March 2011
GANG SHOW 2011 – A SMASH HIT!
JOIN THE ADVENTURE THE SCOUT ASSOCIATION CHESTER AND DISTRICT SCOUT COUNCIL District Centre: adjacent Westlea County Primary School Weston Grove Chester CH2 1QJ E: enquiries@chesterscouts.org.uk T: 01244 398635 W: www.chesterscouts.org.uk/ Facebook: http://groups.to/chesterscouts2011/ Twitter: http://twitter.com/@ChesterScouts Registered charity no. 511406
FIRST RESPONSE CHIEF SCOUT’S SERVICE AWARDS Congratulations to members of the District who are receiving awards for length of service: 30 Years Malcolm White, District Member 10 Years Tim Clarke, Sectional Assistant 1st Malpas 5 years Sue Darlington, CSL 1st Malpas Mel Hall, District Fellowship ASU
For those who hold a First Response certificate which is about to run out (they last three years we are running special refresher evenings (2 hours) to enable quick renewal. We are also running the standard First Response course on Saturdays throughout the year. The dates (all at the District Scout Centre at Weston Grove) are: Refreshers for current certificate holders: 21 March, 9 May and 17 October Standard First Response course: 19 March, 11 June, 17 September, 3 December To book, contact david.bull@chesterscouts.org.uk
BEAVER SCOUT RESIDENTIAL EXPERIENCES GET WELL! Best wishes to Morven Jones (1st Malpas) who has been unwell recently. We hope she is fully recovered soon.
1st WAVERTON 1st Waverton Scouts had a visit from Radio City to see what was had done with the Active Kids voucher they received last year. The Scouts were able to share their experiences and look forward to Active Kids which is just starting again. Why not get involved like Waverton are?
CHESHIRE SCOUTS VISIT TO THE WORLD SCOUT JAMBOREE Friday 29th July - Monday 1st August Organised by: Dave Duckett, Widnes Scout Active Support 43 Briarfield Avenue, Widnes WA5 8JZ Email: david.ducket3@ntlworld.com Phone:0151 424 6629
You may be aware that changes to the rules for Beaver Scout residential experiences were published in the January 2011 edition of Policy, Organisation and Rules (POR). Please note that it is now a minimum standard that Beaver Scouts be offered the opportunity to attend at least one residential experience a year. Leaders can approach this in a number of ways such as District events, linking with another Colony to provide a residential opportunity, using the experience of other leaders in their Group or getting help from a Scout Active Support Unit. Of course, the requirement is only to offer the opportunity - it is not compulsory that every young person takes it up. We have developed some support resources to help you adopt the rules and make the most of the new opportunities and activities a Beaver Colony can enjoy: •
Please send your booking and payments to;
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Cheshire Scouts County Office Willow Tree Park, Booths Lane, Lymm, WA13 OPQ Tel: 01925 750223 Email: cathy.bland@cheshirescouts.org.uk (Please note that Cathy Bland works Mon Tues & Thurs with answer machine operating out of hours)
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You can also contact the County Commissioner, Graham Phillips on 01606 738418 or 97831 425549
During 2011 you can expect to see a number of other items: •
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SAFEGUARDING TRAINING • Please note that the Safeguarding workshop announced for 30 June will in fact now take place on 23 June at the District Scout Centre. Apologies for any inconvenience!
NEWS FOR CHESTER SCOUTING
Factsheet to support Beaver Scout residential experiences (FS155053) Nights Away resource (2010 edition) – available from Scout Shops Factsheets to support the Nights Away Permit
Series of articles in the Beaver supplement offering ideas and easy approaches for residential experiences Workshops delivered by Headquarters or a local adviser on request to inspire and share advice on running a good residential experience Adult-only support events run at our National Centres to introduce the skills required to run Beaver Scout residential experiences and support you in your planning
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Leadership in youth groups
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Supporting Lions Club International in its work
LIONS CLUB AWARDS Lions Club International (British Isles and Ireland) have two programmes aimed at young people in Scouting and other youth groups:
There is a log book for recording the service.
1. Young Ambassadors of the 21st Century
More information on both programmes and a log book for Young Leaders in Service are all available from david.bull@chesterscouts.org.uk
This is open to young people 15 and over but not yet 18 on 30 June. All those who reach the finals will win a bursary of £500. The ultimate winner will win: •
A further bursary of £1,000 and trophy
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A commitment to speak at the Lions Convention and an invitation to visit the Lions Youth Centre
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A commitment to participate in the Young Ambassador of the 21st Century European Award
1st UPTON ENJOY THE FUN OF THE FAIR Members of 1st Upton were at the opening of the new restaurant at the Egerton Arms: The Scouts formed a guest panel, to advise on the food, service and decor at the restaurant.
