North Staffs Battalion Officials

President – Kevin Ford

Battalion Secretary Training Officer – Mike Stevenson

Vice President
  • - Vic Ernest
  • - Janet McCambridge

Treasurer – Lynne Stevenson

Hon Vice Presidents
  • - Harold Horton
  • - Alan Lockett
  • - Malcolm Montford
  • - Anthony Nicholls
  • - John Tildsley
  • - Mike Stevenson


Battalion Headquarters

  • The Higherland Methodist Church
  • Higherland
  • Newcastle-under-Lyme
  • Staffordshire
  • ST5 2TF
  •  
  • Tel 01782 711624


North Staffs (NS) Companies

  • 8th NS, Methodist Central Hall, The Strand, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent
  • 10th NS, St Barnabas' CofE Church, Cauldon Ave, Bradwell, Newcastle, Staffs
  • 18th NS, United Reform Church, Trentham Road, Dresden, Stoke-on-Trent
  • 19th NS, Higherland Methodist Church, Higherland, Newcastle, Staffs
  • 20th NS, Broadway Methodist Church, Pickford Place, Meir, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs
  • 34th NS, Salem Methodist Church, Ford Green Road, Smallthorne, Stoke-on-Trent,


Battalion Activities Centre

  • The Leslie Johnson Activities Centre
  • Cheadle Road
  • Warslow
  • Buxton
  • Debyshire
  • SK17 0JJ
 		Our Mission Statement

The Mission Statement was adopted by Brigade Council on 4th September 1999.

The Boys' Brigade & Girls’ Association in North Staffordshire will care for and challenge young people for life through a programme of informal education underpinned by the Christian faith.

This will be achieved by:
  • Delivering Christian teaching in partnership with the church in which the company is based and encouraging the development of a personal Christian faith;
  • Providing opportunities for leadership, decision making and skills training;
  • Empowering boys and young people by involving them in decision making at all levels of the organisation and giving responsibility appropriate to their age and aptitude;
  • Raising awareness of boys and young people to the needs of others (especially other young people) locally, nationally and globally and encouraging them to engage in activities and projects in which they can make a difference;
  • Being sensitive to the needs and aspirations of boys and young people of varying backgrounds, differing abilities and stages of development and providing appropriate support, advice and guidance;
  • Ensuring the safety of boys and young people through the implementation of suitable procedures for the selection, training and supervision of leaders;
  • Equipping leaders through the provision of high quality training and resources;
  • Providing a network of professional staff to support voluntary leaders; and
  • Creating opportunities to develop partnerships with other appropriate organisations and agencies.
Our History

The Boys’ Brigade movement was started in 1883 in Glasgow by William Alexander Smith. Just six years later in 1891, The Boys’ Brigade had its first company in Hanley at the Presbyterian Church, later the United Reform Church in Trinity Street. In 1910, the North Staffs Battalion was formed, having reached the 8 company mark needed to form a Battalion under the Brigade’s Constitution. Since these early beginnings, many changes have occurred. The Boys’ Brigade incorporated the Boys’ Life Brigade (or the Life Boys) in 1926, which led to the formation of ‘A’ companies so there was no confliction of interests.

The Boys’ Brigade has celebrated reaching various centenaries in 1983 (foundation of the movement), in 1989 (The Boys’ Brigade in North Staffordshire), in 1999 (100 years of camping in North Staffordshire), in 2010 (Battalion) and in 2011 (125 years of camping in the Boys’ Brigade). September 2009 saw a big shake up in the Battalion’s history, when it became The Boys’ Brigade and Girls’ Association in North Staffordshire, allowing Girls to become members of the Brigades’*.

The North Staffs Boys’ Brigade and Girls’ Association provides opportunities for young people to compete in competitions across a variety of sports and activities and gives leaders and young people training options for different areas of activity. It consists of companies from across North Staffordshire, including the City of Stoke-on-Trent with 10 companies and over 70 volunteer leaders providing sessions of activities and games for 150 children and young people, the Boys’ Brigade & Girls’ Association in North Staffordshire is continually looking to expand in size.

*Newly formed companies are BB/GA; older companies are usually BB but have links with the Girls’ Brigade.