Boys' Brigade leaders

The minimum age to become a leader (leader refers to all leader categories including helper) in The Boys' Brigade is 18 years old.

It is best practice for young people in the Boys' Brigade to wait until the session they become 19 years old to take up a leadership position. This avoids any issues linked to position of trust in relation to their peers who may still be accessing Boys' Brigade as service users.

Young leaders – these are young people that are not members of The Boys' Brigade. Young leaders can support The Boys' Brigade, often as part of the Duke of Edinburgh scheme (or similar) from the age of 14 years old – 18 years old. This is not a leadership role and they are not in a position of trust. When they reach their 18th birthday, they must either leave the Boys' Brigade or follow safer recruitment (in advance of their 18th birthday) and register as a leader.

Young leaders and young people becoming leaders can apply for PVG a few months before their 18th birthday. A Safeguarding Coordinator may receive PVG clearance from the Safeguarding Service for a Boys' Brigade applicant who is under 18 years old, however, the applicant must not be put in to post until they are 18 years old.