1. Discover Programme

2. Consultation With Young People
They like:
recreational activities
gaining their badges (ratio of 4 : 1)
adventure activities
camps, holidays and visits
They dislike:
the more formal side of BB: drill, inspection, parades
The programme review began with a piece of consultation with young people that highlighted the following . . .

3. Their reasons for being in the BB: being with friends
having a good time
learning new and interesting things
parental influence
Right from the outset the views of young people were fed into the review process and have heavily influenced the programme that was produced.

4. Through this consultation some key entitlements were drawn up:
To experience new challenges
To be listened to and have a say
To be respected and valued
To have fun
To have the opportunity to develop a personal Christian faith
And influenced the drawing up of a list of entitlements that every young person in the BB should have:
. . . to experience new challenges To develop and use existing skills, to learn new skills, to develop confidence, to have a sense of achievement and receive recognition
. . . to be listened to and have a say To have their opinions listened to and acted upon wherever possible
. . . to be respected and valued, To be trusted and given responsibility, to be treated as you would like to be treated, to experience a safe environment, to be individually appreciated, to have the opportunity to be part of the wider community
. . . to have fun To be able to come to BB because they enjoy it and want to
. . . to have the opportunity to develop a personal Christian faith To be able to explore their own faith, at their own speed , in a way

5. Age Groups Company Section Seniors Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5
11/ / / /15
Year 1
(EW – Year 7)
(Scot – Primary 7)
(ROI – Primary 8)
(NI – Year 8)
Year 2
(EW – year 8)
(Scot/ROI – Secondary 1)
(NI – Year 9)
Year 3
(EW – year 9)
(Scot/ROI – Secondary 2)
(NI – Year 10)
Year 4
(EW – year 10)
(Scot/ROI – Secondary 3)
(NI – Year 11)
Seniors
15/ / /18
Year 5
(EW – year 11)
(Scot/ROI – Secondary 4)
(NI – Year 12)
Year 6
(EW – year 12)
(Scot/ROI – Secondary 5)
(NI – Year 13)
Year 7
(EW – year 13)
(Scot/ROI – Secondary 6)
(NI – Year 14)

6. The Company Section Programme is entitled ‘Discover’

7. Discover Programme will provide:
Fully resourced programme topics with tips and ideas for delivery
Flexibility of working in age groups or all ages together
A balance of activities
New resources for sharing and growing in faith
New award scheme
Links with Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

8. Your programme pack will contain:
Information Section
Activity Section
Awards Section
A CD

9. Nature and environment
Recreation
Christian faith
Outdoor and adventure
Sports and games
Health and lifestyle
Skills
Creativity
Interests
Life Skills
Community
Christian faith
Local and national
International
Nature and environment
The programme is structured around three main zones.

10. . . . plus 2 further zones
Christian Faith providing additional devotional material
Extras providing:
a directory of Websites & Books
a list of dates

11. Programme Wheel
The programme wheel is your at a glance guide to Discover. It details the zones, sub-zones, sectors and topics that the programme contains. This is the structure of Discover and will help you navigate your way through the programme.

12. Programme Wheel

13. What is a programme topic?
Each programme topic:
has objectives
provides at least 1 hour of activity
may be split into sub activities
is resourced to include instructions, templates, equipment lists, tips & advice
may provide ideas on how to take the topic further
Some programme topics will go into greater depth with more than three sessions of activity. This will allow Companies to develop some interests in more detail.
Companies may also develop their own topic content to reflect the sector objectives.

14. What does a topic page look like?

15. Each point is equivalent to one hour of activity
The Award Scheme:
3 Badges to be gained each year
Community (7 points)
Recreation (10 points)
Skills (7 points)
Each point is equivalent to one hour of activity

16. The Award Scheme: Zone Sub-zone Recreation (10 topics) Skills
Christian faith 1 point minimum
Outdoor and adventure point minimum
Sports and games point minimum
Health and lifestyle 1 point minimum
+ 6 free choice
Christian faith 1 point minimum
Creativity point minimum
Interests point minimum
Life skills point minimum
+ 3 free choice
Christian faith point minimum
International 1 point minimum
Local and national 1 point minimum
Nature and environment 1 point minimum
Recreation
(10 topics)
Skills
(7 topics)
Community
One point must be gained from each sub-zone in order to gain a balanced programme.

17. Compass Badge Awarded during 1st year in section, young person would:
Complete 6 points from the Discover programme:
2 in Recreation
2 in Community
2 in Skills
This badge is awarded soon after an individual starts on the Discover programme, and will provide an immediate opportunity for a young person’s achievement to be recognised almost immediately.

18. Discovery Badge Awarded during Year 2, young person would:
take part in a residential experience (camp, holiday, sleepover, midnight hike or event).
an active role in a Company or Battalion event; or church service
complete at least 30 points from the Discover programme having gained three badges in the last 12 months
have good attendance for one session

19. President’s Badge Awarded during year 4, a young person would:
Complete a Christian faith development course
Have good attendance for 1 session
Be recommended by the Company Captain
Participate in a non-residential teamwork skills experience run by Battalion, District or Region
and Either Route A
Completed at least 30 points from the Discover programme, having gained three badges in the last 12 months
Taken part in an activity based residential event within the BB
Complete 10 hours of practical service for the Brigade or church
Or - Route B
Gained Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

20. What’s new? Reflective Practice Star System
There are two signs that you will see throughout the pack.
Stop & Think
Remember there is no set way that you have to do BB. Work out what works best for you, but don’t just stick with it, work out how you can continuously make it better. Stop and think! This is called reflective practice. The key to doing anything well is often taking a brief moment to stop and think about the following questions:
What went well?
What didn’t?
What you would do differently next time?
So think about this whenever you see this sign.
Star System
Throughout the pack you will see the following star system. This is to help you think about whether the activities you are doing are achieving the accepted foundations of youth work. So when you see this sign, stop and think. Are you facilitating youth work that is …
. . . Participative – Do young people shape what you are going to do during your time together? Do they have an opportunity to influence decision making in their community?
. . . Empowering – Do young people feel that they have made a difference as a result of what they do?
. . . Educative – Do young people know more as a result of doing this?
. . . Equality – Can all young people take part equally?

21. . . . plus additional online resources
I-File Handbook
Certificates
Leader Record Cards
Badges
. . . plus additional online resources

22. I-File Handbook
The I-File is the new handbook for 11 to 18 year olds in the BB.
The I-File contains:
General Information about The Boys’ Brigade
Space for filling in details about the local Company & Church
Information on the Discover & Challenge Plus Programmes
Information on all awards
Record of Achievement providing an opportunity to record what a young person has done
As well as lots more to help a young person through their time in the BB.

23. Service Badges A new service badge for use across
all sections will be available from
11th August 2008.

24. 125 Community Award The 125 Community Badge is an award,
which every member of the Company
can gain by doing different tasks that
help benefit their local area.
Each member is encouraged to give at
least 125 minutes of community focused service.
Can be gained up until end of 2008/2009 session.

25. Q’s If you have any questions now is the time to ask .... Over to YOU!