, please. I call Fulton MacGregor, followed by Maurice Corry. Thank you, Presiding Officer, and thank you to Alexander Stewart for bringing this debate forward to the chamber. I myself went through the Boys Brigade as a Youngster, the 13th Coat Bridge, to be exact a company, unfortunately no longer in existence, and I went through all the sections and have many fond memories of my time in the junior section, which is what inspired me to put my name down to speak in today's debate. Members may also remember towards the end of last session that I hosted an exhibition here at the Parliament for the Boys Brigade in Scotland, and the motto for that week was, and I'll quote, the Boys Brigade is a challenging politicians from across the political spectrum to support its hashtag team players scot campaign, working together to recognise the vital role that youth organisations have in promoting a healthier world through sport and play opportunities for young people. That seems to be an ethos that has prevailed, as I can recall, more than 20 years ago, and that has been generous. It is getting involved in football, badminton and even chess, and while others, within the same company, are perhaps getting involved in music, running or other activities—a wide range of activities, as Mr Stewart mentioned. It is clear that organisations like the Boys Brigade and the Girls Brigade can help meet national outcomes in relation to health and education. Many children, if a junior section age will be facing challenges in their own homes, in situations in attending, can be a refuge for them and also give them another person to speak to about school or other issues. It would not be uncommon for an officer in the Boys Brigade or perhaps somebody in another organisation to take up an advocacy position for a young person and perhaps deal with a school issue. The babies and other voluntary organisations can carry out community work in a known confrontational way that is hard for local authority providers to do. They can and are involved with things such as youth offending, sectarian and hate issues. As I said earlier today, the Justice Committee discussed taking forward the members' bill on the repeal of the anti-social behaviour at football, acting even back to my time in being in a Boys Brigade in Coltbridge. Most people were either Celtic or rangers fans and some of the work that was done around that worked around healthy relationships from an early age. I am commenting on that. Officers within the BBs would talk to boys from an early age about what is a healthy relationship and a respectful relationship. Developing confidence, self-esteem and freedom of thought. One of the things that I remember from the junior section was being encouraged to think independently and always analysing information. It striked me years on, particularly during the referendum in 2014, as I kept in touch with a lot of people who had been to the Boys Brigade, either directly or through the new medium of Facebook, just how passionate people had been at the BBs. I will just say for talking sake that 50 per cent were yes and 50 per cent were no, but all were able to formulate a really good argument. I could not help but think at that point how much of being involved in the Boys Brigade had contributed to that. Even when I had the exhibition, it was clear that there were many members across all the different political parties who had a Boys Brigade background and a Girls Brigade background. I think that maybe the BBs have done something that is often difficult to do in the chamber and unite us all, so we must take our hats off to them for that. The next 100 years, I think that the BBs in the junior section are a modern organisation at law, as Mr Stewart said, a law that is rooted to church ethos membership, as far as I recall is not dependent on religion or ethnicity, and that was certainly the case when I was there. Perhaps it is only a personal interest, by no means am I saying this in a formal capacity in talking to the Boys Brigade, but maybe it is time to think about as we move forward, after 100 years, as it is time to look at a merge with the Girls Brigade or find other ways that we can include girls and boys in the Girls Brigade, so include over the two sections. That is a personal view more than anything else, but I again thank the member for bringing us forward and well done to the BBs in the junior sections as we move forward. I have certainly got a lot from it and I hope that everyone else can continue to do so. I thank you, Mr McGrill. I call Maurice Corry, as we fall back Ian Gray. I thank Alexander Stewart for bringing this forward, this motion forward for debate today, on a very important event in the life and time of the Boys Brigade's junior age group. I would also like to add my own congratulations to the Boys Brigade age group, which is reaching its 100th year anniversary. It is good to see some of the representatives here at the brigade today in the public gallery. I would like to thank you personally for all the work that you have put into it over the years. I know how valuable it is. Having been a member of the Territorial Army, I know how valuable the experience and the amount of time that people give and including parents to the organisations. For the past 100 years, as a motion notes, being a member of the Boys Brigade has offered children and young people, not just here in Scotland, but the right across the world, the chance to excel in new skills or talents, to explore, discover new things and provide opportunities and above all to have fun. It is appropriate to celebrate the past 100 years of the junior section. More than 5,000 members of the Boys Brigade junior age group here in Scotland are doing what the organisation has been doing successfully for the past 100 years. That is by encouraging its members to try new things, to take up opportunities, to learn new skills and talents or not only benefit themselves but also the wider communities that they live in and also to become good citizens. The West Scotland region that I present is home to dozens of Boys Brigade companies with junior sections, all of which are doing great work. For example, in Helen's Renmae