The Boys' Brigade
The Boys' Brigade is a UK and Republic of Ireland Christian youth charity founded in 1883 that delivers structured, age-banded programmes (Anchors through Seniors) to 20,000+ children weekly via church-hosted volunteer-led groups, supported by the OBM administration platform, badge awards, and national competitions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1883
- HeadquartersHemel Hempstead, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Boys' Brigade does
The Boys' Brigade is a UK and Republic of Ireland Christian youth organisation founded in 1883, operating as a registered charity (England & Wales No. 305969; Scotland No. SC038016). It delivers structured, age-banded programmes across four sections — Anchors (5-8), Juniors (8-11), Company (11-14) and Seniors (14-18) — reaching 20,000+ children and young people weekly. Programmes combine outdoor adventure, badge work, sport, music, crafts and Christian faith formation, culminating in the President's Badge and King's Badge awards and integration with the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.
Delivery is decentralised through a network of locally hosted groups called Companies, embedded in churches and run by adult volunteer leaders, with spiritual oversight provided by chaplains. The national body — headquartered in Hemel Hempstead with a residential training centre at Carronvale House in Stirlingshire — provides programme content, safeguarding frameworks, training (including KGVI Youth Leader Training) and an administration platform. The Online Brigade Manager (OBM), developed and hosted by Online Youth Manager Ltd under contract, is a cloud-based system used by 100,000+ leaders globally for member management, attendance, badge tracking, programme planning (15,000+ activities), event management, parent communications and payments via GoCardless and Stripe integrations.
Revenue is generated from four streams: annual capitation fees from local Companies (voted annually at Brigade Council), donations and fundraising through the website and shop, merchandise and badge sales, and indirect monetisation of the OBM platform through payment processing. There is no equity funding, no parent company, and no public listing; governance rests with Brigade Council as the supreme body, with the most recent annual AGM scheduled for 5 September 2026. The Boys' Brigade is a member of the Global Fellowship of Christian Youth and participates in international leadership programmes such as Thrive in Zambia.
The Boys' Brigade firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Boys' Brigade
- Legal name
- The Boys Brigade
- Website
- https://boys-brigade.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1883
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Boys' Brigade is a UK and Republic of Ireland Christian youth charity founded in 1883 that delivers structured, age-banded programmes (Anchors through Seniors) to 20,000+ children weekly via church-hosted volunteer-led groups, supported by the OBM administration platform, badge awards, and national competitions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Boys' Brigade industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Development Services
- NAICS
- Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (81311), Child and Youth Services (62411)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD), Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA), Youth Multi-Sport Camps (General Athletics, Summer Camps) (MPAKAJAA), Faith-Based Missions & Evangelism Organizations (Domestic & International) (BPAGAJAE), Group Camping & Scout Camps (THAGAOAI)
Keywords
Where The Boys' Brigade is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hemel Hempstead
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
The Boys' Brigade business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Membership/Capitation Fees: Local BB groups pay annual capitation fees to the national organisation. The proposed capitation fees for 2026/27 session are published annually and voted on at Brigade Council.
- Donations and Fundraising: The organisation accepts donations through its website and runs fundraising initiatives. Donations support the charitable mission of providing youth development programmes.
- OBM Platform Services: The Online Brigade Manager platform is provided free to authorised users (leaders), with payment processing capabilities for membership fees and event payments via GoCardless integration.
- Shop/Merchandise: Online shop selling BB branded merchandise, badges, and resources for members.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | National capitation fees for member organisations |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Boys' Brigade product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Boys' Brigade delivers structured, age-segmented youth development programmes for children and young people aged 5-18 (Anchors, Juniors, Company, Seniors), combining activities, outdoor adventure, badge awards, and Christian faith formation delivered through volunteer-led local groups hosted in churches. It is supported by the Online Brigade Manager (OBM) administration platform, a national events and competitions programme, and dedicated subgroups such as the BB Mountaineering Club.
Product overview
The Boys' Brigade is a Christian youth organization offering a structured programme across four age groups: Anchors (5-8 years), Juniors (8-11 years), Company (11-14 years), and Seniors (14-18 years). The core offering consists of activity-based programmes with badge awards culminating in the President's Badge and King's Badge. Digital administration is supported through the Online Brigade Manager (OBM) platform, which includes a Parent Portal module for family engagement. Specialised subgroups include the BB Mountaineering Club (BBMC) which organizes Adventure Camps and provides virtual peak bagging resources. The organization also runs international programmes like Thrive (Zambia), national competitions including 10 Pin Bowling Championships, and seasonal activities through Summer Adventures.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Girls' Association: Christian youth organization for girls associated with The Boys' Brigade
- Online Brigade Manager (OBM)
- BB Mountaineering Club (BBMC)
Products and services
- Anchors Programme
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 20,000 children and young people participate weekly in BB activities
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use The Boys' Brigade
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Boys' Brigade technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature1 record
The Boys' Brigade partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Online Youth Manager Ltd (OYM)coreOYM developed and hosts the Online Brigade Manager (OBM) platform for The Boys' Brigade. OYM operates the platform under contract, providing member management, programme planning, badge tracking, and parent communication tools used by 100k+ leaders.
