Boys Brigade for my 5 year old or wait a year for Scouts (Beavers)?

[FullySwindonian]

I'm aware there are vastly differing foundations to both, ie BB is blatantly more church-led.
But the background is that my eldest child moves to juniors this September and as they're relatively close in age and we are a single parent family, as siblings they are very close, so I think he needs some transition from her. He is literally her shadow wherever we go.

As a child I was in the Sea Cadets (Girls Nautical Training Corps ... is it still called that?) so have no knowledge of Boys Brigade and was only in Venture Scouts for a year aged 17, so again, no real knowledge of Scouts.

I'm also wondering about starting him in out of school activities at only 5. We swim once or twice a week, but he generally has enough energy. It's mainly for the transition to a little more independance from his sister, as she'll be leaving him behind at infant school where he's also with her at playtimes.

What do you recommend in your experience of either activity please?

Well, I thoroughly recommend Scouts, (but she could also go there too).
In general though, it depends on the specific groups in your area.
I don't know much about BB and GB, but have a friend who has been involved most of his life and thoroughly enjoyed it. My dc have had fantastic opportunities through Scouts over the years, but I'm aware that there are some groups that are better than others.
You really need to look into what's available near you, and what the waiting lists are like.

My boys both really like(d) Beavers but it starts at age 6 so would that be too long a wait for you?