region, the Boys Brigade junior section offers a weekly programme of activities to eight to eleven-year-olds each Wednesday in addition to the local competitions and special events that they run. The member has not only come from the town itself but also from surrounding villages in the area. In the last year, youngsters have had the chance to experience several special events that have included visits to the fire and life boat stations as well as an excursion to the Denny Ship Tank Museum in Dumbarton. There is also the Vale of Leven Boys Brigade junior section, which meets weekly at Bondhill Church and is taking part in the junior's 100 challenge as part of their big birthday celebrations. They are encouraging their children to take part in the 100-year celebration by completing 100 different challenges. The members have so far looked back at Dunkirk as part of their programme and they have even got the chance to meet a World War 2 veteran who served in Dunkirk earlier this year. It is worth mentioning that, of course, as with all voluntary organisations, the Boys Brigade is only able to function correctly due to the massive support and help that it has provided by its 3,500 adult volunteers, as I said, some who are represented here tonight in the gallery. We are very, very grateful for the work and dedication that they give. It would be remiss not to mention the Vale of Leven Boys Brigade without mentioning one of the sections that volunteers, Mrs Mary Birch, who received the British Empire medal for her voluntary work with the Boys Brigade and working also with Mary's Meals and other community groups. The Boys Brigade as a whole is a great credit to Scotland and an institution that has served our young people so well over the years. Finally, I am sure that, along with the entire chamber tonight, we wish all the best to the brigade and also the junior section for the next 100 years of its existence. Let me add my congratulations to Mr Stewart for bringing forward this evening's debate. When it comes to the Boys Brigade, I fear that I am rather the black sheep of my family. My grandfather, father, all of my uncles, brothers-in-law, all of them were BB officers and, in fact, most of them were BB captains. I am afraid reached the rather lowly heights of Lance Corporal in my time as a boy. Throughout my youth, I was certainly a member of the Boys Brigade and that began with membership of the life boys. In fact, I think I, through those BB connections, sneaked in a year early, around seven, and joined the 21st Leith. Life Boys, based at Ebony's, are a united free church set right in the heart of Leith. My experience of the junior section goes back quite far through the 100 years, not quite back to the boy reserves pre-1926, which is probably just as well, because I did find some advice to leaders of the boy reserves in the very early days of the juniors. The advice goes like this, one minute late on parade should disqualify the boy from attending and no excuse, however good, should allow the boy to remain strictness. To the point of severity on this point makes the percentage of perfect attendance so much higher. Fortunately, even by the time that I had joined the life boys, a slightly more enlightened attitude to discipline had begun to prevail. My time, though, did span a couple of important historical changes in the century of history of the juniors. Firstly, while I was a life boy, we became the junior section. I remember that change. Looking back on the history, clearly there were some important organisational changes involved. For us, the main change was that we stopped wearing that slightly strange sailor's hat and began to wear a hat that, at the time, bore more than a passing resemblance to thunderbirds in all our minds. However, I was also part of the introduction of something that Mr Stewart referred to, which was the recognition of achievement in the juniors, not originally through badges but through coloured lanyards. That was an idea that was introduced by a particular leader in the juniors or in the life boys at the time, the legendary or perhaps notorious but certainly fearsome Ms Giblin of Leith Battalion. She introduced the idea of coloured lanyards to mark achievement and piloted them in the Leith Battalion, including the company that I was in. They then became generalised throughout the life boys and then transformed into the badges that they are used to mark achievements in different sectors. It is also worth noting that that important character in the history of the juniors was a woman. Looking back at the history too, it is clear that, very early on, indeed in the days of the boy reserves, it became clear that many of those coming forward as instructors were women. There was a certain reluctance to accept that, but they had to be accepted. They were accepted initially just as honorary instructors, but later became official lady instructors. It is worth noting the great contribution to the junior section that women leaders have done. In my own case, that means mentioning Ruth Johnson, who was the leader of my life boy and junior section, a company and a big influence on me as a young boy. In fact, I met Ruth Johnson most recently only a few weeks ago, and it is clear to me that she still exercises a certain authority over me, perhaps second only to my mother. It is also clear to me that she must have been an awful lot younger in those days than I had understood, because she is still, to a degree, going strong and has contributed throughout her life. I think that the junior hundred challenge is worth mentioning too, because it really does, I think, go with the grain and the tradition of the juniors. The challenges that are there go from the kind of sublime to the ridiculous, from learning a circus skill to meeting your MSP, and they also go from some of the activities that are like spending a night under canvas, which are traditional for the juniors, to very new ones about getting 100 Facebook likes. It has been, I think, a tremendous hundred years for the junior section. It has been an important part of my formation for good or ill, and I am sure that it will be for young men and now young women too for 100 years to come. You remind me how much I learn about individual members' backgrounds in those members' debates. I do not know if you were ever a life boy. We are about to find out, Mr McMillan. You are the last speaker in the open debate. Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. No, I was not a life boy, but I was a member of the junior company of First Port Glasgow Boys Brigade. I congratulate Alexander Stewart on securing this first member's debate of this new parliamentary year. I do know to Alexander Stewart's declaration of interest that he makes. I wanted to speak on this because I was a member of the First Port Glasgow Boys Brigade. Like Fulton, sadly, that company is no longer in existence. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the junior section. It certainly was an opportunity to learn, as well as to run about, play and have some fun and burn off some energy. The Boys Brigade, whether it is the anchor boys, the junior section, the company section or the senior section, I am pleased to highlight the positivity that the boys brigade provides but also the opportunities that the boys brigade provides to all its members and also to all of our communities. Whether it is team building, whether it is sport, whether it is charity activity, helping people to become good citizens and many other activities, the boys brigade delivers in every single constituency in the country across the UK and also globally. The boys brigade has been a force for good and with the junior section now being 100 years old, I believe that this is a huge cause for celebration. I mentioned a few moments ago about the learning and charity. Members will know that they have probably heard it once or twice that I am the parliamentary piper and have the privilege of actually piping at many events. This summer alone, during the Pipathon 2017 charity event, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and yesterday piping at the opening ceremony of the new Queensford Crossing, which came in at £245 million under budget. However, I started learning the pipes in the first port Glasgow boys brigade junior section. We do not know that tune, perhaps, shall play at some time. I am sure I may. I started learning the pipes in the first port Glasgow junior section. Growing up in Port Glasgow, while a huge amount of industrial change was happening around me, I started out on this journey into piping and it was a good way to distract me from what was taking place within my community. However, the learning and education in the boys brigade were certainly useful and it also provides life skills forever. I dare say that all youth organisations will say that they provide the same as part of their offering and they do. However, I am happy to promote all the youth organisations that work within their communities and in their constituencies. One of the things that I have taken a huge amount of privilege in at being an MSP was in May of 2014, when I was asked to take the inspection of the second Gwyrwch boys brigade. It was the first time that I had ever taken an inspection. Obviously, I performed in them for many times before, but taking an inspection was generally a huge privilege and it was an honour to actually do it. A few months later, when I took part in a debate in the run-up to referendum, that was a bit more bruising, but the inspection was fabulous. Certainly, the charity work of the boys brigade is a mainstay. I do remember that in one of the events that I obtained a certificate in recognition of raising the price of some of £5 for a local organisation. With inflation, that has increased to £100, but I kept that certificate up until only a couple of years ago. I am delighted to wish the boys brigade junior section a very happy birthday. I am proud to have been a member of the junior section and I wish it every success for the next 100 years and beyond. The boys brigade motto of assured instead fast has lasted at the test of time, and it will go forward. Once again, I thank Alexander Stewart for securing this excellent and timely debate. I thank all members who have participated in what has been an interesting and positive debate. I feel that I should begin with a confession that, unlike the other speakers, I was not a member of the boys brigade. I came through the scouting movement in my youth. I know that it is just one of those things, Mr Gray. However, it is a privilege to be part of the boys brigade centenary celebrations, which are being highlighted this evening in the chamber by Mr Stewart. It is very clear that the sheer variety of activities carried out by the boys brigade over the 100 years has stood all the young people who have taken part in Goodstead throughout their lives, including those members who have participated this evening. I was interested to hear from my colleagues Fulton MacGregor and Stuart McMillan of their experiences and the mutual experience of both of the companies that they were part of no longer existing, although I am sure that that has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that they were members of those companies. It reflects often the requirement for us to ensure that we have volunteers continuing to take part in order to ensure that those opportunities remain available for young people across Scotland's community. For many of the young people, being part of the boys brigade provides them with life lessons, which will not be forgotten and will stay with them into adulthood. The work of the boys brigade is an important part of the life of Scotland and also complements and contributes to our mission for Scotland as a Government. I will take up an intervention from Fulton MacGregor. Thanks to the minister for allowing an intervention. It dawned on me after I sat back down that I should have taken the opportunity to pay tribute to one of the officers that was in the junior section when I was there, Mr English from Coatbridge. I heard the sad news over the summer holidays that he had the summer recess that he had passed away, very sad news indeed, and the minister was talking about volunteers and the work that they do. It was a good opportunity to pay my respects and tributes here in the Scottish Parliament. I