- Global Fellowship of Christian Youth (GF)coreThe Boys' Brigade UK & Republic of Ireland is a member of the Global Fellowship of Christian Youth. BB participates in international courses like Thrive (Zambia) which brings together young leaders from GF member organisations worldwide for leadership development.
- BB ZambiaminorBB Zambia hosts the Thrive international course at Kaniki Training Centre near Ndola. UK BB members travel to Zambia to participate in cross-cultural leadership training.
- University of London Mountaineering Club (ULMC)minorBB Mountaineering Club holds residential meets at ULMC's Caseg Fraith Hut near Capel Curig in Eryri/Snowdonia, close to where the first BBMC event took place in Easter 1965.
- GoCardlesscoreGoCardless is integrated into the OBM platform to enable direct debit payments for membership fees and event payments. Leaders can collect payments from parents through this payment processor.
- Church of ScotlandcoreThe Boys' Brigade has a Guard of Honour at the Church of Scotland and has partnered with Church of Scotland for safeguarding training recognition. BB safeguarding courses are recognised by Church of Scotland as alternatives to their Introductory Course.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Boys' Brigade competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sea Cadets: UK uniformed youth charity offering nautical adventure and citizenship programmes to 10-18 year-olds. Comparable as a uniformed, badge-based, themed-outdoor youth organisation competing for the same volunteer and parent pool.
- Girlguiding UK: The UK's largest girls-only uniformed youth organisation. Most directly comparable to BB in mission (character and confidence building), four-tier age programme, church/faith roots, badge ladder, and decentralised local-unit operating model.
- Church Lads' Brigade: Historic Anglican uniformed youth organisation, explicitly a sibling/fellow organisation of BB. Closest structural and theological peer — same church-anchored, male-only tradition, similar badge system.
- Woodcraft Folk: Alternative UK youth movement focused on social justice and outdoor activity for children and young people. Comparable as a values-led, democratic, uniformed-but-soft youth programme serving similar age groups.
- Youth for Christ UK: Faith-based youth work charity in the UK. Comparable as a Christian-mission-driven youth organisation working with adolescents, schools, and churches in overlapping geographies.
- The Scout Association: Direct competitor for 5-18 year-olds in the UK, with overlapping badge/award structures, uniformed local groups, and a faith-adjacent ethos. Already identified as an OBM user, validating parity in volunteer/admin tooling.
- Volunteer Police Cadets: Uniformed youth programme for 10-18 year-olds in the UK, sponsored by police forces with a citizenship/leadership curriculum and badge structure. Direct thematic peer for Sections and adventure + service mix.
- St John Ambulance Cadets: Uniformed youth division of a major UK charity for 10-17 year-olds, mixing first-aid training, community service, badges and residential experiences. Strong overlap in structure, age-range and credentialing.
Regional players
- Girl Guides (Girlguiding) Australia: Comparable uniformed youth organisation operating in ANZ, illustrating how UK-origin uniformed-youth charities have internationalised. Useful benchmark for the Global Fellowship / Thrive international-expansion thesis in BB's data.
Others
- Online Youth Manager Ltd (OYM): Technology partner that built and hosts BB's OBM platform and serves a parallel role for Scouts/Guides. Comparable as the underlying SaaS layer; useful as a peer for sizing the platform opportunity behind BB's OBM.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Boys' Brigade social profiles
Digital presenceThe Boys' Brigade compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
The Boys' Brigade financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Boys' Brigade leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
The Boys' Brigade subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
The Boys' Brigade funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Boys' Brigade M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Boys' Brigade
What does The Boys' Brigade do?
The Boys' Brigade delivers structured, age-segmented youth development programmes for children and young people aged 5-18 (Anchors, Juniors, Company, Seniors), combining activities, outdoor adventure, badge awards, and Christian faith formation delivered through volunteer-led local groups hosted in churches. It is supported by the Online Brigade Manager (OBM) administration platform, a national events and competitions programme, and dedicated subgroups such as the BB Mountaineering Club.
Is The Boys' Brigade a public or private company?
The Boys' Brigade is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Boys' Brigade founded?
The Boys' Brigade was founded in 1883. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Boys' Brigade based?
The Boys' Brigade is headquartered in Hemel Hempstead, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does The Boys' Brigade make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Membership/Capitation Fees are the primary driver. The others are donations and Fundraising, OBM Platform Services and shop/Merchandise.
Who are The Boys' Brigade's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sea Cadets, Girlguiding UK, Church Lads' Brigade, Woodcraft Folk, Youth for Christ UK, The Scout Association, Volunteer Police Cadets and St John Ambulance Cadets. Girl Guides (Girlguiding) Australia is listed as a regional player. Online Youth Manager Ltd (OYM) is listed as an others.
Does The Boys' Brigade have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Boys' Brigade.
What industry is The Boys' Brigade in?
The Boys' Brigade's product category is Youth Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAJAD, Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis), with a secondary code of BPAGADAD, Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits. Its NAICS code is 8131 and its SIC code is 8600.