A Christian-based youth group is in need of adults to help run the organisation.

The Bermuda Boys' Brigade (BB), started in 1960 by Cecil Downs, was at its peak in the 1980s with seven active companies Islandwide.

Due to a lack of adult participation however, the organisation has dwindled down to one company.

Captain of the Bermuda chapter David Semos says that it is a very strong "one company" of 30 members but he would like to see at least one company in every church on the Island.

He said: "There has been no real leadership and infrastructure for a few years because of the ageing population of churches, there was no one available to join in."

He said the few volunteers that they have had over the years usually joined for the wrong reasons – to be "figureheads".

"We have to be very careful because we were getting people to join because they wanted to be figureheads – they have to be willing to work.

"We would like to have leaders that can teach the kids a skill and those that can supervise them in their activities. If you are good at something, like painting, tiling, sports or whatever, come and share your knowledge with the kids, they are very bright and are willing to learn," he said.

Recognising the decline in organisations such as BB, Mr. Semos said: "Many of the organisations are on the decline because of lifestyle changes. Parents are instilling different economic and social values on their children.

"We are living in a world of 'haves' – got to have this and got to have that – parents need to get their children away from the TV and involved in more activities such as cooking, camping and other life skills."

He also encourages more boys to join BB and asks parents to get their sons involved by bringing them out to the meetings.

"To join is free, all that is requested is that each member purchase a T-shirt – we raise our own money."

Mr. Semos outlined the activities that BB provides and highlighted the 39-week projects that each member is assigned.

"Each of the younger members are given 39 weeks to complete a project of interest to them such as learning about fossils, fishing hooks etc., and they present their projects at the end of the period.

"The older members do activities such as learning how to fix bikes and things like that – we often have former members come back and teach the younger ones what they have learned."

Members are required to learn a skill and are given a badge to acknowledge the achievement.

Also on the list of activities is travelling. Every two years, since 1986, the company has taken older members on a trip to Canada.

"There we do whitewater rafting, paintball, spelunking and any number of activities that are difficult to do on the Island. The boys really enjoy this," said Mr. Semos.

Mr. Semos reminded the public that although the organisation is Christian-based, all religions and beliefs can join.

"We don't turn away any group and we are not Bible thumpers," he said.

"This is an opportunity to teach these children core values, pride, obedience, and self-respect by using real life examples.

"We are trying to teach them to have a good moral, honest background. If we don't give them the instruction then we will produce another lost generation."