thank the minister for allowing me to do that. I am grateful that I was able to afford Fulton MacGregor that opportunity. He highlights the impact that volunteers who support young people across Scotland have on those young people as they move into adulthood. Many of those individuals are not forgotten in terms of the impact that they have had. We recognise and value the strong contribution that the Boys Brigade and the other uniformed organisations, youth work and the third sector more widely, make to promoting equity and improved life chances. Indeed, from the Scottish Government's children, young people and families early intervention fund, we have allocated £60,000 to Boys Brigade Scotland to support the work that they do across the communities of Scotland. At the heart of all that the Boys Brigade does is building confidence, capacity, resilience and skills, host recognising, capturing and celebrating young people's achievements, a point that Iain Gray highlighted. They are supporting thousands of young men to be the best they can be, which in turn will lead to Scotland continuing to flourish in the future. It is no secret that this Government wants to see the poverty-related attainment gap in Scotland close wherever, whenever and however it is measured, and we have a clear educational policy framework in place to give children young people every chance to succeed based on the foundations of getting it right for every child, curriculum for excellence and developing young workforce. While we know there are challenges, there can be challenges for children within the classroom, we recognise the challenges that some children face are rooted well outside the school gates, and therefore support for children and families from early years through to post-18 is crucial. That work does not start and end in the classroom. It continues in a young person's journey into further education and the workplace. The most effective work goes beyond the school gates and into the local community, the true breadth of education in Scotland. We recognise the role that youth work can play in relation to that, particularly highlighting the work of the Boys Brigade in this area. Engaging young people in areas in which the education sector can sometimes struggle to reach, offering a large chunk of the acknowledged 80 per cent of children young people's learning that takes place outside of school, and also engaging families and communities in a range of opportunities to support ambitions for young people. Through youth work opportunities, such as being a member of the Boys Brigade, children and young people can, for example, be introduced to science, technology, engineering and mass activities where they participate in fun, enjoyable practical experiences outside of the formal classroom setting and without, at first, realising that what they are doing relates directly to the subjects mentioned. Realising the breadth of opportunities that those experiences bring can encourage and inspire young people to take up further studies in science, technology, engineering or mass subjects, thus leading to a positive career path. For example, as you may know in the uniformed youth work organisations, Boys Brigade, Girls Brigade, Girl Guides and Scouts, members undertake a range of outdoor learning activities. I recognise that that helps to support team building and links in to the Government's aspiration to increase and improve outdoor learning experiences for young people across Scotland. I recognise the valuable role that the Boys Brigade plays in promoting and enhancing young people's confidence, capacity and resilience, which impacts on attainment and achievement. Youth work in particular can support young people at risk of disengaging from education, and we know that youth work changes lives, and there is increasing evidence telling us that. Youth work provides young people with a safe and nurturing environment where they can share their talents and skills, have fun and learn new things. Thanks to the talents and skills of thousands of youth workers across Scotland, including those working within the Boys Brigade companies, a great many of whom are volunteers, our young people can be supported and nurtured to be the best that they can be. Indeed, some of those volunteers are young people themselves. By helping their peers to be all they can be, they are giving back to their communities. Within the Boys Brigade, those volunteers can be young leaders, some of whom may be the only positive male role model in that particular young person's life. Those young leaders also ensure that the valuable work of the Boys Brigade continues into the next generation. I would like to give a personal thank you to everyone involved in the Boys Brigade, especially to those who give their time as volunteers. We need them to utilise their skills and expertise with children, young people, adults, families and communities to support this crucial work and help with our wider aspirations to improve outcomes for children and young people. We need them to utilise their skills and expertise with children, young people, adults and families and to engage them in activities that will increase confidence and self-esteem so that they can realise their full potential. We need them to utilise their skills and expertise with children, young people, adults, families and communities to recognise the difference that they can make to their lives through the work that they do with them. As a Government, we know that youth work changes lives to the better and can give young people the skills that they need and deserve to succeed in life. Scotland is fortunate to have a vibrant youth work sector that is engaging hundreds of thousands of young people in fun, challenging and progressive learning activities every week. The Boys Brigade is a crucial part of that youth work landscape. It matters to us that they continue to do the strong work that they do to support young people across the communities of Scotland. I congratulate everyone involved in the 100th anniversary of the Boys Brigade. I give my full support to the motion brought by Alexander Stewart. I wish the Boys Brigade all the very best for the next 100 years.