Candidates will be assessed on: •
Involvement in community service
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Personality and leadership qualities
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How the candidate proposes to use the bursary
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A 3 minute speech on their service activities
2. Young Leaders in Service
Picture: Chester Chronicle
This is open to young people between the ages of 11 and 18 (years 7 to 13)
EMAIL ADDRESSES
There are two awards levels:
Emails have been set up for members of the District team:
Silver Seal Award: for at least 50 hours of service over a twelve month period
david.bull@chesterscouts.org.uk
Gold Seal Award: for at least 100 hours
joanne.turner@chesterscouts.org.uk
What types of service qualify?
iain.mcintyre@chesterscouts.org.uk
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Service to the elderly
dave.evans@chesterscouts.org.uk
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Service to children
alan.wilding@chesterscouts.org.uk
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Safety training
charly.hillier@chesterscouts.org.uk
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Service to parents or family
simon.ashton@chesterscouts.org.uk
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Education
roger.hewitt@chesterscouts.org.uk
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Environment
john.riley@chesterscouts.org.uk
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Service to the homeless
mike.hillier@chesterscouts.org.uk
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Public health
jayne.maloney@chesterscouts.org.uk
NEWS FOR CHESTER SCOUTING
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ALL TOGETHER NOW Liz Burnley, Chief Guide, and Wayne Bulpitt, UK Chief Commissioner for Scouts, have endorsed the many examples of good partnership working practice seen over the last year. Guides and Scouts have been working together regularly locally as well as nationally. This includes joint events, representing the Movements externally, campaigning work, or simply sharing ideas behind the scenes. Common heritage They are pleased to personally endorse the following joint statement: 'Scouting and Guiding share a common foundation and heritage and we are both part of global non-formal education Movements. Although we are two separate organisations, one co-educational and one for girls only, we have a shared vision to help young people fulfil their potential and make a difference in their communities, guided by adult volunteer leaders. 'In the UK, together we provide weekly opportunities to over one million young people thanks to the dedication of more than 200,000 adult volunteers. We are both challenged by greater demand for places than we have available and actively encourage everyone over 18 years old (with or without previous experience) to enquire about volunteer opportunities with either organisation.'
There will also be a campaign toolkit (available to Scout Groups on 10 March) with template petitions and letters for local affected Groups to use to lobby their local council/ MP. There is no better time to campaign on issues like this than in the run up to council elections which take place this year on 5 May. Politicians tend to be in listening mood when on the campaign trail. To make this campaign a real success, Headquarters need more information. You can help in the following ways: 1. If you think your Group will be affected by an increase in ground rent but haven’t told us about it, please let us know by emailing campaign@scouts.org.uk putting 'Hands Off Our Huts' in the subject line. 2. Please include the following information – Name, Group, County, Postcode, Local Authority, what increase in rent you are expecting and the impact you think that would have. View the Hands off our Huts questionnaire http://q.scouts.org.uk/s/twMq1E4ZWGM7pep
The Stop the Rain Tax! campaign demonstrated how formidable the Scout Movement is when it gets into campaigning mode. If you have any campaign@scouts.org.uk
questions
contact
WWW.SCOUTS.ORG.UK area of www.scouts.org.uk, Member resources is now live and contains all the information you need within one section of the site. Content is fully up-to-date and now easier to find, with more developments in search functionality and navigation taking place over the coming months. A
Liz and Wayne added: 'We hope that by making clear our common heritage and shared vision, we will encourage even more close co-operation between Guiding and Scouting at local level and greater understanding of their joint force in the wider community.'
at
new
HANDS OFF OUR HUTS Thank you to those of you who completed the recent questionnaire into increased ground rents and room rents. It’s evident that there are Groups up and down the country under threat from unfair and unaffordable rent increases. There are also real problems across the country with groups being informed that they may lose the discretionary relief that they currently receive on their rates. So, on 16/17 March (to be confirmed) The Scout Association will be launching 'Hands off Our Huts', a campaign to persuade councils to reconsider unfair and unaffordable rent increases. We’ll kick off the campaign with an article from Bear Grylls in the Sun and we’ll be launching a 'Hands Off Our Huts' campaign micro site to raise awareness of the issue.
