For more than 125 years, Girls' Brigade has been making a difference to the lives of girls, young women and women throughout the world. Best known for their weekly uniformed community groups which are open to children and young people, Girls' Brigade also offers leadership training, faith retreats, conferences, and award programmes.
Today Girls’ Brigade is arguably the church’s most prominent international youth movement for girls and its longevity can be attributed to its ability to remain relevant and responsive to meet the needs of the current generation whilst continuing to remain rooted in unchanging values of the Christian faith.
Vision statement, principles, motto, and aim
The international vision statement is "Girls' lives transformed, God's world enriched."
The Girls' Brigade's principles are "Acknowledges Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord according to the Scriptures and seeks to fulfil its aim to the Glory of One God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit", "Witnesses to the standard set by Jesus Christ and gives positive teaching on the Christian attitude to life", and "Promotes a just society where all people are equally valued."[1]
The motto of the Girls' Brigade is "Seek, Serve and Follow Christ", and its aim is "to help girls become followers of the Lord Jesus Christ and through self-control, reverence and a sense of responsibility to find true enrichment of life."[2] Since 1936, the Girls' Brigade has been a founding member of The National Council for Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS).[3]
Rooted in the Gospel, Miss Margaret Lyttle started a girls’ club in Sandymount Presbyterian Church in Dublin in 1893. Starting with just a regular warm-up PE session for the girls during Sunday school, the girls-only group soon became a formally recognised group with a constitution and uniform called The Girls’ Brigade Ireland. Their motto – ‘The establishment of Christ’s kingdom amongst girls’.
By the start of the new century, the women of Glasgow went on to establish The Girls’ Guildry in 1900 for the girls and young women of Scotland. Their motto – ‘Helping girls to become mature Christian women’.
By 1902 England had established The Girls’ Life Brigade. Girls’ Life Brigade offered time outside of Sunday School for girls to discover how God fitted into their lives and become responsible, self-reliant Christian women.
On 10 June 1965 The Girls’ Brigade Ireland, The Girls’ Guildry and The Girls’ Life Brigade joined together to create one international organisation – The Girls’ Brigade. This date is now known as the International Day of Prayer – and GB members around the world pray for girls, young women and the continuing ministry of Girls’ Brigade.
The Queen Mother and Princess Alice were Girls' Brigade patrons until their deaths in 2002 and 2004, respectively. From 1983 until her death in 2020, Olive Hilda Miller was Vice-Patron of Brigade International.[5]
Programme & Projects
The Girls' Brigade programme in many countries follows four themes: Spiritual, Physical, Educational, and Social. The four themes of the programme are based on a passage from the Bible, Luke 2:52: "And Jesus grew in body and wisdom, gaining favour with God and men." The Physical theme relates to Jesus growing in body, Educational to Jesus growing in wisdom, Spiritual to Him growing closer to God and the Social to the way Jesus developed in His relationships with other people.
During their time in the Girls' Brigade and throughout their lives thereafter, young people are encouraged to participate in activities other than just badge work, such as social engagement projects, summer camps, residential training events, mission trips and leadership courses for 14 to 25-year-olds. The Girls' Brigade England & Wales is also a Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme[6]licensed organisation and helps its members as they progress through the scheme.
Company & Group Section Structure
In Ireland, the Girls' Brigade is divided into the following sections:
4 to 8 years - Explorer
7 to 11 years - Junior
10 to 14 years - Senior
13 to 18 years - Brigader
18+ years - Leader, Lieutenant or Captain
The main leader is called the Captain, and her next-in-charge is the Lieutenant. Girls who have reached 15 years of age can become Young Leaders. A girl can become a Leader after she is 18 years old.
In Scotland, the Girls' Brigade is divided into the following sections:
4 to 7 years (Primary 1 – Primary 3) - Explorer
8 to 11 years (Primary 4 – Primary 7) - Junior
12 to 18 years (1st Year – 6th Year) - Brigader
Adult leaders in Scotland are called officers.
In England and Wales, the Girls' Brigade is divided into the following groups by age:
4 to 8 years - n:vestigate
8 to 11 years - n:gage
11 to 14 years - n:counta
14 to 18 years - n:spire
Girls aged 14 to 18 years can complete n:fluence 14-18s training in leadership.[7] Adult volunteers complete n:fluence 18+ training.[7]
In other countries, the names of the Sections (sometimes called Units) may vary, as may the ages of girls in those units. These age variations are usually based on the local schooling ages.
In Australia, the Sections are:
5 to 8 years (Prep – Year 2) - Cadet
8–11 years (Year 3 – Year 5) - Junior
11–14 years (Year 6 – Year 8) - Senior
14–21 years (Years 9+) - Pioneer
In New Zealand, the Sections are:
5 to 8 years old (New Entrant/Year 1 – Year 4) - Junior
9 to 12 years old (Year 5 – Year 8) - Senior
13 to 17 years old (Year 9 – Year 13) - Pioneer
In Malaysia, the Sections are:
5 to 8 years old - Cadet
9 to 11 years old - Junior
12 to 14 years old - Senior
15 to 18 years old - Pioneer
Crest
The crest is a registered trademark of Girls' Brigade England & Wales. However, all Girls' Brigade fellowships around the world have the right to use it.
In the centre is a cross, the symbol of Christianity. Below the cross is a lamp, which represents the Girls' Brigade. Above it is a crown, symbolising monarchy in general and Christ the King in particular. Behind it all is a torch; fire is a typical sign in Christianity of God's presence.
In 1965, when the Girls' Brigade, the Girls' Guildry and the Girls' Life Brigade combined into the modern Girls' Brigade, a competition was held to design the crest for the amalgamated organisation. Constance Fasham, the winner of the competition, incorporated symbols from each partner organisation: the cross from the Ireland Girls' Brigade, the lamp from the Girls' Guildry, and the crown from the Girls' Life Brigade.
Fasham intended the crest to incorporate symbols from the three original organisations. The crest was intended therefore as a symbol of Unity and Christian faith.
International
The Girls' Brigade operates internationally and is divided into five Fellowships: African, Asian, Caribbean and Americas, European, and Pacific.[8] International conferences have been held every four years since 1998.[9] Conferences were held in Australia in 1988, Thailand in 2002, Northern Ireland in 2006, Malaysia in 2010, Australia in 2014, and Zambia in 2018. The international headquarters are currently based in Derbyshire, England. The International President of the Girls' Brigade is Priscilla Penny (Africa). The International Treasurer is Betty McComb (England and Wales). The International Vice-presidents are the Chairholders from each Fellowship.[10]
African Fellowship
Aruk Omori is the International Vice President for Africa. There are 12 African countries that have Girls' Brigade companies:[11]
Quindell Ferguson is the International Vice President for Caribbean & Americas. There are 17 countries in the Americas that have Girls' Brigade companies:[13]
Currently, England & Wales run as one country for Girls' Brigade even though they are distinct countries.
Pacific Fellowship
Renelle Neale is the International Vice President for the Pacific. There are eight countries within the Pacific Fellowship that have Girls' Brigade companies:[16]
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