NEWS FOR CHESTER SCOUTING
If you are logged in to the website, it will also show you a featured article relevant to your Scouting appointment. And with related articles, the most searched-for items and a one-click ‘email a friend’ option, the area is easy to browse as well as find everything you need. The Member area is updated regularly, so be sure to check back often to access the latest services and information. More changes coming We’ve not stopped at the Member resources area. Over the coming months, we will also be tweaking the search functionality and launching a new website design.
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VETTING AND BARRING SCHEME The Government has revealed plans to scale back the vetting and barring scheme (VBS) and criminal records scheme. The existing scheme has been comprehensively reviewed, but some of the main proposals being put forward include: •
A large reduction in the number of positions requiring checks to just those working most closely and regularly with children and vulnerable adults
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Portability of criminal records checks between jobs
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An end to the requirement for those working or volunteering with vulnerable groups to register with the VBS and them be continuously monitored by the Independent Safeguarding Authority
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The merging of the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and Independent Safeguarding authority (ISA) to form a new body that will provide a barring and criminal records checking service
Full information on the proposals can be found at www.direct.gov.uk/vetting The Scout Association's official response We welcome the clarity that this review offers around the identification of those people for whom CRB checks are essential and those for whom CRB checks are optional. We are also pleased the Government recognises that many volunteers support more than one organisation and has made provision for CRB checks to be portable. This will be welcomed by our many volunteers who offer a large amount of their time to support numerous charitable organisations. In the absence of any specific detail about how the scheme will operate, we still have concerns that changes have not been designed for efficient operation by voluntary organisations. We are worried that this scheme may mean that cost and additional administration will be transferred to the voluntary sector and place undue burdens on those working directly with young people. We also believe that any system implemented should make use of all available information on the appropriateness to work with young people and/or vulnerable adults. We have heard little about how the new scheme might make the sharing of information easier. We need clarity on this point to ensure the effective safeguarding of young people which must ultimately be everyone’s priority.
NEWS FOR CHESTER SCOUTING
Members should be reassured that we are actively seeking to address these points with Government, working with Girlguiding UK and other voluntary organisations. It is unlikely that any changes to current processes will be implemented until much later in the year, at the very earliest. Therefore, current requirements and process for undertaking Personal Enquiries (including CRB checks) should continue to be followed.
DISTRICT DIARY 3 March – District Leaders’ Meeting (Sectional and GSLs) 12 March - County Cub Scout Craft Competition, Alderley 12 March – Network Spring Ball, Widnes 16 March - Young Leaders Module A, Weston Grove 19 March – First Response 20 March - District Award Presentations, Chester Guildhall 21 March – First Response Refresher 24 March – Validation sessions for GSLs/District Team, Weston Grove 24 March – Safeguarding Training, Weston Grove 24 March - Scouts District Bowling Competition 26 March – Beaver trip to Science Museum, Manchester 27 March – Race the Dragon, Chester 7 April – District Leaders’ Meeting (General) 9/10 April – Cheshire Hike 16 April – St George’s Day celebration 16 April - County Dinner, Cranage Hall 22/24 April – Network Gathering, Great Tower 30 April/1 May - Duke of Edinburgh's Award expedition training 5 May – District Leaders’ Meeting (Sectional and GSLs) 7 May - Beaver Barbie Bash, Huntington 7 May – County Beaver Challenge, Alderley 9 May – First Response Refresher 14 May – Jamboree on the Trail 15 May – Dragon Boats, Chester 21 May - District Cub Scout Totem Pole Competition 25 May - Sectional Support and Development Meeting, Runcorn 2 June – District Leaders’ Meeting (General) 7 June – County AGM, Chester Town Hall 7 June – Speaker’s Reception, House of Commons 9 June – District AGM, Chester Guildhall 11 June – First Response 12 June – County Scout Sunday, Chester Cathedral 16 June - Validation sessions for GSLs/District Team, Weston Grove 17/19 June - Duke of Edinburgh's Award expedition assessment 21/22 June – Cheshire Show 23 June – Safeguarding Training 25 June - Beeston Hike for Beavers
District Leaders’ Meetings: first Thursday in each month (except August) 8 pm (Section meetings alternate with general meetings) District Core Team (DC, District Chair, ADCs, DESC and Active Support Manager; also attended by the Local Training Manager): second Thursday in each month (except August) District Executive Committee: third Thursday in each month (except August) District Appointments Approval Meeting: last Thursday in each month (except August and December)
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